Bac Ha Horse racing festival

  On May 28, 29, 2011 in Bac Ha district (100km from Sapa), Lao Cai Province there is celebration of the very special and traditional horse racing which is very original with only plastic hat on participant' head, a couple of slipper, a horse with bow. All of them have aspiration of bringing victory and happiness to their ethnic groups and their villages as well.

  The participants are from Tay, Dao, H'mong ethnic group who are really skillful and brave with nothing in their hands, they never need a saddle, a tirrup, or even safetycloths...And taking part in the competition in aspiration of victory. The participants and horses just have a piece of rectangle shaped cloth covering on horses's back, they control the horses just with two ropes being tied on horse's jaw. They don't have rod, only keep bridle to control the horse and keep being balance.

  To keep being balance they must know how to seat on the deep-set near horse's shoulder, their two legs should hold tightly horse's body and follow the rhythm of horse's gallop. If they may be out of control and fall down so they must know how to act to avoid being injured.

 This year's compettion have a larger-scale than it is used to be, estimating over 150 horses joining in march and nearly 100 horses take part in the race of 1500m.

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