In an interview with a Turmush correspondent, Serikzhan shared that his desire to become a veterinarian originated in childhood, although in his youth this passion was met with disapproval from his father. He was born in 1996 and keenly observed his father's work, who was also a veterinarian. "I tried to imitate him by giving injections to kids and calves, but sometimes this led to unfortunate consequences, and my father scolded me severely. After school, I enrolled in the Issyk-Kul Agricultural College named after Academician K. Karakeev in the Tyup district, where I received an education in veterinary medicine," he recounts.
During his studies, Serikzhan began performing surgeries on cows and horses. "Our teacher, Uncle Volodya, taught us the old Soviet methods of veterinary medicine. He showed me how to perform a cesarean section on cows, and I watched in awe as he worked with purebred livestock. Now I also perform surgeries without anesthesia, although many veterinarians prefer to use painkillers. I believe this is not entirely correct, as animals understand if they are treated gently. For example, cows that I perform cesarean sections on recover in a week or two, and most of my clients are owners of horses that participate in races or kok-boru.
After competitions, horses often sustain injuries such as strains and fractures. Among such horses, for example, there is one named Kara-bayir, valued at 40 thousand dollars. The owner of this horse, a true enthusiast, had repeatedly turned to various veterinarians without success. Eventually, he came to me, becoming the seventeenth specialist to take on her treatment. The horse has been with me for a year now, and her condition has significantly improved; she plans to return to the arena in the fall. Previously, she was given painkillers too often, which only worsened the situation. I used only natural herbs, which helped her recover. Currently, I have eleven such valuable horses in my nursery, and one could say that I have my own little clinic. Owners often help with feed, hay, and medicine, and the cost of my services ranges from 5 to 20 thousand soms per month. Sometimes grateful clients make generous gifts: for example, one man gave me 600 thousand soms for a cured horse, another—a car," the veterinarian shares.
Serikzhan emphasized that he primarily helps animals in his native aiyl aimak of Khan-Tengiri. "Previously, I worked as a veterinarian in the aiyl okmotu of Khan-Tengiri, but I left that position because I couldn't keep up with everything. Nevertheless, I stayed in the village to help my fellow villagers. In addition to veterinary practice, I have a hobby—I engage in horse breeding and prepare horses for competitions. Communicating with horses inspires me, and I feel a connection to this work, as my grandfathers were also involved in horse-related activities," Serikzhan added.
According to the veterinarian, people are starting to hear about his work beyond the borders of Kyrgyzstan. "In the last two years, I have been invited to Kazakhstan. I sent my brother there, and I will go when I am free. When Kazakhs hear my name, they ask if I am Kazakh. I explain that I am Kyrgyz, and only my grandfather received a name in honor of his Kazakh friend Serikzhan. However, it is important for me to serve my people and treat the livestock of my fellow countrymen—that is the most important thing," concluded Serikzhan Baktykozho uulu.
Gallery: Serikzhan Baktykozho
