Traditional Thai water buffalo race amuses crowds

Boys scurry, duck and weave by crowds sheltering from the suffocating warmth earlier than upending buckets of cooling water on beefy bovines ready to compete on the annual conventional Thai buffalo races in Chonburi.

The riotously noisy, muddy and barely chaotic annual custom marks the start of the rice planting season – with the festival-like environment within the jap province going down for the primary time in two years.

The principle occasion sees 4 pairs of harnessed buffalo gallop throughout a embellished paddy area, with intrepid racers sprinting barefoot by the shallow muddy waters and making an attempt to each management their beasts and stay upright.

“Earlier than the race begins, we’re a bit excited and nervous,” mentioned Sompong Ratanasatien, 33, drenched and respiration closely after his newest bout.

The trickiest level was the beginning line, he mentioned, the place racers should look ahead to the official begin whistle as they try to manoeuvre the heavy beasts into place and maintain them calm.

“After that it depends upon our buffalo and the way he matches with my expertise,” mentioned Ratanasatien, who was having fun with a profitable streak along with his two-year-old bovine Kao.

Urged on with a small metal-tipped bamboo whip, the often placid animals are unrecognisable as they rampage down the watery area.

‘Regular individuals can’t do it’

Bouts are divided in keeping with weight and measurement, with the heaviest creatures barely slower to a practised eye however requiring considerably extra ability to regulate.

And the racers, who work and practice with the buffalos for weeks in preparation, do not at all times have the higher hand.

Quite a few races bought off to false begins because the hapless human racers had been – actually – dragged by the mud.

“I believe regular individuals can’t do (it),” mentioned Inside Lueanguksorn, who had travelled from Bangkok to look at the races.

“There’s a relation between the individuals and them (buffalos),” the 38-year-old added.

The animals usually regarded near careening uncontrolled as they thundered throughout the end line, scattering any spectator silly sufficient to face close by.

Preserving Chonburi traditions

Racer Noppadon Yindeesuk, 45, admitted the custom will be hazardous.

“It may very well be a bit harmful if the buffalos are operating too shut to one another as a result of it might trigger an accident – so the riders have to be cautious,” he defined.

Nonetheless, he mentioned he could be racing two of his buffalo – price round $4,200 every – Parewa and Pete.

“They’re over two years previous, and so they received the race final yr,” he mentioned, grinning ear-to-ear, including that he skilled with them each three or 4 days.

However there was an necessary level to Sunday’s spectacle, Yindeesuk mentioned.

“I compete within the buffalo racing as a result of I’m attempting to protect our Chonburi traditions about good rice, good buffalo.”

READ MORE:
Thailand’s Monkey Competition returns after two-year hiatus

Supply: AFP