Horses fight in Chinese New Year battles

(140202) -- RONGSHUI, Feb. 2, 2014 (Xinhua) -- Two stallions fight during a traditional Chinese New Year horse fighting competition for the Year of the Horse in Tiantou Miao Village of Rongshui County, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autnomous Region, Feb. 2, 2014. (Xinhua/Long Linzhi) (lfj)

TIANTOU VILLAGE: In southern China, many ushered in the Year of the Horse with hooves clashing in mid-air and stallions biting opponents as cheers rang in the air.

For the residents of Tiantou, a remote village in the Guangxi region, the 500-year-old tradition which pits male horses against each other in a fight over a female was the only way to kick off the Lunar New Year.