Tent pegging is an ancient cavalry sport. The term “Tent Pegging” is related to the idea that the cavaliers attack enemy camps on their galloping horses, using spears or swords to uproot tent pegs which cause tents to collapse.

Today Tent Pegging as a sport includes a similar imitation of the discipline in which a mounted equestrian rides the horse at the gallop gate, using a sword or lance to pick up and carry away a small ground target.

The ground target is a symbolic tent peg.