Salamatsyzby, everyone! This is Sugi from ASHU TRAVEL, your guide to scenic horse riding tours in Central Asia.
Kyrgyzstan, a land of stunning scenery and nomads, is home to a sport that’s rare anywhere in the world. It’s called kokboru. At first glance it looks like polo, with riders on horseback fighting over a ball, but what they use is… a goat carcass.
It may surprise you, but kokboru is a sport packed with the history and pride of the nomads.
It was featured in the Netflix documentary series “Home Game,” which travels the world exploring unusual sports, and it’s drawing attention around the globe. This time, I’ll tell you all about kokboru, Kyrgyzstan’s traditional sport!
What Is Kokboru? Kyrgyzstan’s Proud Traditional Sport
Kokboru is a sport in which players on horseback fight over a goat carcass and throw it into a goal. Simply put, it’s rugby on horseback.
If you don’t know the rules it might look like pure chaos, but it’s actually a game that requires careful strategy.
Kokboru at a glance
🏇 Teams: 2 teams of 4 riders
🏇 Goal: A large pit called the “tai kazan,” 1 m high and 4 m in diameter
🏇 Match length: 3 rounds of 20 minutes
🏇 Ball (?): A goat carcass weighing about 33 kg
Blocking! Grabbing! Just Like Rugby on Horseback
Just picking the goat carcass up off the ground is extremely difficult. Fighting over it on horseback and throwing it into the goal takes tremendous strength and skill.
On top of that, players block their opponents’ horses and slam into each other to steal the goat, just like rugby on horseback. Sometimes, they say, players even dive into the goal along with it…
The History of Kokboru | Was Something Other Than a Goat Once Used?
The origins of this game go back more than 5,000 years. It’s said that nomads originally hunted the wolves that attacked their livestock and then played a sort of catch with the carcasses.
“Our sheep got attacked again.” “Then let’s use that guy for practice today!” Conversations like that may well have taken place.
Over time it became a competitive sport, and official rules were established in 1949. Today it’s Kyrgyzstan’s national sport and so popular that there’s even a Presidential Cup.
Highlights of Watching Kokboru
When you first watch a kokboru match, you might think, “Aren’t they just charging around?” But it’s actually a smart game that tests the horses’ speed and power as well as strategy!
🔹 Quick reflexes and judgment
Snatching a 33 kg goat off the ground from a galloping horse takes split-second judgment. Hesitate, and your opponent will grab it.
🔹 Unity with the horse
In Kyrgyzstan, children traditionally learn to ride by the age of 5. It’s said people once ate and even slept on horseback. That’s why kokboru players move in perfect unity with their horses, almost like a single four-legged creature.
🔹 A fierce, high-stakes battle
In a match, it’s not unusual for players to knock over an opponent, horse and all, to get the goat. Sometimes players are thrown and taken away by ambulance… Even watching from the stands is a thrill.
Kokboru Q&A
Q1. What does the winner get?
Kokboru winners receive the best rewards a nomad could ask for. Prizes seem to vary by tournament and year, but they can be as lavish as these.
🎁 Examples of lavish prizes
🏇 A stallion (a well-bred horse of great value!)
🚙 A car (sometimes even a brand-new one!)
🐫 A camel (a means of transport and a valuable asset!)
Q2. Will kokboru become an Olympic sport!?
In Kyrgyzstan, some people are calling for kokboru to become an Olympic sport.
It’s certainly a spectacular equestrian sport! But there’s the question of whether a rule involving a goat carcass fits international standards, so the rules may be adjusted in the future.
Q3. How can I watch kokboru in Kyrgyzstan?
Kokboru tournaments are held around Kyrgyzstan, including near the capital Bishkek and in regional towns.
📍 Recommended places to watch
💡 In Chong-Kemin, matches are held all year round
We can’t guarantee you’ll see one, but if you stay in Chong-Kemin, your chances are pretty good!
📅 For major tournaments, research in advance!
Kokboru schedules vary by location and season, so be sure to check the latest information.
What Kokboru Means to the Kyrgyz People
For the Kyrgyz people, kokboru isn’t just a sport; it’s a symbol of pride and identity.
People grow up with horses from an early age, and kokboru matches are major events. Strong players are respected, and the way people celebrate and agonize over every win and loss is true national fervor. It’s proof that a culture of living with horses is still alive today.
Learning about kokboru also helps you understand Kyrgyz culture and nomadic values: a deep bond with horses, courage and solidarity with teammates. The spirit of Kyrgyzstan is distilled in kokboru.
Experience Kyrgyzstan’s Charms on an ASHU TRAVEL Horse Riding Tour!
ASHU TRAVEL offers horse riding tours that include a stay in the Chong-Kemin Valley, where kokboru is played. If you’re lucky, you might get to see a match.
📍 The ASHU Guesthouse is in the Chong-Kemin Valley!
Kokboru matches are held in Chong-Kemin all year round, so you may get a chance to see one during your stay.
🌊 Horse riding tour to popular Issyk-Kul Lake (starts and ends in Bishkek)
▶︎ 4-Day Issyk-Kul Lake Tour
🌍 Horse riding tour that also visits Kazakhstan (Kyrgyzstan + Kazakhstan circuit)
▶︎ 8-Day Kazakhstan & Kyrgyzstan Tour
With ASHU TRAVEL tours, you get a Japanese-speaking guide & transfers, so even your first trip to Kyrgyzstan is worry-free!
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✨ Why not watch kokboru and feel Kyrgyzstan’s excitement for yourself?
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