For a long time Bac Ha District in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai has been famous for not only its beautiful landscape with immense forests adorned with white plum and bauhinia flowers in blossom, but also the Horse-race Festival. It is a unique feature in the cultural and spiritual life of the local people.
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Racing to the finish. |
In the past, horse-racing happened on impulse after a hard day’s work of gathering corn, rice and cassava. The men would get together to see who had the fastest horse, along with showing off their own physical prowess. Over the years, for reasons unknown, the frequency of the sport slowly diminished and now happens only once a year.
To prepare for the festival, it is very important for horsemen to select, take care of and train horses just for the festival. The best horses are chosen locally, then throughout the communes then the district. A good horse will be strong and upright, have good teeth and a thick, smooth mane. The first elimination round involves 100 horses and riders, that is narrowed down to 60, then to 12 and finally to the best three who compete for the title.
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Reporters try to capture the most impressive images at Bac Ha horse-race festival. |
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Jockeys before their race. |
Attending the horse-race, festival-goers have a chance to mingle in the exciting and animated atmosphere surrounding the race-course. When the festival starts the competitors, wearing plastic hats, march toward the race-course. They compete in the traditional way, without a saddle. The horseback is covered with a rectangle flax cloth and a woven robe with two crampons is attached to the bridle near the horse’s mouth. The skilled horsemen control their horses with their hands instead of using a whip. This traditional form of riding performed by the locals makes the race more interesting with spectacular performances.
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An accident during the race: a jockey falls down from his horse. |
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An exciting horse-race. |
Horse-racing is an activity to preserve and promote the traditional culture of ethnic groups in the northern mountainous provinces and increase the understanding, exchange and solidarity among ethnic people. It is one of the activities in the tourism programme on “Reversion to the Original Point†of three provinces, including Lao Cai, Yen Bai and Phu Tho. This year, the race attracted about 15,000 domestic and foreign visitors.