Dead goat polo
Buzkashi (literally "goat-pulling" in Persian) is a sport played across Central Asia and Afghanistan, and involves players on horseback wrestling over a decapitated goat carcass. The rules are simple; the goal is to seize the dead goat and to escape to the other side of the field, while being chased by the other players trying to snatch it.
The sport is said to have originated from when nomadic horsemen used to hunt wolves, after which they triumphantly threw the carcass back and forth to their fellow riders. Nowadays, the game is played for sport in rural Tajikistan, in which the best riders from across the country compete for prizes and the glory of victory.
A game can last the whole day and normally consists of short bursts of high-speed chases when a player escapes the scrum with the goat
In Tajikistan, up to several hundred players can participate in the skirmish over one goat, with very few rules and no referee
The game is most often played in the natural arena of mountain valleys during the winter months, when the lower temperatures stir up less dust and prevent the horses from overheating
Players lift the 40kg carcass off the ground in one swing while galloping in full speed, holding on to one limb while clasping another under their leg
Players wear characteristic Soviet tank helmets, which offer some protection against other players’ whips and boots
Living goats are presented as a prize for the winner
Winners can claim prizes such as goats, camels, horses, carpets, DVD-players or in large events even a second hand car