There is a place deep in Kyrgyzstan where one of the most mythological and unique horse breeds on earth still survives.

On the outskirts of Toktogul, more than 200 km southeast of the capital Bishkek in the Jalal-Abad region, a local named Munarbek Kuldanbai has been fighting for several years so that the genetic purity and history of these horses is protected and maintained.

The dependence on natural resources between the former Soviet bloc countries is essential to maintain an economic balance since some depend on others. When there is a mismatch or problem between neighbors, the balance becomes unbalanced and everyone is affected, in this case It is Kyrgyzstan that is responsible for supplying enough water to maintain irrigation throughout the fertile Fergana Valley that borders both countries in which agriculture is the economic base and in turn the Uzbeks compensate for the lack of gas that Kyrgyzstan has. This happens the same in other border states with other natural resources.

Historically, it has been thought that the Appaloosa horses arrived in North America during the expansion of the Castilian empire, but it has been proven that, like so many other issues, this is a serious historical error. When the Castilians arrived, the natives were already using this horse and the reason is that they arrived. there from the steppes of Kyrgyzstan crossing through present-day Russia through the Bering Strait.

This whole issue has been scientifically demonstrated in the magnificent documentary True Appaloosa and it helped me personally to learn about this story and this project.

My arrival at the farm, like everything in Kyrgyzstan, was not without problems, the plan was to go from Bokonbayevo on the south of Lake Issyk-kul where the majority of Berkutchis are concentrated and who use their golden eagles, dogs to hunting and increasingly focused on tourism…

Eagleman(berkutchi) with his eagle and taigans (kyrgyz hunting dog)

It was 448 km and 8 hours of travel, too much to do in one day, so we decided to spend the night in a town Chaek, booking a house with local hosts. After almost an hour searching for it, we couldn't find it and there was only one other option...so I decided to call and thank goodness, because it was after 9 at night and I already thought it was time to sleep in the car, we were lucky and they opened their doors to us...for 12 euros in exchange, fairly decent accommodation with a bathroom and breakfast, which I remember The wife in her bathrobe and her son in his pajamas prepared the typical Kyrgyz breakfast for us.

After that small mishap we headed to Toktogul, it was about 3 hours of driving and the first time I drove through that area of the country, at the entrance to the city there was a police checkpoint, there one of them with his Darth Vader laser sword and doing juggling as if I were a majorette, he stopped me...

My first thought was to run away because I know very well that it was a control with a desire to collect money...

But in the end I stopped.

I get out of the car and went to the checkpoint and the movie starts, I pretended, I don't know Russian, I don't know Kyrgyz... and I already knew that they were going to show me the radar photo, on a straight line going down with visibility there was a limit sign of 40 Km/h, there were two photos, one at 68 and the other at 72, I started to act like I didn't know, that I hadn't seen, that I was a tourist...and the guy at the checkpoint showed me the book of fines, the only thing that What I understood was that I had to pay 7000 soms, approximately 70 euro in exchange. so I started to tell that we came to collaborate with a Chaar Appaloosa Association, that if I pay the fine I won't be able to leave the money for fodder for horses, I showed him a part of the documentary "true appaloosa" on my phone and then I also show him my videos from previous trips in Kyrgyzstan, I called Munarbek and told him that they have blocked us... After that they also asked for my driving license, I showed it to them... They called to the colleague on the phone and it's all over!

We can continue, I sayd goodbye to them with a selfie and with a new follower on YouTube...

A little more than 20 minutes later we finally arrived at the horse farm, on the outskirts of the town, in the middle of the mountains. Munarbek and his companion Talant were waiting there with a pot of plov that he was making over the fire, typical food. based on rice, meat and vegetables, it was spectacular, tasty and even more so after the wear and tear with the police.

After the meal it was time to feed the horses, currently there are around 60 divided into 3 herds but this spring the number was going to increase to 80.

Talant feeding horses, each day they consume 150 kg of barley.

In winter the horses are in the surrounding areas and do not go up to the top of the mountains, so they need a significant supply of food, feed, forage, reeds, etc. It must also be taken into account that they are very vulnerable of wolf attacks and that is why they are gathered at farm to pass the night

The rest of the year the horses are free high on the mountains where they have enough food and gradually coming down to the valley as the cold arrives until they complete their annual cycle.

Among all the horses there is one that stands out for its beauty, it is Chaar Suluu, with which the entire recovery project began. These horses have historically been sacred in Kyrgyzstan but over time and crosses between different breeds they disappeared, fortunately Munarbek is doing a lot of genetic work to achieve authentic purity.

Chaar Suluu famous stallion from “True Appaloosa” film

The impact has been so great that even the Americans themselves, those who defending the true precursors of the breed, approved qualities of chaar horses.

this is very ambitious project in which we are involved with like minded from different parts of the world and supporting chaar horses to remain in its original territory and become known worldwide.

The project is perfectly defined on the website www.chaar-appaloosa.org, there you can find all the information and contact the representatives of each country, as well as online store with a multitude CHAAR merchandising and with possibility make specific donations or make member monthly contributions through Paypal, it is a very quick and simple procedure for anyone who wants to do it from 10 euro a month onwards, I am sure that these sacred horses will be deeply grateful.

Here are some of the photos I took of these unique and special animals that we hope can survive and live again free in the heavenly steppes and mountains of Kyrgyzstan.

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