After the release of the hit comedy film Borat (2006), many people wanted to learn about the nation of Kazakhstan. This country started out similarly to Mongolia - on the backs of horses. Kazakhstan may have been the first horse tamers. There is an old saying that "Kazakhs are born in horses." Although horses have receded in prominence, there are still many admirable horse breeds that have developed in Kazakhstan.
The Horse in Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan raises horses primarily in "taboons." These are large herds which number into the hundreds that are left to fend for themselves in the outdoors year round. They may have a person or two supervising the herd and helping out with emergencies. It's very rarely that horses are housed in stables or given any kind of hay or grain. As a result, most Kazakh horse breeds are incredibly tough.
Although Kazakhstan's the Ministry of Agriculture claimed in a 2003 report that the country was capable of growing many types of livestock, horses are primarily seen as a food animal. Kazakhs eat all parts of the horse, including the rectum in a dish called "karta".
Horse sports are still popular in Kazakhstan, including "kok-par", a form of polo that uses a goat carcass that is tossed about into pits. Other sports include wrestling on horseback, racing and trekking.