Thirteen-year-old Muhammed Rasit, the youngest member of Uzmanlar, (Experts) sports club, cuddles his horse prior to a game of Cirit, a traditional Turkish equestrian sport that dates back to the martial horsemen who spearheaded the historical conquests of central Asia's Turkic tribes, between the Comrades and the Experts local sporting clubs, in Erzurum, eastern Turkey, Friday, March 5, 2021. The game that was developed more than a 1,000 years ago, revolves around a rider trying to spear his or her opponent with a "javelin" - these days, a rubber-tipped, 100 centimeter (40 inch) length of wood. A rider from each opposing team, which can number up to a dozen players, face each other, alternately acting as the thrower and the rider being chased. Cirit was popular within the Ottoman empire, before it was banned as in the early 19th century. However, its popularity returned as is now one of many traditional sports encouraged by the government and tournaments are often arranged during festivals or to celebrate weddings. (AP Photo/Kenan Asyali)