Jereed

Jereed, known by the name Equestrian Javelin (also jerreed, jerid, or jerrid; Turkish: Cirit) is a traditional Turkish equestrian team sport played outdoors on horseback in which the objective is to score points by throwing a blunt wooden javelin at opposing team's horsemen.

Played by Turkic peoples in Central Asia as the essential sporting and ceremonial game, it was brought to Anatolia during the westward migration in the beginning of the 11th century.

In peacetime, jereed was played to improve the cavalry's attack and defense skills, and during campaigns to whip up their enthusiasm for battle.

However, the game was not without danger, and injuries and even death from fall-offs in the attempt to catch the flying jereed sticks prompted Mahmud II (1808–1839) in 1826 to ban the sport after he dissolved the Janissary Corps.

[2] Jereed is a means of improving equestrian skills, and involves two teams of horsemen, each armed with dried oak or poplar sticks.

[1] The Jereed game begins with introduction of the players to the spectators with words of praise, followed by handshakes at center field and a parade of each team with its flag.

Jereed players in traditional regional costumes, a remembrance of the Sipahis (Ottoman cavalrymen), mount their local breed horses, specially trained for this sport.

[4] The referees, who are former jereed players with standing in the community, count the number of hits and at the end of the game announce the winning team.

[4] A player wins points when he manages to hit his rival with the stick, or ride him out, or catch an incoming jereed in mid-air.

Even though today jereed tips are rounded rubber and light, sometimes players might be injured if they are hit on the head, eyes or ears.

Therefore, if there are any known hostilities amongst players they can be left out of the tournament or put in the same team by the elder people of the locality, or by the referees, before the game starts.