You think this Sumatran cow race looks deadly… try taking the photos!By Anthony Bond
18:34 GMT, 18 May 2012
If you think this sport looks dangerous for the competitors, then spare a thought for the poor photographer.
The dirty and somewhat deranged Sumatran sport of Pacu Jawi is an Indonesian tradition which involves racing 700 bulls around a field by their tails.
Once a year, Indonesian bull breeders and buyers come together and trade their bulls in order to race.
Dirty: The somewhat deranged Sumatran sport of Pacu Jawi is an Indonesian tradition which involves racing 700 bulls around a field by their tails
Popular: Once a year, Indonesian bull breeders and buyers come together and trade their bulls in order to race
The extraordinary event - which translates to 'push-ahead cow' in the local language of the Minangkabau tribe - is held in West Sumatra, Padang, Indonesia.
But it is notoriously difficult for photographers to safely take pictures of the event.
In previous years, many photographers have being injured in the race.
Luckily, native photographer Afif Farisi, was on hand to take these incredible photos of this year's race.
Tradition: The extraordinary event - which translates to 'push-ahead cow' in the local language of the Minangkabau tribe - is held in West Sumatra, Padang, Indonesia
Tough job: It is notoriously difficult for photographers to safely take pictures of the event
Cows who have worked throughout the season ploughing and tilling the land are used in the race, which is held in a muddy rice field at the end of the harvesting season.
Local jockeys taking part in the race hang on to the tail of two bulls and drive the cattle with their bare feet resting on a lightweight wooden plow harness while they grasp the cow's tails.
The idea is that the person who can get the cows to race in a straight line is the winner, with riders biting the bulls' tails to make the animals go faster, steering them with their hands and feet.
The cows run in pairs, and are loosely tied together to make it more difficult to maintain a long consistent run.
Casualties: In previous years, many photographers have being injured in the race
Incredible: Luckily, native photographer Afif Farisi, was on hand to take these photos of this year's event
While the race has become part of Indonesian culture, the main purpose of the Pacu Jawi is for sellers to exhibit the strength of their bulls to potential buyers.
A good race performance can lead to generating a higher price for those farmers that plan to sell breeding stock.
After each run the bulls are cleaned and herded into a display pen for the buyers to make their choice.
