Specialists of the State Association "T rkmen atlary", teachers and students of the Turkmen Agricultural University, representatives of other relevant structures, recently went on a business trip to the Balkan velayat.
The purpose of this trip was to study the characteristics of behavior and habitat of steppe horses living in this region. Currently, their herds are found in the etrap. Turkmenbashi and, in particular, on the coast of the Caspian Sea, in the coastal strip near the Guvlymayak gengeshlik, as well as in the townships of Karshi and Ajalma in the vicinity of Garabogaz and on the plains of Yangal.
During the working trip, photographs of these horses were taken, their habitats were registered, and the plants they feed on were also studied. It was found that horses feed on wormwood in winter, bluegrass, sedge and fescue in spring, and dried spring grasses in summer.
Having adapted to the field conditions, horses are divided into large and small groups, each of which is considered a separate family. The heads of families - stallions - provide protection for all horses in the herds and determine their habitat. For example, on the Yangala plain, several family herds of field horses were recorded.
The members of the scientific group studied their main habitats, origin and exterior, as well as the characteristics of the pastures where they graze. Basically, these horses graze in the steppes, use collectors with drinking water, springs for watering.
As already noted, in the autumn and winter months, steppe horses feed mainly on wormwood and trio-sharpened grass growing on the pastures of this corner, they drink water every day or every other day, sometimes after two or three days. In summer, field horses come to the watering hole every day. In addition, it should be noted that horses use natural reservoirs as a source of water, mainly places of accumulation of rainwater.
According to local residents, it happens that in case of a shortage of water, horses come to the watering hole in the Caspian Sea. Foals quickly get to their feet and join the herd.
Steppe horses have a medium-sized but strong constitution, large head, flat forehead, elongated tail, medium-length neck, strong waist and rounded croup. Compared to domestic horses, they have thicker legs and strong black hooves.
The members of the group, created to study the origin and behavior of these horses, found out that among them there are horses of bay, gray, black, dun color. There are horses with spots and marks, including on the legs. During the research, newly born foals were also noticed.
As reported on the website of the publishing service, the information collected during the working trip to the Balkan velayat is currently being analyzed, samples of the imported forage plants are being studied in laboratory conditions.
In general, this project will become another important step towards solving the problems of a comprehensive scientific study of the flora and fauna of Turkmenistan, preserving the unique corners of the Turkmen nature in its original form for future generations.
turkmenportal.com
22.02.2021