Uloq-Kopkari: How to Watch Uzbekistan's Wildest Horseback Game

Uloq-Kopkari is the horseback game of the Central Asian steppe: dozens, sometimes hundreds, of riders fight over a goat carcass and try to carry it clear of the pack. It is the most thrilling thing you can watch in Uzbekistan, and the villages around Samarkand are among the best places to see it. The season runs from late autumn to early spring, mostly at weekends. Dates are announced only a few weeks ahead, so the easiest way to catch a game is to message us on WhatsApp with your travel dates and let us check what is on.

Key facts

• Names: uloq or kopkari (also spelled kupkari) in Uzbekistan; buzkashi in Afghanistan and Tajikistan.
• What happens: riders compete to grab a goat carcass and carry it to a marked spot.
• Season: late autumn to early spring, after the harvest; weekends are busiest.
• Where: village fields and arenas around Samarkand, including Nurobod district, and in neighbouring Kashkadarya region.
• Dates: usually announced only a few weeks in advance, on local Telegram channels and by word of mouth.
• How to go: with a local guide who knows where the game is and where to stand. WhatsApp: +998 93 224 4333.

What is Uloq-Kopkari?

Forget polite spectator sport. Kopkari is raw, loud and completely real: a game played by village horsemen for village crowds, not a show staged for visitors. You will rarely see another tourist in the crowd. Neighbouring countries play their own versions of the same game, and in Afghanistan and Tajikistan it is called buzkashi. In Uzbekistan most people simply say uloq or kopkari.

How the game works

The rules are simple; playing it is not. A goat carcass is dropped onto the field, and the riders charge in to take it.

• The grab. A rider leans down from the saddle, often at a gallop, and snatches the carcass off the ground.
• The breakout. He has to tear free of the pack while every other rider tries to pull it from his grip.
• The score. He carries it clear and drops it at the marked spot or in front of the judges.
• The prize. The host announces a prize for each round: it may be a carpet, a TV, a sheep, and for the final rounds even a car.

The horses are as much the stars as the riders. Many are trained for years for this game alone, and a strong kopkari horse is a matter of family pride. Watch how they push into the crowd of other horses, stop and turn on command: a good part of the skill belongs to the horse.

History and tradition

Kopkari grew out of the nomadic life of Central Asia, where good horsemanship was a matter of survival. For centuries it was a test of strength, courage and skill in the saddle.

Today it is above all a celebration. Families host a kopkari to mark a wedding, the birth of a son or a big holiday such as Navruz. The host invites riders from nearby villages and puts up the prizes. Spectators crowd the edges of the field, tea is poured, and the whole village turns out. Being there is as much about this festive atmosphere as about the game itself.

When and where to see it near Samarkand

The season runs from late autumn to early spring. The harvest is in, the fields are free, and the weather is cool enough for horses to run hard. Weekends are the busiest days, and some of the biggest games take place around holidays such as Navruz in March.

The districts around Samarkand, such as Nurobod, and the neighbouring Kashkadarya region hold some of the biggest competitions. Large events take place at dedicated arenas, while smaller ones fill open fields on the edge of villages.

There is no official calendar. Dates are usually announced only a few weeks ahead, mostly on local Telegram channels in Uzbek and by word of mouth, and a game can move or be cancelled because of the weather. This is where a local team helps: we follow the announcements and can tell you which games fall during your stay. If you are visiting in winter, a kopkari is one of the best reasons to leave the city for a day.

Tips for watching kopkari

• Keep your distance. Riders and horses can burst into the crowd without warning. Stand where your guide tells you, ideally on raised ground or behind a vehicle.
• Dress warm. Late-autumn and winter fields are cold and windy. Bring layers, a hat and sturdy shoes; the ground can be muddy.
• Expect dust. Sunglasses and a scarf help a lot.
• Take photos, but stay alert. A zoom lens lets you get close-up shots from a safe spot. Never step onto the field for a picture.
• Be ready for the carcass. The game uses a real goat, which some visitors may find hard to watch.
• Accept the hospitality. Locals will often offer tea, bread or plov. Accepting is part of the experience.
• Plan for a full day. Games often start late in the morning and go on for hours, and the venue may be a drive from the city.

Our private Uloq-Kopkari day trip from Samarkand

TravelBliss arranges private day trips to kopkari games, built around your dates and plans. Because the games are not fixed in advance, this is not a set tour you can book online: tell us your dates and we will check which games are on and send you a tailor-made offer.

• Pick-up from your hotel in Samarkand.
• Private car with driver for the whole day.
• English-speaking guide who explains the game, its rules and its traditions, and shows you where to stand safely.
• A taste of the local festivities, food and village hospitality.
• Drop-off at your hotel or at Samarkand railway station, timed for your evening train.

The fastest way to ask is WhatsApp: [+998 93 224 4333](wa). Send us your travel dates, the number of people and where you are staying, and we will reply with the games we know of. You can combine the day with other trips from Samarkand, such as horse riding in Agalyk, the Shakhrisabz and Miraki day tour or a night at the Aydarkul yurt camp.