The popularity of Karabakh horses, our national treasure and well-known worldwide, once covered Georgia too.
A study conducted by the local bureau of Report in Georgia revealed interesting historical facts about Karabakh horses.
At the same time, we shed light on the history and current level of cooperation between Georgia and Azerbaijan in equestrian sports.
Tragic death of a Georgian public figure
In the past, Karabakh horses were top-rated among Georgian public figures. One of these figures is the romantic poet, lieutenant-general of the Russian imperial army Alexander Chavchavadze (1786-1846). His tragic death at the age of 60 is connected with this horse.
Let's take a look at a part of the research of Georgian writer-publicist Iona Meunargia:
"The driver attaches a beautiful Karabakh horse to the one-seater phaeton. Alexander Chavchavadze rides to Golovin Avenue in Tbilisi (now Rustaveli Avenue - ed.). As he approached the avenue, a woman suddenly went out with soapy water and threw it into the street. At this point, the carriage almost collides with the woman. The horse gets scared and manages to get his head out of the rider's hand. The frightened coachman shouts at Alexander: 'Prince, I can't stop the horse, save yourself.' Alexander tries to help the coachman. He stands up to extend his hand to the harness. At that moment, the right hem of his long coat gets caught on the wheel, and Alexander falls to the ground, injuring his head. This injury turns out to be fatal for him. The next day, on November 6, 1846, he dies."
David Street, where the incident took place, has been named after Alexander Chavchavadze since 1846.
Precious Karabakh horses of Georgians
Russian poet and writer Mikhail Lermontov, who often visited Tbilisi, also spoke about Karabakh horses in his memoirs: "As soon as people from the Nizhny Novgorod region came to Tsinandali, Alexander Chavchavadze's house would get full of guests. They rode horses, and there were horse races and shooting contests. Both Russians and Georgians would boast of their weapons. Almost everyone had a sword-like dagger and sword, a pistol strapped to a belt, and a rifle on a shoulder. The Nizhny Novgorod people had Kabardian horses, and the Georgians had valuable Karabakh horses."
The fame of Karabakh horses in Transcaucasia
An article on equestrianism in the Transcaucasus, published in the October 26, 1890 issue of the Caucasus newspaper in Tbilisi, spoke about the famous horse breeds in the region.
It was noted that especially the Karabakh horses were popular in the Transcaucasus; they were distinguished by their golden colour and beautiful shape.
Another interesting point in the article was the sale prices of horses in different parts of the Transcaucasus. It turns out that the most expensive horses at that time were in Baku Uyezd. The price for a horse ranged from 20 to 300 rubles.
Karabakh horse as a gift to an emperor's daughter
We found two photos of Karabakh horses kept in the archives of the National Parliamentary Library of Georgia. According to an inscription on one of the photographs from May 1892, the Karabakh horse and a trotter were gifts from Prince Tsitsianov and Duke Eristov to Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna, daughter of Emperor Alexander III and sister of Emperor Nicholas II.
Karabakh horses purchased for the Tbilisi Hippodrome during the Soviet era
Karabakh horses did not lose their popularity in Georgia during the Soviet years. They were once used in a horse therapy center at the Tbilisi Hippodrome. This was reported in the March 4, 1982 issue of the Lelo newspaper:
“Paytaxt ippodromunda sağlamlaşdırma məntəqəsi yaradılıb. Gürcüstan Kommunist Partiyası Mərkəzi Komitəsi və Gürcüstan SSR-nin Nazirlər Şurasının 10 dekabr 1980-ci il tarixli “Gürcüstan Respublikasında at idmanı, atçılıq və turizmin inkişafı üzrə tədbirlər haqqında” qərarı reabilitasiya işlərinin təkmilləşdirilməsinə kömək etdi. Sərəncama əsasən Tbilisi Dövlət İppodromuna 6 hektarlıq sahə ayrıldı və at turizmi bazası layihələndirildi. Borjomidə ayrılan böyük sahədə gələcəkdə 100 atlıq tövlə, açıq pəyə və müxtəlif lazımi anbarların olacağı at-turizm mərkəzi salınacaq. Qərarın səmərəli nəticəsi olaraq ötən il sağlamlaşdırma məntəqəsi üçün 17 Tuşeti və Qarabağ atları almışıq”.
"A therapy centre has been set up at the capital's hippodrome. The decision of the Central Committee of the Georgian Communist Party and the Council of Ministers of the Georgian SSR dated December 10, 1980, "On measures for the development of equestrian sports, equestrianism and tourism in the Republic of Georgia," helped to improve rehabilitation work. According to the order, a 6-hectare area was allocated for the Tbilisi State Hippodrome and a horse tourism base was designed. In the future, a large equestrian centre will be built in Borjomi, which will house a 100-horse stable, an open shed and various necessary warehouses. As a result of the decision, we received 17 Tusheti and Karabakh horses for the therapy centre last year."
Attempt to interbreed with a Georgian national horse breed
We visited the Tbilisi Hippodrome to learn more about the former glory of Karabakh horses in Georgia, the current state of equestrianism, and cooperation with Azerbaijan in this field.
Tbilisi Racecourse LLC is located on the city's outskirts, near Lake Lisi. The area of the enterprise, which has been operating since 2012, is about 20 hectares. About 100 horses are kept in four stables here. Among them is a Ukrainian horse named Atmashka. It became the champion of the Caucasus in the 2019 horse race in Tbilisi. Atmashka has repeatedly demonstrated its skills in horse racing in Baku and returned to Tbilisi with awards. The youngest inhabitant of the racecourse is a 1-year-old foal Trida of ponies Tristan and Izolda.
The former Tbilisi Hippodrome had a larger area. The racecourse, which opened in the 12th century, is located in the present-day Saburtalo district of the city and in 1998 it covered an area of 570 hectares. Tbilisi's central park is planned to be built on the territory of the former hippodrome of about 40 hectares.
At the racetrack, we talked to Victor Goglidze, the most experienced equestrian specialist in Georgia. He praised Dilbaz horses along with Karabakh horses. Noting that both are good and light, Goglidze said he preferred Dilbaz horses.
The expert noted that in the past, riders had Karabakh horses in Georgia.
"On the mother's side, some of my relatives also rode horses. They rode Karabakh horses at the former Didube racetrack," he added.
Victor Goglidze also brings an interesting fact to our attention. He noted that outstanding Karabakh horses were brought to Georgia in the 1980s, and the goal was to restore the national Tusheti breed: "Attempts were made to interbreed Karabakh and Tusheti mountain horses, but due to an unprofessional approach, no results were obtained."
Asked about the possibility of a new attempt to interbreed the national horse breeds of Azerbaijan and Georgia, Goglidze did not rule it out: "A new attempt is certainly possible. The most important thing for this is good will and necessity. At present, I cannot say that this issue is important for both Georgia and Azerbaijan."
We appreciate cooperation with Azerbaijan
The expert spoke about the existing relations between the two countries in equestrianism. He noted that Georgia had close cooperation with Azerbaijan in terms of selection: "We used to be in the same breed registry. The Soviet Union had a breed registry, and Azerbaijan managed to form its own studbook. It was a big step forward. We also tried to join the jockey club of Azerbaijan. Certain steps have been taken, but nothing has been achieved. The issue of Georgia's national breed registry is still unresolved. At this stage, we prefer cooperation with Azerbaijan, not with Russia."
Goglidze considers it essential for Georgia to continue cooperation with Azerbaijan in the field of selection: "Our data is submitted to the World Genetic Bank through Azerbaijan. This cooperation continues, but not at the level we desire."