Sheep snatching on horseback is a traditional sport of several ethnic minority groups in Northwest China and is usually held at festivals or other occasions for celebration. The participants are required to have strong bodies, courage and good equestrian skills.

During the game, the horse riders are divided into several groups, with each group usually comprised of more than ten people, who wait in an open field. A sheep without head and viscera has already been put at a designated place.

All the participants race to snatch the sheep at the start of the game. The one who first snatches the sheep shall try all means, with the help of the teammates, to carry the sheep to the destination while the other teams use all kinds of methods to seize the sheep. The team that first takes the sheep to the destinationl wins the game.

The game, a favorite of Kazakstan Tajik is usually held in summer and participants are largely men. However, in recent years, more and more women began to take part in this game.