Hold My Vodka

About a thousand horses have been saved from slaughter in Russia because gas got too expensive.

Villagers are increasingly buying horses instead of SUVs to travel off-road, go into the forest, haul hay, and run small farms.

According to local reports, breeders say sales have jumped several times over. Some sold or reserved 7–8 horses in the past month, while before, one horse could wait 2–3 months for a buyer.

The reason is simple: in many villages, keeping a horse is now cheaper than constantly filling up an off-road vehicle like a UAZ or Niva.

A working horse costs 100,000–200,000 rubles — about $1,300–$2,600. There are still expenses: hoof trimming is around 3,000 rubles — about $39, horseshoes about 1,000 rubles — about $13, hay 2,000–3,000 rubles — about $26–$39, supplements about 5,000 rubles — about $65, and a vet around 6,000 rubles a year — about $78.

But for many rural Russians, the old horse has become cheaper than a car.