Sheep-snatching is a traditional sport loved by Kazaks, Khalkhas and Tajiks, which is usually held on holidays or during festive gatherings.

The sport is generally held in three forms: team work, one-on-one snatching and free snatching. To prepare for the contest, a sheep's head should be sliced off with its viscera removed beforehand and its body put in the middle of the ground. For the first form, the competitors shall be grouped into a team of around ten people. Upon the order of the referee, both teams of horse riders will run as fast as they can, while the faster and more skilled rider will grasp the sheep and hold it under the stirrup tread or carry it on his back, running towards anywhere to prevent others from chasing and snatching. After repeated snatching for several rounds, whichever team places the sheep at the designated point first will be the winner. When the second form is adopted, each team shall have a representative who will begin snatching the sheep from each other, or a third person shall hold the sheep first with two riders preparing to snatch upon his order. After pulling and struggling, any of the two who gets the sheep shall be the winner. The last form shall be free snatching, in which there will be no teams, and all riders will compete for the sheep together. Then the winner, with booty in his arms, shall dash out the competing ground and throw the sheep by the doorway of a yurt, with his horse neighing and the audiences cheering, declaring the end of the contest. It's said that the sheep snatched will bring luck to the household where it is placed. Finally, the people will cook the sheep for everyone to enjoy a bite. The sport is competitive and fierce, relying highly on the riders’ bravery and adept horsemanship.