Azernews.Az

By Amina Nazarli

Horses have always played a big role in Azerbaijanis' life, as they are hardworking and loyal friends in everyday life - through the good and the bad.

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.

The beauty of Azerbaijani horses has been glorified the world over. Two out of about 260 breeds of horses such as Karabakh and Dilboz (Gazakh) breeds known in the world appeared in Azerbaijan.

Karabakh horses are considered one of the rarest species in the world and one of the oldest one in Asia and the Caucasus. The Karabakh horse is a cross-breed of Akhal-Teke, Persian, Kabardin, Turkoman, and Arabian horses. It stands out with what has been described as its "golden glow."

Unfortunately, the number of these beautiful horses has begun to decline on the back of civil and ethnic wars in the Caucasus and Karabakh region.

The Nagorno-Karabakh war during which some 20 percent of Azerbaijani territory were occupied by Armenia claimed the lives of many of these beautiful creatures. Horses were continually transferred from one place to another and the movement of pregnant mares led to miscarriages.

Dilboz is a domestic breed from Ganja-Gazakh and Sheki-Zagatala regions of Azerbaijan which originated at the end of the 18th century. This breed is a composite of local Azerbaijan stock crossed with Arabian and Turkish bloodlines. Their bloodlines are similar to the Karabakh horse and a descendant of the ancient Azerbaijan breed.

This beautiful breed that is mostly grey or bay in color is characterized by its strength and speed. Some Deliboz have Roman noses while others have straight profiles.

In recent years horse breeding has become the focus of the state, and as such the industry has gained more and more attention and care in order to see restore Azerbaijan horse-breeding traditions.

In 2006 the Equestrian Tourism Center was established in Azerbaijan’s ancient region of Sheki. The following year the Center, located in one of the most beautiful places in Sheki - the village of Dashyuz, was transferred to the Republican Equestrian Tourism Center branch.

Elman Gadirov, the branch head said the Center’s has been established in order to restore the ancient traditions, as well as promote equestrian tourism in the country and rise the young generation interest in this field.

The sporting complex has a 10 hectares square to hold equestrian games. It also include a 400 people tribune, a training ground, a stall for keeping horses and some buildings.

Now, the Center has some 100 horses of different breeds including Arabian horses, Turkmen "Akhaltaka", German "Traken," English thoroughbred horses and their hybrids. Beautiful local species are also feeding here.

Since 2006, every May, the Center organizes an equestrian festival, while in December it hosts the national Chovgan game competitions, which is included in the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO.

The Center also provides very entertaining horse riding tours for tourists. Each can choose one, two or three days tours at discretion. During tours, tourists have a chance to enjoy riding through the Chorgat wood, located in village of Dashbulag. They also get an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the ruins of the ancient Albanian tribes.

The two-day tour lets tourists travel to Sheki’s picturesque village of Kish, to get acquainted with its beauty. Here tourists will spend the night and on the following day go back to the Center.

During the three-day tour tourists will make an incredible trip to Gakh region to see its historic sites and monuments.

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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli

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