Buz Kashi

He awakens from his night of anxious anticipation.  Fear and longing tear him in two.  An honor so great as this is tasted by few.  To be the center of pride and power.  The target of unconditional motivation and affection.  To be the course to success and the pathway for ovation.  The ancients have praised others like him.  Kings and greats of old have tucked them under their wings.  To be one of them.  One to which others will look to with pride.  Oh, to be a buz!  To be a goat in a Buz Kashi match is to possess the world.

One of the most treasured sports in this part of Central Asia is called Buz Kashi.  A game (if I can call it that) that centers around a goat.  This goat is not alive and it doesn’t have a head either.  They are slaughtered fresh for the game.  An offering, if you will, to the king of masculine expression.  

All power and intensity is focused around the goat.  Men on horseback tear forth to grab, control, and strive through to place it successfully in the tire upon the ground.  Such results in ample applause and a prize for the victor.  

Those wanting to see a nice relaxing Buz Kashi match need not come.  Without boundaries for the field, the crowd itself quickly becomes a part of the excitement.  When there’s a pack of 10 large horses running at you, with men on-back clinging to a goat, your relaxing day has turned into one of adrenaline.  

Enjoy some pictures!

Notice the goat on the rider's lap.  They weight up to 70lbs.

Like I said: adrenaline!   

Two riders fighting for the goat.

Maybe 70-100 riders in all that day.

The goal posts: a tire.

Intensity.