What is Chovken? The equestrian team sport
Chovken is a traditional horseback game where players use wooden mallets to strike a ball toward the opponent’s goal.
Today, the sport continues to grow internationally while preserving its historic roots.
What is Chovken?
Chovken is an equestrian team sport that combines riding skill, teamwork and ball control. Mounted players use mallets to direct the ball towards the opposing goal, with the aim of scoring more goals than their opponents.
Under the ICF game rules, teams normally have four players; the Organizing Committee may allow five-player squads. A match has two 15-minute halves and a 10-minute halftime break.
The International Chovken Federation develops the sport through international competitions and cooperation with national organizations.
History of the sport
Chovken belongs to a long tradition of mounted ball games. In Azerbaijan, the traditional practice is closely associated with Karabakh horses and the transmission of riding and playing skills between generations.
In 2013, UNESCO inscribed “Chovqan, a traditional Karabakh horse-riding game in the Republic of Azerbaijan” on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding. This entry describes a traditional practice and its cultural setting; it is not the rulebook for all ICF competitions.
Today, ICF World and Continental Championships provide an international setting for competitive Chovken.
Basic rules & gameplay
• Teams normally have four mounted players; five-player squads may be permitted by the organizer.
• Players use mallets to play the ball towards the opposing goal.
• Matches have two 15-minute halves with a 10-minute halftime break.
• If required, five minutes of extra time follow a five-minute break; a remaining tie is resolved by penalty shooting.
• A goal counts when the ball passes between the posts at any height.
• The team with more goals wins, including points awarded as penalties.
Player safety, horse welfare, equipment and infringements are governed by the full ICF game rules.
Cultural roots & global spread
The traditional practice documented by UNESCO combines horsemanship with community life, music and the sharing of skills. Its safeguarding concerns include the continued participation of younger generations and the availability of experienced players, trainers and Karabakh horses.
ICF competitions bring together teams from different countries. The championship archive records World and Continental events, while tournament reports and scoreboards document their participants and results.
Cultural & historical media
Chovken, Chovgan and Chovqan: understanding the names
Chovken is the name used by the International Chovken Federation in its English-language materials and competitions. Readers may also encounter Chovgan in other coverage. UNESCO uses Chovqan in the official title of its entry on the traditional Karabakh horse-riding game in Azerbaijan.
When reading about the sport, check the context: a heritage description and a competition rulebook serve different purposes. UNESCO describes a traditional five-rider team, while the ICF rules specify four players and allow the organizer to choose five-player squads. Original source titles retain their published spelling.
UNESCO: Chovqan heritage entry