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Nomadic horse games
Tenge ilu is a Kazakh horseback game of agility. At full gallop, the rider leans down from the saddle and picks up coins from the ground.
| Group | Nomadic horse games |
|---|---|
| Also called | tenge alu, tyiyn enmei, tyin enmei, coin picking |
| Olympic | no |
| Governing body | International Tenge Ilu Federation |
| Where it is popular | The game is popular in Kazakhstan, which has its own tenge ilu federation. A similar game, tyiyn enmei, is known in Kyrgyzstan. |
The event takes place on a 120-metre track. Five coins, each wrapped in a small cloth, lie in shallow holes every 10 metres. The rider must pick them up without slowing down. The winner is the rider who collects the most coins in the shortest time.
The game needs a calm but fast horse that gallops in a straight line and does not spook when the rider suddenly leans toward the ground.
Riders often wear traditional dress. The main equipment is the coins or other small objects, wrapped in cloth.
Tenge ilu was on the programme of the 2024 World Nomad Games in Astana. Before them, an Asian championship in tenge ilu was held in the Almaty Region.
First a rider needs a secure seat at the gallop, so the start is lessons at a riding club. Leaning down from the saddle is practised step by step, at a walk, with a helmet and under a coach's eye.
In hobby horsing, similar agility is needed in relay-style games where riders pick up or carry objects on the run. What is hobby horsing →
The game grew out of warrior training. At old-time weddings, young riders would pick up the bride's jewellery from the ground at a gallop.
Sources: astanatimes.com, worldethnosport.org, oq.gov.kz, en.wikipedia.org