Home / Equestrian sports / Audaryspak
Nomadic horse games
Audaryspak is wrestling on horseback. Each rider tries to pull the opponent out of the saddle while staying on his own horse.
| Group | Nomadic horse games |
|---|---|
| Also called | er enish, oodarysh, horseback wrestling |
| Olympic | no |
| Governing body | World Horseback Wrestling Federation |
| Where it is popular | Horseback wrestling is popular in Kazakhstan (audaryspak) and Kyrgyzstan (er enish or oodarysh). Russia, China, Mongolia, Uzbekistan and Hungary are also partners in developing the sport. |
Two wrestlers meet in a circular arena, which is 15 metres across at the World Nomad Games. A bout lasts about five minutes, and athletes compete in weight classes. Points are given, for example, for lifting the opponent's legs above the saddle or pushing him out of the circle, and a full win means unseating him. Hitting with the whip and grabbing the other horse's reins are not allowed.
The sport needs strong, agile and very obedient horses, because the horse's skill matters as much as the wrestler's strength. In the past there were even special experts who chose horses for wrestling.
Wrestlers wear red or blue belts so judges can tell them apart. The whip is standard riding gear, but it may not be used in a bout.
Audaryspak is on the World Nomad Games programme. In 2023, Almaty hosted the first World Congress on Audaryspak.
This is a full-contact sport for adults; in Kyrgyz er enish, for example, athletes compete from age 18 or 19. Teens should build their seat and balance at a riding club and learn wrestling separately.
Horseback wrestling is mentioned in the Kyrgyz Epic of Manas.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org, astanatimes.com, advantour.com