American cowboys have arrived in Kazakhstan for the Fifth World Nomad Games
The U.S. kokpar team arrived in Kazakhstan on Sept. 5 to compete in ethnic equestrian sports at the fifth World Nomad Games, Kazinform reported.
Ladd Howell, the team captain, shared his lifelong passion for horses, which began with his interest in American professional rodeo. He first encountered kokpar in 2018 through a YouTube video and was immediately captivated, calling it “the coolest thing” he had ever seen.
Two months later, a friend from Wyoming invited Howell to participate in the third World Nomad Games in Kyrgyzstan, marking his first hands-on experience with the sport and deepening his passion for kokpar.
Although kokpar is not played in the U.S., Howell noted similarities between kokpar and American rodeo, particularly in how both sports emphasize hard work, horsemanship, and dedication. He believes these shared traits are crucial for fostering discipline and commitment in riders from both cultures.
“Horses are a kind of bridge; it is what unites us all. Horses are like an international language, and that is why we are here, as cowboys, enjoy sports and culture,” he said.
The U.S. team will be using horses provided by Kazakhstan for the competition. They plan to train with the horses for a day or two before the event to assess which are best suited for offensive and defensive roles. Although team members are from different states, making joint training challenging, they have individually practiced on their own horses in preparation.
Scott Zimmerman, the team’s second captain, expressed optimism for a strong performance at the upcoming games.
“We want to make sure that we can share our Western American cowboy culture, as well as embrace the culture of Central Asian countries. We want to talk about Kazakhstan and this unique opportunity,” he said.(Source:astanatimes)
