The specific game of tent pegging has a mounted horseman riding at a gallop and using a sword or a lance to pierce , pick up , and carry away a small ground target ( a symbolic tent peg ) or a series of small ground targets .
In the specific sport of tent pegging a mounted horseman , or at times a team of horsemen , rides at a gallop and uses a sword or a lance to pierce , try to pick up , and carry away a small ground target ( a symbolic tent peg ) or a series of such small ground targets .