A large alaman ulak tournament recently took place in the Uzgen district, which ended in tragedy: one person died, and another sustained serious injuries.
The tragic events were not directly related to the game. One of the accidents occurred at the Jazy River when a rider, who had come to water his horse, fell off a cliff and drowned. The second incident happened when a spectator attempted to drive up a mountain but ended up rolling back down, resulting in severe injuries to the driver.
Nevertheless, these incidents sparked discussions about safety at the national competition.
Ban on hooks and sticks: what will this lead to?
In August 2025, the "Alaman ulak" federation was established in Kyrgyzstan. The chief judge of the federation, Melis Bektashev, noted that unlike kok-boru, where two teams play, in alaman ulak each participant competes individually, and the number of participants can exceed a hundred. Previously, the rules of the game were not clearly defined, leading to various incidents: players would go off the field, damage spectators' vehicles, and fight among themselves.
"Many conflicts arose due to the use of unacceptable techniques, such as lifting the carcass from the ground with hooks or ropes. To organize the game, the federation was created," Bektashev explained.
Today, at any alaman ulak organized on the territory, at least two judges appointed by the federation must be present.
"If someone wants to hold an event and organize an alaman ulak, they must send us a request specifying the date and location, as well as a request to supervise the game," he added.
Organizers are also required to notify local law enforcement about the need for security and request an ambulance team.
The rules also apply to the horses themselves: hitting them on the head is prohibited. If a horse falls, the judge immediately stops the game so that the animal can get up.
"If at that time a player with the carcass continues to play without waiting, that point will not be counted," the chief judge explained.
New racetrack: where the games will take place
The recent alaman ulak in Uzgen took place near the road, which created some inconveniences for drivers due to the congestion of cars.
According to Melis Bektashev, about 50 hectares of land will be allocated near Manas Airport for the construction of a new racetrack.
"After its construction, major and minor alaman ulaks will be held there, with a set schedule of games for each region," he added.
The federation plans to organize playing fields in each region.
The chief judge noted that some participants still do not follow the rules of the game and behave inappropriately.
"However, compared to the time of the federation's creation, it can be seen that order has improved significantly. Judges have become authorities, issuing red cards for serious violations and yellow cards for minor ones," he emphasized.
A player who receives a red card may be suspended from games for a period ranging from one month to a year, and this punishment applies throughout the country.
About 20 major alaman ulaks take place during the season. The games start in November and are held weekly twice, usually continuing until March. The time for the games is limited — from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
How much does it cost to maintain a horse for alaman ulak?
Elburs, a resident of Bishkek, has been participating in alaman ulak for over ten years.
"I live in Bishkek, but I have a shed outside the city where I keep a horse for participating in the games," he shares.
Participating in alaman ulak is not cheap: just transporting the horse to the game location and back costs about 2000 soms, and feeding costs around 15,000 soms per month.
In addition, it is necessary to purchase equipment: boots, a special headgear, and preferably protective gear.
From November to March, Elburs is almost never free on weekends, as he participates in at least two games.
This is my hobby. I don't win anything significant, but the joy of participating and the excitement is hard to describe in words.
Elburs, alaman ulak player
According to Elburs, ulak is also an opportunity to make new acquaintances and friends.
"Wherever I play, there is no division between 'us' and 'them.' Anyone can come and participate with us," he adds.
