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A game of many people

Ulak is the most popular kind of the equestrian sport not only among Uzbeks but also among some neighbouring people such as Kazakhs, Kirghizs, Afghans, Tajiks and Karakalpaks. They have different names for it, but despite some difference, it all boils down to picking up the carcass of a goat and bring it to the finish.

Ulak

Horses have been bred in Central Asia for millenniums. It was one of the traditional occupations of the predecessors of present-day Uzbeks. According to ancient manuscripts, even before the beginning of our era Chinese emperors sent special envoys to buy highbred horses in the Ferghana Valley. One of the most ancient horse-breeding areas was the Zerafshan oasis with the centres in Samarkand, Urgut and Kattakurgan. There were various breeds, but most widespread were the Karabairs.

Centuries have sorted out methods of selecting and training horses for the competitions. Horses begin to be trained for the ulak when they are four or five years old, and they remain active until the age of 20 or 25.

The largest number of participants competes in the ulak arranged on the occasion of a wedding. According to tradition, most weddings take place late in autumn after the harvest, in winter or early in spring, before the beginning of the farming season. Guests come from the entire neighbourhood and also from far-away places. Besides horses, goats and bull-calves are also prepared for the game in advance. The prizes are camels, bulls, goats, carpets and household appliances.

A crier invites the guests for a game of ulak. He announces the name of the host and invites everyone for a feast at which pilau or shurpa (meat soup) are served. After the feast the oldest man gives a blessing for the game to start. According to the ancient custom, horsemen mount their horses only after the ablution and prayer.

Ulak

Horsemen traditionally wear a chapan (a wide robe made of very thick fabric). Narrow clothes restrict movements. Time has introduced some amendments such as numbers on the horsemen's backs. But the requirement to wear wide bloomers made of coarse cotton fabric instead of trousers has remained. A fur cap is worn on the head, although preference has lately been given to leather helmets. To avoid injuries, feet are swathed with coarse fabric, and high leather riding boots with wide bootlegs are put on.

Special requirements are applied to the horses' harness. Bridles should be without any metallic adornments, and stirrups should be smooth. No calkins are permitted on horseshoes.

A spacious field is always chosen for the game of ulak. Two finish lines, or rather finish rings (marra) with a radius of up to 20 m are arranged in one and a half kilometres from each other. Each finish ring is covered with straw, with stones lining its perimeter. It is there that horsemen have to throw the goat's carcass. The one who does it is the winner. The line dividing the playing ground into halves is the place for the chief judge and his assistants.

The rules are rather strict. Horsemen are not allowed to ride in the direction of the spectators, and spectators are not allowed to help them pick up the carcass from the ground. No one is permitted to ride over a horseman who has bent to pick the carcass off the ground. It is also forbidden to push the horseman, who has picked up the trophy, from his horse, or to snatch the trophy from behind his back.

Ulak

When the Central Asian countries became independent, they started to revive this ancient game. An international federation was set up, which was joined, part from the Central Asian states, by China, Pakistan, Turkey and even France. New rules have been approved. International tournaments are held between national teams.

The game continues for 60 minutes, three periods of 20 minutes each. Victory goes to the team that succeeds in throwing the goat's carcass into the rival's finish ring more times than the other teams. And the horseman who throws the greatest number of carcasses into the toy-kazan (finish ring) becomes the champion.

Fans of ulak hope that some time in future this game will be included into the Olympic Games programme.

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