Circassians - The Best Horse Riders

Footage of Circassian horsemen demonstrating their riding skills, shot in Kabardia in 1965. (Герой Нашего Времени)

Circassian horse-born warriors (шууей [shuwey], in Circassian; джигит [dzhigit], in Russian) have always been famous for their immaculate equestrian skills. Intrepid horsemen rode their mounts in all positions: upright or clinging to the horse's side, in simulation of battle manœuvres. They had the uncanny ability to crawl under the belly of the mount, at full gallop – a manœuvre called “schinibech'epsh” (шыныбэкIэпщ; Adigean) – to confound the enemy. They performed daredevil feats, picking up whips and other articles (schiwye'ebix; шыуеIебых; Adigean), and hitting eggs (jedich'eyewe; джэдыкIэеуэ) placed on the ground at breakneck speed. A special kind of trick riding, “shurelhes” (шурэлъэс; literally: mounting-dismounting), in which a horseman, at full tilt, leapt off and then back on his horse, was also part of their repertoire. In “nipzef'eh” (ныпзэфIэхь; literally: banner-snatching), an equestrian game that required considerable strength and high skill, a group of horsemen snatched away a flag from one another, the object of the game being to carry it away. In "pi'ezef'eh" (пыIэзэфIэхь), the snatched object is a Circassian cap (пыIэ; pi'e). There were many versions of this sport, which is still played to this day. Two special forms of dressage, “shiqafe” (шыкъафэ; literally: horse-dance) and “shighejegw” (шыгъэджэгу; literally: making the horse dance), were, and still are, crowd favourites.
War games were very popular in the 18th and 19th centuries. One game had a group of foot soldiers wielding long clubs and knouts forming a circle, with horsemen trying to breach the formation. It was a veritable demonstration of courage and technique. Despite the onrush of horses, generally no serious injuries resulted. This game usually blended with other festal rites, usually following upon a compact “wij” (ancient ritual circle dance) formation.

During the Russo-Circassian war, the Circassians showed incredible resistance against the Russians for over 100 years. One of the main reasons for this is horse warfare techniques. Boys used to travel with their guns from a young age, because they would have to defend their homeland with these guns in their future lives. There was no nation that could use the rifle and sword more effectively than the Circassians on horseback. We know that the famous Circassian resistance leader Tuguzhuko Kizbech defeated the 12,000 strong Russian army with 700 Circassian horsemen by the river Abin. Cossacks and Russians, who could not cope with the Circassians, began to use Circassian weapons and clothes.

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