"Day of the Horse - 2026": Tatar breed horses, pony race, and Tukhvatullin concert

      In the Arsky district, the "Horse Day" festival will take place on August 1. Spectators can expect traditional horse races and unusual runs, a tournament in wrestling and races over 160 kilometers. The festival will be held on August 1 in the Arsky district. The first races will start early in the morning. Riders will compete at distances of 40, 80, 120, and 160 kilometers. This was announced by the head of the Executive Committee of the Arsky Municipal District, Lenar Abdullin. "To cover such distances requires incredible endurance, strength of spirit, and great trust between the rider and the animal," he emphasized. The main events of the festival will take place in Arsk at the Central Stadium and the racetrack. A large wrestling tournament is planned. In the morning and afternoon, young wrestlers will compete, and from 5:00 PM, adult wrestlers will take to the mat. "The prize for the absolute victory among children and teenagers is a ram. The main prize for the absolute champion is a live gift, the symbol of the holiday - a horse. There are also cash prizes: the winner of the senior age group will receive 50,000 rubles, 30,000 rubles for second place, and 20,000 rubles for third place," Abdullin added. The festival will start at 4:00 PM. Sports zones will open. A crafts market will begin, where unique products from artisans of the Arsky district can be purchased, as well as points for national cuisine.

      Horse races of Tatar breed and ponies

      Immediately after the opening, the races will begin. "The best riders from all over the country will take to the racetrack. We are expecting races on thoroughbred, half-bred, and Tatar horses. This year, we will also have new types of races - on ponies and two-year-old horses," said the head of the Executive Committee of the Arsky district. The traditional bright event will also be the horse wrestling tournament "Algarysh," where the main goal is to knock the opponent off their horse while remaining in the saddle. A huge number of contests and prizes are planned for the guests of the holiday. Additionally, the "Most Exemplary Cart" review will take place again, where original and interesting cart concepts can be seen. The prize fund for the races this year will exceed 2.2 million rubles, and the winner of the thoroughbred horse race will receive a special prize - a Lada Granta car. "In the evening, the main arena will turn into a concert venue. The best creative teams will take the stage: the energetic cover band "Yalkyn" and the wonderful Tatiana Efremova. The beloved folk artist of the Republic of Tatarstan, Zulfiya Shakirova, and the star of Tatar pop, honored artist of the RT, Rishat Tukhvatullin, will honor Arsk with their performances," Abdullin continued. The celebration will conclude with fireworks at 10:00 PM.

      In Tatarstan, a horse breeding development project has been developed until 2031

      As for horse breeding in the republic as a whole, it is a promising industry that is gradually developing, and its products are becoming increasingly in demand, said the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food of Tatarstan, Gelyus Bayazitov. "Currently, there are more than 30,000 horses in all types of farms in Tatarstan. More than half, 17,000 heads, are in agricultural organizations and peasant farms, while another 13,000 are in personal subsidiary farms. Horse breeding in Tatarstan is not only commercial, productive, and sports-oriented but also a breeding direction. There are also good results here; our horses often win prizes at various festivals," he noted. Tatarstan has developed a regional project to support and develop horse breeding, which is planned for the period from 2027 to 2031. It is aimed not only at the agricultural sector but also at popularizing equestrian sports, Bayazitov continued. "The main tasks of the regional project will be to increase the herd size, production of products, improve breeding qualities, and create a center for national cultures. State support will be available for the purchase of mares of various breeds, as well as for the construction, reconstruction, and repair of stables," he explained. All categories of farms, from large agricultural producers to small farms, will be involved in this project.

      The number of Tatar breed horses has reached 1,260 heads

      One of the main topics remains the revival of the Tatar breed of horses, which was actively initiated in 2018. As of today, the population has already reached 1,260 heads. "In 2025, the number increased by 200 heads. We continue work on breeding and selection of the breed. Each horse is examined and issued passports," Bayazitov said. Last year, a Selection Center for the Tatar breed was opened at Kazan Agrarian University, which is engaged in genotyping individuals. "A significant amount of selective work has been carried out to revive the population of Tatar breed horses. The distinctive feature of this breed is the golden coat color. Thanks to this, at dawn, the horses' fur acquires a golden hue," he emphasized. According to him, the price of one such horse ranges from 200,000 to 250,000 rubles.