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1904, priest Mitrophan Serebryaniy

Yakut horses swim for their supper to fresh pasture on island in Lena River

By The Siberian Times reporter

06 September 2016

Video shows how breeders corral the horses into the water, believing the island grass is more nutritious.

Breeders say the herd - especially the foals - will graze on newly grown grass after haymaking which is seen as especially nutritious. Picture here and below: Igor Platonov

The scene is 100 kilometres south of Yakutsk, capital of the Sakha Republic.

Breeders say the herd - especially the foals - will graze on newly grown grass after haymaking which is seen as especially nutritious.

While the breeders, also on horse back, are directing the herd, locals say the 'experienced' stallions show the way, and the others follow.

Horses cross Lena river

While the breeders, also on horse back, are directing the herd, locals say the 'experienced' stallions show the way, and the others follow.

There have been no cases of horses drowning on this annual pilgrimage to the island pasture, they say.

Yakut or Yakutian horses are a breed native to this region, the coldest in Siberia.

They are known for their adaptation to the extreme cold, surviving without shelter winter temperatures lower than minus 60C.

The horses dig through deep snow cover to graze in winter, while now, in late summer, they are happy to swim for their supper on the Lena, the world's 11th longest river.

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and it is indeed the lead stallion who leads the horses. same as it would be in the wild. no need for the humans to make so much noise. only frightens the horses.

Benedikt, Moscow

11/09/2016 11:51