Do horses among all animals give you a special feeling? Then, you should already know that Turkmen Horses are among the most expensive and the most gorgeous horse breeds around the world. If you are interested in horse riding and particularly having an adventure in Iran, then you are reading the right paragraphs about horse riding in Iran and where to experience it.
Horse riding history in Iran
There are Cuneiform writings about horses, taming and breeding them. There are horse patterns on potteries found from the first civilizations in Iran and researchers know the Achaemenian era, a golden time for horse riding and breeding. Back then, they used horses with so many different aims: for wars, delivering letters, playing games like Polo, hunting on horseback, and many more. And most importantly, for business goals on trade routes.
Different Horse breeds in Iran
Regarding the vast area and long history of Iran with the history of horse riding itself, so many different and great breeds are kept in the country. By a very short introduction over each breed, we suggest places you may have a great horse riding with that breed in Iran.
Arab (Asil): The strong, commendable with high bearing strength Arab horse belongs to the Middle East area. In many cities, especially in the southwest of Iran, you may find Arab horses. Although they are called Arab, they are Iranian and belong to the Persian Empire when some Arabic countries were part of Persia.
Bakhtiari Horse: Bakhtiari’s are one the oldest nomads in the world with 8000 years of history as some say. Their winter pasture is in Khuzestan province and their summer pasture is in the west of Isfahan. So, this breed is mostly found in this region of the country.
Arab horse belongs to the Middle East area
Caspian horse: 50 years ago, an American lady who was married to an Iranian guy came to know a very special horse by almost 3000 thousand years of existence called the Caspian horse. To ride one, you need to get to the Caspian area by the Caspian Sea (from the North West side of it called Talesh county to the very northeast, Golestan province).
The Caspian Sea horses in the wild horse plain in the north of Iran.
Dareshouri: The Dareshouri Horse is one of the major horse breeds of Iran originating in the central and southern regions of the Zagros mountain range. The well-known breed in Chaharmahal Bakhtiari and Fars province.
Dareshouri horse: mostly live in the central and southern regions of the Zagros mountain range.
Kurd horse: Kurdish horse known for its strength, nobility, and resistance during cold winters is found in Kurdistan province and around. (Kermanshah, Isfahan, Zanjan, West Azerbaijan provinces)
The Nisean horse, or Nisaean horse: is an extinct horse breed, once native to the town of Nisaia, located in the Nisaean plains at the foot of the southern region of the Zagros Mountains, Iran. The first written reference to the Nisean horse was in around 430 BCE, in Herodotus’ Histories.
Turkmen horse: Mostly bred for races, they are one of the best horses in the whole world. Iran is among those countries where you may find a pure Turkmen breed for a pleasurable ride in the vast plains of Turkmen Sahra in Golestan province.
Golden Akhal Teke: The most expensive Turkmen horse breed in the world
Sistani: Unfortunately, the breed is in danger of extinction but if one is so into trying a Sistani horse riding you will find the breed in the southeastern border of Iran, Sistan, and Baluchestan province.
The best place for horse riding in Iran
The best horseracing session which I had the chance to experience was Turkmen Sahra, in Golestan province. In the northeast of Iran, near the Caspian Sea and not far from Turkmenistan borders, the majority of Turkmen ethnicity live.
To some Turkmen families, the horse is everything. They almost live with their horses and as one of the best and well-known horse breeds in the world called “Turkmen” horse, also keep breeding them. There are Turkmen nomadic tribes still moving between pastures with Turkmen horses.
Unlike its name, Turkmen Sahra is a broad green plain during Spring and spring is certainly the best time to visit there and get a perfect horse riding through Golestan National Park and green plains.
Long story short, every city you may visit during your trip to Iran, there is a chance to experience a different horse riding. Don’t miss it.
Are you planning to travel to Iran and looking for some adventure? Check out our Iran Climbing & Trekking Tours, Iran Ski Tours, Iran Desert Tours & Iran Cycling Tours.