Around a thousand horses have been saved from slaughter in Russia due to rising gasoline prices. Villagers are increasingly buying four-legged animals instead of SUVs—it’s cheaper to travel off-road, go into the forest, hayfield, and do farm work.

Breeders told Mash that sales have skyrocketed. In the last month alone, some have sold or reserved seven or eight horses, whereas previously, one could wait two or three months for an owner.

The reason is simple: in many villages, keeping an animal has proven cheaper than constantly refueling SUVs like a UAZ or Niva. A workhorse now costs 100,000–200,000 rubles, depending on age, breed, and training.

There are also expenses: hooves are trimmed approximately every six weeks (~3,000 rubles), horseshoes are changed every two months for 1,000 rubles, hay (2,000–3,000 rubles), supplements (~5,000 rubles), and veterinary care (~6,000 rubles/year). But for many rural residents, even with these expenses, the Sivka-Burka proved more cost-effective than a car.

Source: Mash Telegram News Channel.