Kok-boru

Kok-boru means "grey wolf". Legend says it began with herders chasing down on horseback a wolf that attacked their flock; today a goat carcass takes the wolf's place.

Riders of two teams wrestle the carcass from each other and try to throw it into the "tai kazan", a high round goal at the far end of the field — a game of strength, courage and perfect harmony with the horse.

Kyrgyzstan holds national kok-boru championships, and it is the most watched event of the World Nomad Games. UNESCO inscribed it in 2017; the Kazakhs call the game kokpar.