Kupkari in Uzbekistan

Kupkari is one of the most ancient equestrian games popular among the peoples of Central Asia.

Kupkari is held to celebrate the beginning of spring and the main spring holiday, Navruz.

The entire village attend the party.

In this game skilled equestrians compete to carry a goat or sheep carcass into a goal. For the Kupkari game, riders usually wear head protection. Because getting exicited, horsemen can whip each other.

The horsemen try to grab the goat from the ground and reach the finish line without losing their trophy, while fighting off rivals who are trying to take away the animal carcass.

The winner, who carries the trophy into a finish line first gets a prize.