Petr Berel’tuev recalls his early experiences with livestock and horses

00:00 – 02:18

From his first year of school, he worked collecting and transporting hay, feeding it to horses, sheep, and cattle in winter, and herding cattle in summer. He developed a strong attachment to horses from an early age and learned to ride from his father. He also describes the traditional use of hobbles (tuktu) to prevent horses from wandering too far. These were formerly made from various types of rope as well as horse and reindeer hide, and sometimes from iron. Berel’tuev recalls hobbling his horses and attaching a bell to their necks, which made them easier to control. He later passed these skills on to his nieces and nephews, who often rode with him.
(Subtitles: cc)

Recorded by Mariia Berel’tueva (Tepkegir), Uliunkhan, Kurumkanskii District, Republic of Buryatia, December 2025.
Translation: Mariia Berel’tueva.
Transliteration: Mariia Berel’tueva, Daniil Nikitenko.
Editing: Nadezhda Mamontova