Two new horses now live at the Yasnaya Polyana Museum’s stables. At present there are 17 horses in the historic stables built over two hundred years ago.
The building was erected in the time of Leo Tolstoy’s grandfather, Prince Nikolai Volkonsky. In Leo Tolstoy’s time, there were always horses here: according to different sources, no less than 20—25 animals. We still keep up this 19th-century tradition at Yasnaya Polyana.
Now, the livestock population of the museum’s stables is being changed; some of our horses are more than 25 years old. New animals are purchased to substitute for the horses that cannot work due to their old age anymore. The new residents of the stables are mares named Kukla (i.e. Doll) and Utekha (i.e. Delight or Consolation). They were both bought in Kireevsk District of Tula Region.
When choosing a new horse for the museum, the employees of the stables first of all look through online adds about sales of animals. According to the head of our Historic Stables Department, Ilya Chulkov, the proper horse should meet several criteria: “It should be not too small or too big. A draught horse is desirable; such horses are universal and easygoing. These qualities are the most important ones for horses that work at the museum.”
As soon as the preliminary choice is made, employees of the museum stables talk directly to the seller and find out what the horse already is able to do. Then the veterinarian who gives consultations to the stables employees accompanies one of them to have a look at the horse. The vet evaluates the animal’s condition based on various tests done right then and there. At this stage it is also important to understand how calm the horse is and how ready to work when it is managed by a rider it doesn’t know. Based on the results of this examination, a decision is made whether the horse is suitable for the museum or not.
After the agreement is signed, the horse is transported by a horse-carrier to its new residence, where the period of adaptation and preparation for work will now start.
The nine-year-old chestnut Utekha is a Russian draught horse. She was born at the Prilepy stud farm specializing in this breed. Utekha’s father was the same stallion that’s the father of Lentochka (Ribbon) who has been living at our museum for several years. It is already obvious that the sisters are very much alike, as they both have an easygoing character and both establish contact with people very easily. The bay Kukla is seven years old, and she is also a draught horse. Our stable employees say that this young temperamental horse showed readiness for work during her very first week at Yasnaya Polyana.
Our visitors show more and more interest in the stables each year. The new horses will be used for riding classes, horseback guided tours and horseback and carriage rides, and also during workshops at the stable yard and photo sessions.
We cannot say for sure if Leo Tolstoy himself kept draught horses. It would be logical to think he did. In 1885, he wrote to his wife: “I harnessed Krysa (i.e. Rat) to a barrel and drove for water.” As the volume of the water-carrying barrel was over 300 liters, such a weight could only be managed by a working horse bred to carry heavy weights. This corresponds to a draught horse.
The building was erected in the time of Leo Tolstoy’s grandfather, Prince Nikolai Volkonsky. In Leo Tolstoy’s time, there were always horses here: according to different sources, no less than 20—25 animals. We still keep up this 19th-century tradition at Yasnaya Polyana.
Now, the livestock population of the museum’s stables is being changed; some of our horses are more than 25 years old. New animals are purchased to substitute for the horses that cannot work due to their old age anymore. The new residents of the stables are mares named Kukla (i.e. Doll) and Utekha (i.e. Delight or Consolation). They were both bought in Kireevsk District of Tula Region.
When choosing a new horse for the museum, the employees of the stables first of all look through online adds about sales of animals. According to the head of our Historic Stables Department, Ilya Chulkov, the proper horse should meet several criteria: “It should be not too small or too big. A draught horse is desirable; such horses are universal and easygoing. These qualities are the most important ones for horses that work at the museum.”
As soon as the preliminary choice is made, employees of the museum stables talk directly to the seller and find out what the horse already is able to do. Then the veterinarian who gives consultations to the stables employees accompanies one of them to have a look at the horse. The vet evaluates the animal’s condition based on various tests done right then and there. At this stage it is also important to understand how calm the horse is and how ready to work when it is managed by a rider it doesn’t know. Based on the results of this examination, a decision is made whether the horse is suitable for the museum or not.
After the agreement is signed, the horse is transported by a horse-carrier to its new residence, where the period of adaptation and preparation for work will now start.
The nine-year-old chestnut Utekha is a Russian draught horse. She was born at the Prilepy stud farm specializing in this breed. Utekha’s father was the same stallion that’s the father of Lentochka (Ribbon) who has been living at our museum for several years. It is already obvious that the sisters are very much alike, as they both have an easygoing character and both establish contact with people very easily. The bay Kukla is seven years old, and she is also a draught horse. Our stable employees say that this young temperamental horse showed readiness for work during her very first week at Yasnaya Polyana.
Our visitors show more and more interest in the stables each year. The new horses will be used for riding classes, horseback guided tours and horseback and carriage rides, and also during workshops at the stable yard and photo sessions.
We cannot say for sure if Leo Tolstoy himself kept draught horses. It would be logical to think he did. In 1885, he wrote to his wife: “I harnessed Krysa (i.e. Rat) to a barrel and drove for water.” As the volume of the water-carrying barrel was over 300 liters, such a weight could only be managed by a working horse bred to carry heavy weights. This corresponds to a draught horse.
Posted : 2 april 2024