Kazakh Horse Games

Equestrian skills are essential to the nomadic lifestyle that underpins Kazakh culture. Kazakhs developed horse games over thousands of years of societal development to not only compete and have fun, but also to improve strength, agility, and dexterity while riding. Some of the games are based on ancient survival techniques, while others are simply for fun during the holidays—each game contributes to the development of spiritual unity and camaraderie among the Kazakh people. Despite a more sedentary lifestyle, Kazakhs have worked to preserve these games, and no major celebration would be complete without them today.

Riders can demonstrate their abilities in the various kazakh horse games that have become popular on the Kazakh steppe. Kokpar is the most popular horse game in Kazakhstan, along with its Central Asian counterparts Kok-Bar (Kyrgyzstan), Kupkari (Uzbekistan), and Buzkashi (Tajikistan). Ulak, the team version of Kokpar, is a battle for the carcass of a ram, which must be scooped up at a gallop and dragged to a specific location without giving it away to rivals. Alaman Baiga, a long-distance horse racing game that only allows local breeds of horses, can cover distances of 10, 20, 50, or even 100 kilometers. Another Kazakh favorite is "Kyz Kuu," in which a man must catch up with and kiss a girl.