What We Do

The Kyrgyz Horse

Revival and Protection of the Aboriginal Animal Breeds: The Kyrgyz horse

Traditional agriculture refers to agriculture based on the spiritual and cultural heritage of a region's indigenous peoples as well as environmentally friendly agricultural technologies. Natural landscapes refer to all types of natural landscapes that have been damaged or degraded during the years of the Soviet Union's planned economy and the post-Soviet period's capitalism. One of the consequences of such activities has been the destruction of traditional agriculture and the loss of traditional knowledge and practices. The decline in the number of the Kyrgyz aboriginal horse, which has been an important part of the nomadic culture of the Kyrgyz for many centuries, is a sad result.

Main goal of the project is a restoration of traditional agriculture and natural landscapes of nomadic peoples of the Pamirs, Tien Shan and Sayan-Altai through the revival of aboriginal animal breeds.

Main project activities:

1. Creation of an informational, educational, and cultural motivational base for the revival of aboriginal breeds of animals of the native peoples of the Pamirs, Tien-Shan, and Sayan-Altai;

2. Creating a communication consolidation platform for the revival of aboriginal animal breeds of native peoples of the Pamirs, Tien Shan, and Sayan-Altai;

3. Conducting extensive research focused on the collection and analysis of information on Kyrgyz aboriginal horses and their cultural and environmental value;

4. Implementation of information and communication campaign for dissemination of the knowledge on Kyrgyz aboriginal horses;

5. Creating a database of data and information on Kyrgyz aboriginal horses.


RDF has conducted a desk review based on the collection of the available data on Kyrgyz horses and a comparative study of the case studies and international experience which allowed RDF research team to design and develop the methodology for the comprehensive research that would include field study as well.
Aboriginal Livestock Breeding