Horse Directory

Central Asian Sport Of Buzkashi

Buzkashi is a sport that originated from Central Asia and is played on horseback. The goal of the sport is for the riders to grab hold of the head of a calf or goat from the ground. The trick is that they have to grab the animal without slowing down or getting off their horse and throw it across the goal line before any of the other players get to it.

In this sport every player is competitive and will find a way to thwart the other players by tripping the opponent’s horses – which is in fact allowed. This is why the players will wear heavy clothing and protection for their head. Opponents will also have to protect themselves from the whips that the players use to keep each other away. Games can last up to a few days and of course the winners will get a prize.

Each rider in the game has trained for years to become masters at it. They also train with their own horses – which will learn to immediately stop when the rider has fallen off and to ride fast and hard when the player has gotten hold of the animal. The horses are so well trained and so respected that they sell for as high as $15,000.

© 2007 HorseDirectory.org