spotted stories

News & Updates

Dispatches from Chaar Ranch, stories from visitors and volunteers, and updates on the breeding programme and the people behind it.

FROM THE RANCH Association Chaar Appaloosa FROM THE RANCH Association Chaar Appaloosa

Chaar Ranch — a place where a rare Central Asian horse is being reborn

The Chaar, an ancient spotted Central Asian horse, embodies nomadic life. Renowned for endurance, sure-footedness, and a leopard-like coat, it shaped migrations, herding, and rituals. Protecting the Chaar preserves breeders’ skills, traditional tack, and seasonal movements that sustain horse and herder. Each carefully bred foal is a fragile thread in a cultural tapestry worth safeguarding.

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FIELD NOTES, FROM THE RANCH Munarbek Kuldanbaev FIELD NOTES, FROM THE RANCH Munarbek Kuldanbaev

Munarbek: My Meeting with Chaar Suluu. Mystery or Coincidence?

Back in 2000, when I was at university, a student at the faculty of Finance and Loans with the aim to be a bank clerk, I had a dream. In the dream, my grandfather brought me two horses, a black one and a spotted one, and said: 'Munarbek, they are for you, one for work, and the other for entertainment and racing.' The dream ended then, and I did not give it much importance.

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FROM THE RANCH, COMMUNITY NOTES Munarbek Kuldanbaev FROM THE RANCH, COMMUNITY NOTES Munarbek Kuldanbaev

Munarbek: How Did I Become Involved in the “True Appaloosa” Film?

My story with the spotted horse began in 2008, when I received an offer from a British TV company to star in the series 80 Deals Around the World. According to the script, I had to sell some horses, which were supposed to be resold in China. However, due to the quarantine and lack of permits, it was decided to resell the horses in the Uzgen market in south Kyrgyzstan.

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