The Tuva Ensemble & Andrei Mongush - Ezir-Kara

[florinaslan]

Its admirable how even to this day they honor the memory of Ezir Kara. A horse renowned for his speed and endurance, Ezir Kara dominated the races at the annual Naadym festival in Tuva, winning several consecutive events between 1934 and 1938. His victories brought him prestigious awards and widespread acclaim. His success turned him into a local legend in the 1930s. However, in 1939, amid political repression, his fate took a dark turn. His owner was executed as a counter-revolutionary, and secret orders were given to erase all traces of the horse's heritage. Several accounts have emerged of what happened to Ezir-Kara after that: some say he was sent to work in the taiga in harsh conditions until he was abandoned, others claim he was handed over to local peoples or immediately executed. One version even claims that his skull still hangs from a tree as a monument - a poignant reminder of his historical past and the turbulent times that led to his downfall.