The annual Golden Horse Festival brought horsemen from around the region to compete in traditional events on Lake Cildir in east Turkey on Saturday. /VCG Photo

Crowds watched horse racing, horse-drawn sled racing, and team events of horseback javelin and buzkashi, a polo-like sport. /VCG Photo

Temperatures of around minus 15 degrees Celsius called for a lot of preparation. /VCG Photo

The lake’s barren beauty made this a very striking event. /VCG Photo