HORSES IN TRADITIONAL KYRGYZ CULTURE

«Horses are a man's wings»

«If you are given only one day's life, spend half of it in the saddle»

«Only a horse and an agreeable conversation can shorten a long journey»

Domestication of the horse made a huge difference to the development of mankind — as they provided a means of transportation enabling fast large scale movements of peoples over great distances and a source of power. It is thought that there were many centers of domestication on the Eurasian steppes — although recent «Soviet» research suggests that it first occurred in the Ukraine around 4000 BC — and that the culture of the horse then spread Eastwards.

The horse occupies a major role in many traditional cultures. They have a special place in the traditional lifestyle and culture of the Kyrgyz people as a symbol of wealth and for their practical use to a nomadic people. They are valied for their phyciscal strength, their endurance and their stamina. Whilst the number of sheep herds exceeded that of other domesticated animals, it was the number of horses which it owned that determined the status of a household.

Famous Central Asian breeds include the Akhal Teke of Turkmenistan, (the forerunner of the modern Arabian steed) which could cross desserts, the Prezhevalsk (or Wild Asiatic Horse — the world«s last remaining species of Wild horse) and the Kyrgyz pony, which could cross over stony ground without metal hooves and the mares of the Ferghana valley famous for their speed.

At Aravan, near Osh in the South of Kyrgyzstan, ancient petroglyphs have been found representing the «Celestial Horses». On a couple of rocks the drawings have remarkably small heads; long, graceful swan like necks; lean bodies and long, tapering legs. The Ferghana valley was the home of the famous «Dragon Horses» which were the subject of many legends across Asia and India for the size, speed and endurance. It was thought that there were descended from dragons and divine steeds, hence the name. The earliest Chinese expeditions to the area (in the second century BC), came looking for both allies and horses. Chang Ch«ien was the commander of the guards of the imperial palace gates and volunteered to lead an expedition of 100 men to form an alliance with the Yueh-chih against the Xiongnu, (a Turkic speacking nomadic tribe which, at the height of it power, dominated an area that extended all the way from Eastern Mongolia to the Aral Sea). After a trip lasting thirteen years he returned, with a solitary survivor from the 100 men that had originally left with him. He is often regarded as the founder of the Silk Road. The new emporer We-ti sent him back (this time with three hundred warriors), and after a lifetime of travel and danger his health gave ourt and he died after his return from his second trip. Wu-ti then sent another, far larger, expedition which after a four year campaign returmed with some 3000 of the Celestial Horses.

These horses were famous for «sweating blood» — something noted by Silk Road travelers right up until the 19th and 20th centuries. The reason for this phenomenon remained a secret right up until the twentieth century when it was discovered that it was due to parasite infections. The parasite burrowed under the skin in the region of the shoulde3r and back and produced little swellings which burst and bled. Not only were these horses highly prized by the Chinese army and served in many campaigns, (and later by the nomadic tribes which inhabited the region, they were traded for silk — much of which found its way to Europe — and served as models for sculptures across China.

The troops of Ghenghis Khan were able to conquer vast tracks of land, from Austria in the West to the Sea of Japan in the East, and from SAiberia in the North to the Arabian Gulf in the South. They «conquered and ruled from the saddle». Ghengiz Khan«s first demand when he entered Bhukhara in 1220 was for fodder for the horses.

For centuries horses and sheep formed the currency of exchange — used to buy goods, a wife or a weapon.

Kyrgyz horses tend to be small, hardy animals, able to travel over bare rocks and up steep slopes. They are ideal for travelling over the mountainous countryside and enduring the extreme climatic conditions. Their endurance was noticed during the Russian expedition to Khiva when fewer Kyrgyz horses died than other breeds. In fact the Kyrgz highly prize sturdy animals and would «test» their horses by not feeding them for several days, leaving the saddles on and not feeding them until they showed signs of exhaustion.

Kyrgyz horses tend to be light brown in colour with black manes — but there are also grey, black and red horses. Horses are often named according to their colour.

Horses were classified into three main types — fast riding horses; slower riding horses and pack animals. Fast horses, «gallopers» were relatively rare, highly valued and received special training. Riding horses would be hobbled and kept close to home, but others would have been kept in herds — with several owners co-operating together.

A herd would consist of between 15 and 30 horses, one domunant stallion with about 15 mares and a number of younger animals. Stallions would protect their mares but if they were over zealous a wooden hammer might be tied into the main that knocked the neck if it moved too rapidly — hence slowing it down and making it more docile, less violent.

From ancient times, Chinese records reveal that horses were used as compensation for serious injuries and that the death penalty was imposed for stealing a hobbled horse. Archeological finds show that horses featured in religious cults and were often chosen as sacrifical animals. Horses were often buried with their owners — and apparently this custom survived from the 4th century right upto the end of the 19th Century. The warrior, inseparable from his horse in life, could not imagine life after death without his trusty steed. In the Manas epic the death of the warhorse was mourned as much as the death of a hero — and as he approaches his own death, Manas mourns his fallen «brothers in arms and war-horses».

The history of horse tackle is long and varied. Different nationalities developed their own embellishments — but the the whip (kamchi) was probably the first implement to be invented. The bridle — providing a link between horse«s head and the rider»s hands first appeared over 5000 years ago. The bit — although now made of metal — would probably have been originally out of rawhide, and fits naturally into a gap in the horses teeth. The bit would be held in place by straps, or metal plactes linking it to a headband and these features would often have been highly decorated — the decoration providing evidence as to who made it, and when.

