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Jigit

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For the Djigit missile launcher, see9K38 Igla.
Modern horse and rider

Jigit(also spelled asDzhigit,yigit,zhigitorigid) is a word used in theNorth CaucasusandCentral Asiato describe a skillful and braveequestrian,[1]or a brave person in general. The word is of Turkic origin.[2]

The derived term 'jigitovka'(orjigiting) means the special style oftrick ridingthat originated in theTurkic culturesof North Caucasus and Central Asia, and is also popular withCossacks,who adopted it from theCircassians.[3]When performing dzhigitovka, the riders at fullgallopstand up, jump to the ground and back to thesaddle,pick up objects from the ground (such as coins, hats, etc.), shoot targets with various weapons, ride hanging on the side or under the belly of the horse and do otheracrobaticfeats.[2]

Since the early 19th century jigitovka has been demonstrated in thecircusesand horse sport competitions, and made its way to the popularWestern culture,for instance Cossacks (actually Georgian horsemen from western part of Georgia, Guria) demonstrated jigitovka as part ofBuffalo Bill's Wild WestShow.[4]Jigitovka was also used in training of cavalry forces in theRussian EmpireandUSSR.Modern jigitovka as a circus performance includes complexstuntsusually performed by a group of riders.

Equestrian Jigitovka

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A Circassian performing jigitovka in Transjordan

In 2016 jigitovka was officially recognised as a sporting discipline in the Russian Federation.[5]

References

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  1. ^Толковый словарь русского языка Ушакова
  2. ^abGreat Soviet Encyclopedia.Джигитовка
  3. ^Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary.Джигит
  4. ^"Thomas M. Barrett. All the World's a Frontier: How Cossacks Became Cowboys".Neh.gov.Retrieved2014-01-16.
  5. ^"Equestrian Jigitovka has Become an Official Sport (Russian)".
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