Kazakhstan – The Homeland of the Domestic Horse?

The first human to grasp a bridle and ride a horse did so in the 4th millennium B.C. Since that time, these graceful and resilient animals have become loyal companions in farming, military campaigns, and long-distance travel. The domestication of the horse was not an overnight process; initially, people hunted them for their meat. The exact moment when ancient humans decided to tame this creature remains unclear, but since then, humanity’s evolution has made significant strides.

For many years, there has been much debate about which country can truly claim the title of the horse’s homeland. Kazakhstan has long been included in this discussion. As recently as 10 to 15 years ago, our nation was considered the place where horses were first domesticated. However, recent research challenges this theory. Current scholars lean toward the idea that horses were first domesticated in the southern regions of Russia. Yet, it is uncertain whether this hypothesis will remain unchallenged.

Between 3700 and 3100 B.C., during the Eneolithic era, the Botai culture emerged in Kazakhstan. Named after the village of Botai in the North Kazakhstan region, this ancient civilization was inhabited by tribes who engaged in horse breeding, produced kumys (fermented mare’s milk), and were the first to create and use harnesses for their horses.

The ancient Botai people excelled at processing animal hides and built warm homes suited to their regional climate. They also achieved notable advancements in pottery.

Archaeological excavations in the Irtysh River region and the Tobol River basin revealed the ruins of an ancient settlement. In addition to human remains, pottery, various artifacts, and tools, archaeologists uncovered numerous animal bones, including those of horses, along with harnesses and adornments. Many of these artifacts can be viewed at the Ethnomuseum “Botai-Burabay” in Akmolinsk region.

The Botai horses are considered ancestors of the Przewalski horse, a conclusion reached by paleogeneticists through extensive analyses. Furthermore, it has been established that horses were already domesticated before the Botai culture emerged. Although the Botai did not breed new domestic horse varieties, they used them for hunting other animals.

While it may indeed be true that horses were not domesticated within the territory of Kazakhstan, this does not diminish their significance to the Turkic peoples. Likely, the Botai were pioneers in horse domestication across Kazakhstan, having learned the practice from neighboring Uralic tribes.