A Parisian’s journey to the heart of Kyrgyzstan from South Africa to join the Chaar revival project

Hello,

I’m Salomé. I travel a lot, and this time my journey has taken me from South Africa all the way to Kyrgyzstan. It’s quite a distance, to say the least, but even more, it’s a huge change of lifestyle. Despite having traveled extensively, living on a farm in the heart of Central Asia’s steppes, in the middle of winter, is a major challenge I’m eager to take on.

I’ve known about the association for years. My father was one of the first contributors to the project, and we met Munarbek during a vacation here. We’ve stayed in touch ever since. When I offered to come and help out with photography and video work, he immediately agreed. That’s what started my road trip to get here.

The association’s project has always impressed me. Saving the ‘Chaar Appaloosa,’ this unique horse breed, is about more than just preserving an animal. These horses are at the heart of the nomadic culture of the Kyrgyz steppes. Their preservation also has a direct impact on the environment: they play a key role in maintaining biodiversity and combating desertification. So, we can all agree that’s pretty amazing, right?

My role here is to capture all of this through images and videos, share them on social media, and help you discover this incredible project. As a Parisian, I can tell you this life is worlds away from anything I know. But that’s exactly what makes it so fascinating!

I hope that what I share about Chaar Appaloosa will move you as much as this project inspires me. Thank you for following this beautiful story with us on CHAARHORSEKYRGYZSTAN and PIGEON._.VOYAGEUR

See you soon,

Salomé