The indigenous Kyrgyz horse, a unique breed adapted to mountain ecosystems, used to be a strategic agroecological companion for nomadic communities but has been in steep decline since the 1950s. The horse contributes not just to ecology, economy and food security, but also to culture, knowledge and health. Reviving the indigenous horse could be vital for Kyrgyzstan, enabling the country to effectively adapt to serious global challenges. However, the restoration of these horses requires not just adequate agricultural policy, but above all changes in worldview – a return to a holistic vision of human wellbeing in relation to nature. This is key to unlocking the full potential for indigenous animals to strengthen livestock farming and improve ecological and human health in many countries.
The decline of the Kyrgyz horse and why it matters
The Kyrgyz horse originated from steeds bred by the Kyrgyz people some 4,000 years ago. Kyrgyz horse breeding gained attention in the 19th century when the Kyrgyz Republic established stronger ties with Russia following geopolitical shifts in Central Asia. In 1879, the first Kyrgyz national stud farm was established with Russian support. With the onset of the Soviet era, horse breeding was primarily oriented toward meat production and supplying horses to Soviet military units.
The start of the significant decline of the Kyrgyz horse started in the late 1950s, after World War II, when the Soviet government shifted its focus to European-style equestrian sports. It introduced a crossbreeding program, mixing ancient Kyrgyz horses with Russian Thoroughbreds and Arabians to enhance ‘quality’ and ‘size’. This led to the creation of the Novokyrgyz breed in the mid-1950s, mainly intended for racetrack performance. As a result, the traditional Kyrgyz horse gradually disappeared from everyday use, as local people were increasingly convinced that it was unprofitable and lacked value. Another crucial factor in the horse’s decline was the introduction of agricultural aviation in the Soviet era, which reduced the need for long-distance livestock transportation by horseback.
In the past, the total number of Kyrgyz horses from the Ural to the Altai mountain systems in Eurasia, reached up to four million. Today, some estimates suggest that only 3,000 to 5,000 Kyrgyz horses remain, scattered across remote mountain regions of Kyrgyzstan. The displacement and loss of the Kyrgyz horse has meant the disappearance of traditional knowledge as well as the nomadic horse breeding culture. This in turn has caused a decline in nomadic logistics and economies and the disruption of balances in mountain ecosystems.
Reviving the Kyrgyz horse: a holistic approach
Nomads have always regarded their horses as reflections of their own existence in nature (see Diagram 1). So when we decided to revitalise the breeding of indigenous Kyrgyz horse among the nomadic peoples in the Pamir, Tien Shan and Sayan-Altai mountain ranges in 2018, we were determined not to become just another conceptually fragmented project that would fail to land in a meaningful way in local communities. We wanted to apply a systematic, holistic approach that would reflect all possible roles of the indigenous horse in the environment, transcending its perception as a mere agricultural animal. Our approach would thus need to be aligned with the traditions of the nomadic Kyrgyz.
Combining our own framework of the ‘spiritual core’ (Diagram 1) with holistic theory allowed us to see previously unilluminated aspects and roles of the indigenous Kyrgyz horse. Moreover, it helped us identify serious omissions and gaps in policies regarding indigenous livestock breeding at all possible levels. Our analysis resulted in an integral roadmap for the research and revival of the indigenous Kyrgyz horse.
A lineage of purebred Kyrgyz horses
Between 2018 and 2024, our team established an experimental herd in order to develop a modern line of purebred indigenous Kyrgyz horses. First, we identified existing Kyrgyz horse populations in three regions of Kyrgyzstan and conducted genetic analyses of selected horses. We acquired a herd of 24 genetically verified indigenous horses, which were bred at two high-altitude farms over a four-year period. In 2024, the first purebred generation (the offspring of the first offspring of the initial experimental herd) was born, and official selective breeding commenced. We need to produce at least three more generations for our experimental stock to officially attain the status of a ‘modern line’. Only then will we be able to issue genetic lineage certificates for each horse born on our farm.
We have also launched an advocacy process to encourage the government to establish a special status for indigenous farms that breed native animal species and contribute to the preservation of local biodiversity. This status would provide us with a support system of state-provided land for growing feed, additional access to pastures, and other resources and services. The ministry and parliament are yet to take a decision.
In the first years, the experimental herd was kept and developed at the state horse breeding farm. Since 2024, the herd has been living on the farms of two families of hereditary horse breeders in the high-altitude village of Taldy-Bulak in Talas Province. The village is geographically ideal for this purpose and has deep roots in nomadic horse breeding traditions. The herd is managed by a six-person team that includes a geneticist, a livestock technologist, two hereditary horse breeders, a veterinarian and an organic agriculture specialist.
Increasing interest
Interest from local communities is growing exponentially, as these horses significantly outperform other breeds in terms of fertility, survival in mountainous areas, endurance, compatibility with the environment and breeding costs. Professional horse breeders from nearby communities are also expressing interest in acquiring these beautiful and unique horses for both shepherding and breeding purposes.
