RIDING AS A STAGE OF LIFE CIRCLE IN THE ADYGHE FOLKLORE
The article considers the nature of the refl ection in folklore of the institute of horsemanship in the traditional Adyghe society as one of the important stages of the life cycle of the Adyghe man: in most cases, it precedes the creation of a family and even can serve as one of the ways of initial tests of a young person. The information of domestic and foreign scientists about riding in the tradition of the Adyghs is considered. The texts of Nart and historical-heroic tales which refl ect equestrianism as an occupation are analyzed. Also there is the option institutes «man's house», which is refl ected in the stories of the sledges as «Nart Khase» - «Assembly of the Narts». In later tradition such meeting of soldiers known by the name «shu pshya» - «the camp of the riders». They were organized at certain times of the year as multiday campaigns with secret meetings in a certain place for the purpose of training young people and organizing unsafe trips sometimes for quite long distances. Presented specifi c conditions and rules, which adhered to warriors in such homes and camps. Comparative analysis of folklore and ethnological data is also conducted with the use of materials of Russian folklore and folklore of the peoples of the Caucasus.