Meet the Team
A small group in Kyrgyzstan and a wider circle around the world, all working to bring the Chaar horse back from the edge.
The people running Chaar
Co-founded the Chaar revival in 2012, born and raised among these horses in Toktogul. Also president of the Kyrgyz Horseball Federation, taking the national team to the 2022 World Cup in France.
President of the association, based in Brittany. Discovered Kyrgyz horse culture at the 2007 At Chabysh festival, and has championed the Chaar's preservation ever since.
Treasurer, and a former horseball player who first came to Kyrgyzstan in 2007 for the historic France match. A regular visitor since, and an active participant in the breeding programme.
General Secretary of the Kyrgyz branch since 2021, and Vice President of the Kyrgyz Horseball Federation, helping the national team reach two World Championships.
Born into a family of horsemen, Yrys cares for the herd every day and leads our summer riding expeditions through mountains he knows better than anyone.
Keeps the herd healthy as our veterinarian, and fluent in French and English, helping bridge the association's international side.
Ambassadors & Supporters
Long-time supporters of the breeding programme and international ambassadors who help carry the Chaar horse's story around the world.
Forensic scientist with a PhD in the field, splitting her time between Switzerland and Chile. Works today in river-protection consultancy and as an animal naturopath and equine biomechanics analyst, and takes an active role in the breeding programme.
Software engineer from Paris who first met Munarbek and the Chaar horses on a trip to Kyrgyzstan, and has supported the breeding programme every year since 2021.
Former horseball players turned oyster farmers in Bretagne, and longtime friends of Munarbek's mission, drawn in originally by their shared background in the sport.
Ethnomusicologist researching how Kyrgyz eagle hunters bond with their eagles through voice, after completing a PhD on 19th-century Ottoman song. Took up riding in 2022, and contributes to both the breeding programme and this website.
Broadcast journalist and author, formerly of the BBC and ITV, known for presenting "Scam City" and "Hunting Nazi Treasure." Directed "True Appaloosa," the documentary that first brought the Chaar horse to a global audience, which premiered at the Sun Valley Film Festival and later aired on BBC4 as "The Secret Horse."
Rider of over 30 years who first met Munarbek and rode a Chaar horse on a family trip to Kyrgyzstan in 2013, and has supported the breeding programme ever since. Illustrated and published "Tchaar, cheval sacré des Monts Célestes," a book of Kyrgyz folk tales about the breed, and practices Equifeel with her own Appaloosa mare.
Olive-oil producer, founder of the EXTRAPERLU brand, and a law graduate of the University of Extremadura who also keeps a travel blog. Has visited Kyrgyzstan four times, represents Spain in the breeding programme, and is a monthly contributor to its food-security programme.
Fine artist at Hermès Paris, where she designed the "Appaloosa des steppes" scarf inspired by Kyrgyz rugs and the "True Appaloosa" film. Also designed the association's own logo, and has illustrated books including editions of Aesop's Fables and "The Gentle Lion and the Little Owlet."
Conservation advocate who discovered the Chaar horse through the "True Appaloosa" documentary, then connected the Kyrgyzstan Stud Farm with Texas A&M's Animal Genetics Lab for the breed's DNA testing. Board member of the Akhal-Teke Association of America, and built the breed's online pedigree database.
Entrepreneur and founder of Kyrgyz Concept, one of the country's largest tourism companies, launched in 1990. Also invests in finance, education, digital, and media ventures, and has helped build several of Kyrgyzstan's business and civil society associations.
Diplomat and academic with over two decades at the OSCE and UN, a Columbia University graduate and Harvard fellow. Author of "Three Girls, Three Worlds," on post-Soviet youth, and an environmental and democratic-reform activist in both Kyrgyzstan and Jordan, alongside exhibiting her own art at the UN headquarters in New York.
Painter, sculptor, and illustrator who has ridden since age five, and a graduate of the École Émile Cohl in Lyon. Devotes her art entirely to horses, exploring the connection between horse and rider.
Lifelong rider who grew up caring for horses daily, and has kept two of her own for more than twenty years. Rode a ten-day trek through Kyrgyzstan with her mother, and has been committed to the breed's preservation ever since.
Professional cowboy and horse trainer who moved to Canada at 20 on a one-way ticket to work ranches training wild horses. Now settled in Italy with her mule, after a childhood spent partly in her grandparents' stable.
Painter, sculptor, and illustrator who has ridden since age five, and a graduate of the École Émile Cohl in Lyon. Devotes her art entirely to horses, exploring the connection between horse and rider.
Lifelong rider who grew up caring for horses daily, and has kept two of her own for more than twenty years. Rode a ten-day trek through Kyrgyzstan with her mother, and has been committed to the breed's preservation ever since.
Professional cowboy and horse trainer who moved to Canada at 20 on a one-way ticket to work ranches training wild horses. Now settled in Italy with her mule, after a childhood spent partly in her grandparents' stable.
