All horses in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan are small but extremely resilient. Many refer to them as Kyrgyz breed, as they are primarily bred in the Naryn region, which is a high-altitude area. The lack of food forces the animals to get by with little and be very enduring. The average load on a horse during a hunting tour is over 150 kg; nevertheless, the horse copes excellently with such a load. Horses can reach heights that are practically inaccessible to humans.
For transportation in the mountains, two leather backpacks (kurdyum) are tied to the saddle of the horse, in which food, water, and warm clothing are placed. Additionally, canvas bags for meat and the head of the trophy, which will be taken after the hunt, are also tied to the horse.
Horses are extremely calm; when you let go of the reins, the horse simply stops and starts eating grass, as the lack of food is felt very strongly. Horses cope well with the lack of oxygen at altitudes of up to 4500 meters.
A distinctive feature of horses in Kyrgyzstan is the absence of names; this is explained very simply: there are many horses in the herds, and it is not easy to remember their names.
If you have no prior experience riding horses, it is highly advisable to spend a week before your trip to Kyrgyzstan visiting a racetrack. Take a few riding lessons. You only need to learn how to mount the horse, stay in the saddle, manage the horse according to your intended trajectory, and dismount.
These simple skills will require 3-4 sessions of 2 hours each, but upon arrival in Kyrgyzstan, it will save you a lot of time – allowing you to focus on hunting rather than training. Because without a horse, you are unlikely to be able to hunt.
Text: Administration of the Extreme Travel Company
