Horses in Kyrgyzstan

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In Kyrgyzstan, as in all countries with a Turko-Mongol nomadic culture, horses are an important part of the local economy and identity. Originally a status symbol, the possession of numerous horses enables Kyrgyz nomads to carry out military operations, hunt and move around their mountainous country. Ownership of large herds was banned during the Soviet era, causing many difficulties for the Kyrgyz. The Russians tried to replace the traditional breed with a crossbred horse, the NovoKyrgyz, but the local horse has survived to the present day. After a period of crisis in the 1990s, horse breeding and the consumption of mare milk are enjoying a revival, as are traditional equestrian games and festivals.

Kyrgyzstan is home to six breeds of horse, including the heritage breed that symbolizes the country, the Kyrgyz horse. The horse is celebrated in literature and oral traditions as a double of the human being. They are commonly sacrificed at ritual festivals, which have been revived since the end of communism.