An Introduction to Mounted Games and the Prince Philip Cup

If you’re new to Mounted Games or interested to know more about the origins of it and how it began, have a quick look below:

How Mounted Games began

Gymkhanas began in India in the days of the British Raj more than a century ago. Playing Polo was a popular off-duty pastime of officers of British regiments stationed abroad. Informal competitions on horseback could be held in any open space and were used for relaxation.

When the British families returned home Gymkhana games were introduced to liven up garden parties and fetes. Before long they became events in their own right, especially for children who found their small ponies ideally suited to mounted games.

The Prince Philip Cup

In the 1950s the Pony Club started Mounted Games competitions and in 1957 Prince Philip started the prestigious Prince Philip Cup competition which today sees the top teams in the Country competing  in the finals at The Horse of The Year Show.

The Prince Philip Cup Competition provides The Pony Club with a team competition requiring courage, determination and all-round riding ability on the part of the team members, and careful and systematic training of their ponies. Its object is to encourage a higher standard of riding throughout The Pony Club and to stimulate among the future generation a greater interest in riding as a sport and as a recreation. The competition was designed for teams of ordinary children on ordinary ponies.

The following is taken from the rule book:

‘As a member of The Pony Club, I stand for the best in sportsmanship as well as in horsemanship. I shall compete for the enjoyment of the game well played and take winning or losing in my stride, remembering that without good manners and good temper, sport loses its cause for being. I shall at all times treat my horse with due consideration’

The AHBPC Essential Guide to Mounted Games

There is a lot of information that you need to know when competing in Mounted Games. To help newcomers to Mounted Games, we have put together an Essential Guide to Mounted Games within the Atherstone Hunt Branch, which explains how training is run, team selection, the qualifying competitions to get to the Prince Philip Cup final at the Horse of the Year Show and introduces the team trainers and managers.

We also strongly recommend that each parent buys a copy of the Mounted Games rule book, which explains all the rules in Mounted Games including what tack is allowed and each of the games that are used at competitions.  

Please remember that in order to be considered for Area Teams it is necessary to have attended THREE RALLIES. Unfortunately training sessions do not count – but we have plenty of rallies available for all abilities throughout the year so do keep checking the website. Camp counts as one rally, so most of you will have already got one under your belt for next year. Good luck and keep practising.

More Information

For more information on Mounted Games, please contact:

Junior Mounted Games Manager –

Julie Tilley – Mobile: 07951255729 Email: j.tilley1000@btinternet.com

Junior Mounted Games Team Trainers – 

Cheryl Heritage – Mobile: 07776111085 – Email cheryl-80@live.co.uk

Beth Palmer – Mobile: 07505845245 – Email: bethppalmer@icloud.com

Senior Mounted Games Manager –

Sarah Ballard – Mobile: 07590209231

Senior Mounted Games Trainers – 

Matt Clingo – Mobile: 07979687851 

Lucinda Weir – Mobile: 07813018394 – Email: ahbpcgames@yahoo.com

Senior Parent Liaison –

Vanessa Fisher – Mobile: 07958334422 – Email: ness-fisher@outlook.com