TODAY.AZ / Society

Saving majestic Karabakh horses

20 November 2014 [15:45] - TODAY.AZ

/AzerNews/

By Amina Nazarli

Azerbaijan's majestic horses have been a source of pride and dignity for Azerbaijanis over the centuries.

An old saying that "A brave man is known by his horse" well describes the sense of pride and love of the Azerbaijani people for their horses.

The country has long had favorable geographical and climatic conditions for animal breeding and equestrian development. The first presence of horses in this region dates back to 5,000 B.C.E. Later historical findings belong to the epoch of the ancient Azerbaijan states, such as Mannea, Media and Atropatene.

Azerbaijani epic literature represents a number of legendary horses, such as Girat of national hero Koroghlu or Bozat of another hero, Gachag Nabi, which throughout history came to the rescue of their masters, keeping them away from danger.

Karabakh horses are the largest and purebred herds living in the dense forests of Sheki region. They are considered one of rare species in the world and the oldest one in Asia and the Caucasus.

President Ilham Aliyev signed an order to support growing of Karabakh breed, allocating two million manats ($2.6 million) from the Reserve Fund of the President.

This breed is distinguished from others for its tranquility and friendliness. Such horses are also known for their exceptional speed.

Unfortunately, the number of Karabakh horses began to decline in the backdrop of the civil and ethnic wars in the Caucasus and Karabakh region. At the beginning of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, horses constantly moved from one place to another, and it was one of the reasons for the dramatic population declines of these amazing creatures.

In 2007, the Agriculture Ministry developed a program for the conservation and growing of the breed for the next 15 years.

The Karabakh horse takes a pride place in various international competitions and contests, winning various prizes and medals.

Karabakh breed horses were presented at the celebration of the anniversary of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II reign in 2012. Before, the English queen received a golden horse of Karabakh as a gift in 1956.

The Karabakh horses are valued for their resistance in mountainous terrain, mild temper and dense chestnut color.

In Azerbaijan, horses are an essential part of the country's culture, such as the national sports game Chovgan, the original form of the polo game that dates back thousands of years, and is still played in Azerbaijan. This ancient game has been included in the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage during the 8th Session of UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, which was held in Baku on December 2-7.

URL: http://www.today.az/news/society/137602.html

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