Near Toktogul, Kyrgyzstan, Home to the Rare Chaar Horse
Chaar Ranch sits in the Ketmen-Tobo Valley, near Toktogul and the Chychkan Gorge, surrounded by the Celestial mountains. It's where the Chaar horses actually live, not just where we talk about them, and it's the main working base for our preservation and breeding programme in Kyrgyzstan.
Spring at Chaar Ranch
The First Phase Is Already Home to the Herd
The first phase of Chaar Ranch was completed in 2025. Today, more than 80 horses are already part of the herd.
The ranch was built around the needs of the horses and the way they live. There are paddocks and shelters for the winter months, areas for feeding and handling horses, storage for hay and grain, and space where young horses can be observed, worked with, and gradually prepared for life in the mountains. The ranch also provides a place to care for horses that are sick, weakened, or recovering before they return to the herd.
Herd management follows the natural calendar of the mountains
During the winter, the ranch becomes the centre of the horses' life. When snow and severe weather make the high pastures unsuitable, the herds come down from the mountains. They remain under regular supervision and receive additional feed throughout the cold season.
Winter is also when there's more time to work one-on-one with individual horses. Young stallions are introduced to the work that will prepare them for their future roles in the herd. Young horses learn to accept handling and prepare for riding in mountainous terrain. Horses needing treatment or rehabilitation get that same close attention.
By spring, the rhythm changes completely. As the weather improves, the horses begin moving back towards the mountain pastures. The transition from winter feeding to fresh grass is gradual, giving their digestive systems time to adapt.
April and May bring the foals. Most mares give birth directly on the mountain pastures, surrounded by the herd. The horsemen check the groups every day, watching the newborns and making sure that mares and foals remain safe in difficult terrain.
By early summer, the lower valley becomes too warm for the horses. The herds begin their journey through Chychkan Gorge and gradually move higher into the mountains. Some groups spend the summer at elevations of up to 3,800 metres above sea level.
The high pastures are vast, quiet, and rich in natural forage. The horses spend their days moving, grazing, and resting as a herd, and belong to the mountains during this part of the year. Our horsemen still visit them regularly, usually once or twice a week, to check the horses and foals and observe the condition of the pasture.
The Days Are Shaped by the Horses, Not by a Fixed Schedule
Depending on the time of year, you might see the horses around the ranch, ride out with the horsemen into the valley, or travel higher into the mountains to find the herds.
A stay at the ranch is closely connected to the horses. The day begins with the morning work: horses are fed and checked, foals are watched, and the condition of the herd is assessed. There is time during the day for riding, walking, or exploring the valley.
Guests who are interested in the work of the ranch can spend time with the horsemen and learn how the herd is managed: how mares behave with their foals, how young horses interact with older animals, how stallions establish their place in the group. For experienced riders, the surrounding mountains offer a completely different experience from riding in an arena or on prepared trails, with long routes, steep valleys, and high pastures. For people less interested in riding, there is plenty to do as well; the ranch is a place to walk, photograph, observe the horses, and experience the landscape at a slower pace.
The Ranch and the Future of the Chaar
Chaar Ranch is growing together with the herd. The existing facilities are the foundation for a larger breeding and conservation programme. As the number of horses increases, the ranch will gradually develop additional facilities for winter management, veterinary care, young horses, and breeding groups. The long-term capacity is approximately 150 horses, allowing the ranch to support the next stage of the programme while maintaining the individual attention each group requires.
The ranch is also becoming a place for people working with the Chaar horse from different fields. An international art residence is planned here for artists, photographers, filmmakers, and musicians, who will be able to spend time at the ranch, follow the horses into the mountains, and experience the landscape and daily life of the project. The goal is to give people enough time here to create something from a real experience of the Chaar horse and the place where it lives.
visit Chaar ranch
Chaar Ranch has also welcomed international guests, including H.E. Nicolas Faye, Ambassador of France in Kyrgyzstan.