![A jockey rides two bulls](https://imagevars.gulfnews.com/2018/12/04/A_jockey_rides_two_bulls_resources1_16a0853a927_medium.jpg)
Pariangan, Indonesia: Waves of muddy water slosh over the jockey as he hangs on to the tails of a pair of bulls galloping across the rice paddy. It's a wet-and-wild ride in this remote pocket of Indonesia's Sumatra island, where traditional bull racing known as Pacu Jawi is serious business.
![A jockey riding bulls with a cart](https://imagevars.gulfnews.com/2018/12/04/A_jockey_riding_bulls_with_a_cart_resources1_16a0853a928_base.jpg)
![A jockey riding two bulls with a cart 2](https://imagevars.gulfnews.com/2018/12/04/A_jockey_riding_two_bulls_with_a_cart_2_resources1_16a0853a92d_base.jpg)
The centuries-old races once heralded the end of rice harvesting season when the emerald paddies had been cleared.
![A jockey riding bulls](https://imagevars.gulfnews.com/2018/12/04/A_jockey_riding_bulls_resources1_16a0853a93c_base.jpg)
Nowadays, hundreds turn up to cheer on fearless jockeys who can net a bull worth as much as 15 million rupiah ($1,050) if they win a month-end tournament - a princely prize in a country where many live on a few dollars a day.
![People watching as jockeys riding bulls](https://imagevars.gulfnews.com/2018/12/04/People_watching_as_jockeys_riding_bulls_resources1_16a0853a975_base.jpg)
The rules are simple. Jockeys grab on to the bulls' tails and race one at a time down the paddy as fast as they can. Sometimes a pre-race bite to the tail gets the animals in a galloping mood. Riders have to stay upright for the 250 metre race or it's all over. Injuries are part of the job.
![A jockey bites the tail of a bull](https://imagevars.gulfnews.com/2018/12/04/A_jockey_bites_the_tail_of_a_bull_resources1_16a0853a989_base.jpg)
![Two jockeys riding bulls during the traditional bull rac](https://imagevars.gulfnews.com/2018/12/04/Two_jockeys_riding_bulls_during_the_traditional_bull_rac_resources1_16a0853a98a_base.jpg)
While animal racing can be seen in other parts of the vast Indonesian archipelago - including buffalo racing in holiday hotspot Bali - locals in West Sumatra insist their version is one-of-a-kind.
![Two jockeys riding bulls 4](https://imagevars.gulfnews.com/2018/12/04/Two_jockeys_riding_bulls_4_resources1_16a0853a9a6_base.jpg)