Nomads have always regarded their horses as reflections of their own existence in nature
Indigenous Kyrgyz mares also provide excellent milk, which according to women engaged in dairy production is much richer and more nutritious than that of ordinary horses. They use it to produce ‘kumis’, a unique and immune-boosting fermented drink. The special qualities of this horse’s dairy products have also been confirmed by a series of scientific studies conducted by our partner, the Kyrgyz-Turkish University’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. Following this, we have developed a programme titled ‘One Animal, All Products’ (in contrast to the Japanese experience of specialisation under ‘One Village, One Product’). The goal is to develop and promote every possible ecologically and economically viable product and service derived from the indigenous horse as a way of enhancing economic opportunities and food security for local livestock communities.
There have also been challenges, the most significant being the securing of sufficient feed for the herd. There have been years when feed prices (both grass and grain) have been exorbitant due to droughts and the entry of intermediary exporters into the forage market. The second difficulty has been the lack of attention in the state’s agricultural policy to indigenous livestock farming. We are currently undertaking advocacy efforts to change this. The third difficulty we have encountered is connected with financial instability and our small team. Projects like ours, which involve long-term activities such as scientific observation and biodiversity restoration, require larger teams and long-term funding.
The great potential of the Kyrgyz Horse
After six years of doing research with nomadic communities, we can confidently assert the immense potential of the indigenous Kyrgyz horse. Here are just a few of the most striking examples:
Mental health: We found that residents of local communities with long-standing horse breeding traditions exhibit psychological resilience and calm temperaments. The indigenous Kyrgyz horse possesses unique qualities that make it highly suitable for equine therapy. These include its anatomy (short neck, broad back, small stature and stable hooves), its comfortable and soothing ‘pacing’ gait, and its empathy, intelligence and gentleness toward humans. People in large cities can find healing from the stresses of modern life through their interactions with these horses, and this is also true for those experiencing discomfort with global environmental degradation and climate change.
Cultural health: The horse plays a tremendous spiritual and cultural role in the lives of the Kyrgyz people. The nomad’s relationships with their horses, instilled from early childhood through traditions and rituals, essentially serve as a model for ecologically sound relationships between humans and nature as a whole. Additionally, traditional knowledge related to the breeding, treatment and care of horses, as well as for managing livestock in general, astonishes even seasoned specialists in genetics, veterinary medicine and animal husbandry. In fact, the indigenous system of encoding, storing and transmitting a specific ecological consciousness to new generations may represent the greatest potential of the horse for modern humanity. It could simultaneously become a national specialty and enhance the pool of opportunities for environmentally safe economic activities in Kyrgyzstan.
Biophysical health: The indigenous Kyrgyz horse’s unique range of physical qualities allow it to thrive in the extreme conditions of high altitudes. Thanks to these qualities, the horses are a reliable means of transportation during migrations and are advantageous for breeding. Findings are also emerging about the horse’s high level of stress resistance and its ability to positively impact water, flora, fauna and air conditions. Finally, testing of the immunomodulatory qualities of the meat and dairy products of our herd (including ‘kumis’) has begun to yield positive results. These biophysical characteristics will undoubtedly be key in responding to global challenges, especially environmental degradation, climate change and worsening food security.
Socio-economic health: The horse’s products also offer significant potential for the food and recreational sectors of the economy. Although it currently lags behind imported purebred horses in terms of productivity, the quality and cost-effectiveness of the indigenous Kyrgyz horses’ products are far more advantageous. An important condition for attaining this socio-economic potential is the regulation of these products according to their environmental impacts. For example, equestrian tourism and equine therapy could become significant avenues for economic activity in Kyrgyzstan without placing a heavy ecological burden on nature.
Recommendations and looking into the future
The indigenous Kyrgyz horse clearly plays a unique role in the spiritual and mental health of individuals: it contributes to the formation of holistic identities and the development of ecological consciousness, it positively influences all elements of the natural environment, and it holds a significant place in material provision and food security for local communities. Although our research and work on the revival of the horse is still ongoing, the interim results of our activities inspire hope in us.
The indigenous system of encoding, storing and transmitting a specific ecological consciousness may represent the greatest potential of the horse for humanity
Our strategic, long-term objective is to improve livestock farming in Kyrgyzstan by leveraging the potential of indigenous animals in response to global challenges. We are currently working to establish our own model farm for indigenous livestock and hope to obtain preferential status from the Ministry of Agriculture. In the next ten years, together with high-altitude communities with deep historical roots in nomadic livestock farming, we will develop a model for the integral optimisation of livestock farming at the local and then national level. If this model proves viable, it could serve as best practice and know-how for nomadic communities in other countries facing similar challenges, such as those in the Pamir, Tien Shan and Sayan-Altai mountains as well as in other countries.
We are confident that the subsequent development of sound, integral policies in each of the aforementioned sectors will lead to an effective agricultural system for Kyrgyzstan. Fragmented thinking is the fundamental destructive factor in modern society. We believe that the continuation of research and the practical and integral revival of indigenous animals from various regions will inspire more efforts aimed at harmonising the relationships between nature, humans and culture, forming a significant step towards wellbeing for all.
Author: Indira Raimberdieva comes from the ancient lineage of Saruu people historically inhabiting the Talas region of the Kyrgyz Republic. She coordinates the Golden Hoof Collaborative (GHC), which unites several organisations and experts from fields related to agroecology. Indira is also the director of the Peace Building Center, the GHC’s lead organisation. Contact: pbc.kyrgyzstan@gmail.com
Documentaries on the revival of the Kyrgyz horse:
The Flying Horse
The Thoroughbred
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This article is part of Issue 2-2025: Cultivating health and healing
