Equestrian Draft:Games Reed Chop Drill

Sticks of varying heights are placed in a row or a double row to be knocked off by the rider as they pass. This game does not include weaving by the horse.

The reed course sword drill is based on a sword drill documented to 14th century Arabic training manuals in which the purpose was to learn the correct and accurate use of a sword while mounted.

The reed course is set up as a double line of targets resembling "reeds" upon standards 1.2 - 1.8 m in height (1.5m (5 feet) is the required height for the Inter-Kingdom Equestrian Competition version) set up 6.5m apart in an alternating manner. On top of the standards are wooden dowels of decreasing height (25 cm down to 5 cm) attached with Velcro or magnets and a lanyard. The rider goes in a straight line between the rows, using a sword to knock over the reed tops, swinging to both the right and left. More points are awarded for knocking over the smaller tops.

The reed course is set up as a double line of reeds upon standards. The standard configuration is a 1.2 m or 1.4 m wide lane between the two rows of standards. The standards are set up in a staggered formation such that the standards and targets on one side of the lane are half way between the standards and targets on the other side of the lane. Five standards are used for each side of the lane, totaling ten standards. The standards are placed either 6.5 m or 9 m apart on each side of the lane. Both ends of the reeds course should be a minimum of 9 m from the ends of the equestrian list. A greater "run-out" distance is recommended where possible to give horses more time to stop safely after a run.

The reeds targets for each side are decreasing in height such that the first two are 25 cm inches in height, the second two are 20 cm in height, the third two are 15 cm in height, the fourth set are 10 cm in height, and the last (fifth) set are 5 cm in height.