Saddles were made out of wood, and were often decorated with sivler, leather and special coverings. There were four main types — man«s, woman»s, children«s and pack. Early saddles were large and heavy with a large pommel. Later, lighter, with a narrower pommel and wider seat was adopted. The wider seats and smaller pommels are typical of saddles designed for women. A chuld»s saddle came equiped with holes for leather traces which could be used to tie the child safely in and enable the child to ride without the fear that it wall fall off — an essentual feature for nomads on the move. The pack saddle was used for transporting luggage and was later adapted for use with cattle. A strap («martingale» or «komolduruk») was used to fix the saddle — attatched to the saddle and running along the chest and over the shoulder of the horse.

Stirrups appeared in Central Asia about 1500 years ago, although there is evidence of stirrups in India in the late second century BC. At first they may have been developed to minimize the danger of mounting a morse while carrying weapons, (apparently, Cambyses, King of Persia fatally stabbed himself leaping onto his horse in 522 BC). Later, full length pairs of rifing stirrups were developed. It may be surprising that something as the sturrip should have appeared so many centuries after man domesticated and began to ride horses. There are some early stirrips, (identified as Turkish), dating from the 6th-8th Century to be found in the Historical Nuseum in Bishkek. They were attached to the front of the saddle.

The «jeldik» is a felt mat which was placed under the dassle to protect from rubbing.

A special device (a «baldak») was adapted to fit onto the saddle to support the rider«s arm when hunting with eagles, or other birds.

Soon after foals were born, the would have been marked on the ears — or in the case of especially valuable horses — the nostrils. The actual cuts used in the marking would have indicated which tribe they belonged to. Both Horses and cattle were also marked with a metal brand — the design was called a «tamga».

When they arrived on the scene, the Russians taught the Kyrgyz how to shoe their horses. Before this the hosrses were never shoed, and even later on it was not universal.

Horses were also a source of meat and milk and served as a form of money — exchanged for goods, or given as gfifts such as a dowry. Horsemeat was highly prized and served to honoured guests — the choice of cut helped to define the status of the guest — the rump being given to the most honourable guest. It was considered to have curative value and was given to pregnant women and children to help build up their strength. A horse is still the preferred meat for weddings, funerals and other major celebrations and special herds of horses bred for their meat are kept — they are never ridden as this is said to ruin the quality of the meat. The meat was usually boiled, but it was made into sausages or smoked. It is possible to buy and try some of the sausages in Kyrgyz markets.

Khoumis (Kymyz, or Kumiss) is one of the most traditional — and favourite Kyrgyz beverages. Mares are milked and the milk is then stored in leather sacks (a «saba») and allowed to ferment. The size of the saba was an indication of the wealth of a person. The larger the sack, the more Khoumis it held, and therefore the more wealthy the person. Fresh milk is mixed with existing Khoumis or sour «airan» — a form of yoghurt — and stirred with a wooden stick — a bishkek. It would tyhen be ready for drinking in bewteen 1 to 3 days. During the summer months, roadside yurts throughout the country offer Khoumis for sale- and it is possible to buy bottled, pateurised khoumis — but it is said that the best khoumis can only reakky be found in remote mountain jailoos.

Horses also provided a source of leather for the nomadic Kyrgyz and craftsmen still make a variety of beauticul leather objects.

Horsehair was also used. Although hair from the manes would be used dometically, tails would sometimes be sold..

Horses featured in many Kyrgyz rituals associated with birth, upbringing, marriage and death. For a long time — even upto the twentieth century — many of the Kyrgyz continued to practice shamanism, calling on the spirits of nature for help and support. Amongst these spirits was the horse spirit: Kambar Ata. A horse with big pale eyes was thought to assist with an easy birth and so would be brought to a woman giving birth. Children were given the name of a horse as a nickname because it was thought that evil spirits were afraid of horses. The bridegroom when riding to meet his bride would dismount and send on the horse in front of him to announce his arrival — and was later given to the sister or closest female relative of the fiancee — an important act of trust and friendship because no-one sold their saddle horses. (It was considered a sign of subservience to offer a horse as a gift.) It was considered rude to arive at a trot or a gallop — which was usually reserved as a sign of those bringing bad news.

Horse races and games were common features of major festivals, «tois», weddings, funerals. Nowadays, however, the emphasis is more on entertainment than the spiritual or ritual elements.

There are many legends which feature horses — such as how At Bashi got it«s name, and horses feature prominently in the epic «Manas». Chinghiz Aitmatov«s novel Farewell Gul»sary! (1966) — centres on a man tending his dying horse and musing over his past, (on how he was excluded from the party under Stalin and on whether he should rejoin it) and conjures up many images of the special place the horse occupies in the affections of the Kyrgyz.

Horse riding is a popular activity and can be arranged all over Kyrgyzstan. This can range from just a couple of hours whilst you visit one of the valleys near Bishkek or Lake Issyk Kul, Son Kul or Tash Rabat — or a days horse trekking in Ala Archa, or extended treks lasting anything from two days to two weeks. Bishkek has a large hippodrome which is used for National Sports — especially on high holidays such as Independence Day or Noorus, and horses are available for hire. Karakol is home to the oldest Hippodrome in Central Asia.

The Soros Foundation-Kyrgyzstan published a calendar for 2002 with pictures of horse tackle and information about the place occupied by horses in traditional Kyrgyz Culture — on which much of the information on this page is based. Copies are available in Bishkek.