The Quirky World of Bugkashi

Buzkashi, often described as the 'dead goat sport' of Afghanistan, involves teams of horse riders competing to control and carry a carcass to score points. This historic game is akin to rugby on horseback, where players use both their physical agility and horsemanship skills to succeed. The sport requires participants to scoop up a lifeless goat or calf while navigating the chaos created by opposing players attempting to knock them off their horses. Modern variations of Buzkashi have adopted faux carcasses to maintain the thrill without the ethical concerns of using real animals.