World Ark Magazine - January/February 2008 - (Page 40) HEIFER BULLETIN|NEWS FROM THE FIELD Hutsul Horses Add Local Flavor to the Ukraine The projects, all started since 2001, aim to restore the Hutsul horses so well suited to the Carpathian climate. “It is a very ancient breed and it is very good for this mountainous area. They are hardworking horses,” said Dr. Yurii Stefurak, vice-director for science and research at the Hutsulia National Reserve. But during the communist era, many of these horses were replaced with oil-guzzling tractors that caused erosion. One family, the Huraliaks, was among the first to benefit from the Hutsul projects. The family of five lives in Verbovets, a small village known for its hand-carved wooden plates. The father, Ivan Huraliak, was excited to join in the Heifer project and take possession of a Hutsul. “This horse is multifunctional,” he said. “You can use it to plow. They are so gentle kids can care for them.” Before joining the Heifer project, Huraliak worked as an equipment manager in another village. But since he got his Heifer-provided horse, he began focusing on agritourism and has added rooms to his farmhouse to rent out to tourists who come to Verbovets to learn about the unique local culture. Guests dine on currants, grapes, apples, walnuts, peaches, plums, cherries, apricots, potatoes, corn, celery, green beans, pumpkin and cucumbers all grown on the premises. He and his family hosted 150 visitors over the past year and a half. Information contributed by freelance writer Christian DeVries. www.heifer.org Ivan Huraliak is helping to preserve the Carpathian tradition of raising Hutsul horses. T 40 he unique farm animals that have sustained people in the Carpathian Mountains of the Ukraine for generations are slowly rebounding after the standardized food production systems of the communist era nearly wiped out the livestock. Luckily, small pockets of farmers living in remote villages maintained the Carpathian Brown cows, sheep, honeybees and Hutsul horses unique to the region. Today, Heifer International is supporting projects that are expanding these breeds’ numbers and spreading them throughout the Ukraine. Janurary/February 2008 | WORLD ARK http://www.heifer.org
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.