From a Failed Horse Slaughter to Successful Breeding: A Conversation with Māris Parfianovičs

Māris Parfianovičs, who runs the farm "Oši" on Televīzijas Street in Sigulda, recalls an unsuccessful horse slaughter over three years ago. The meat spoiled, and he gave it to a hunter friend, who fed it to foxes.

Since then, he has continued breeding thoroughbred horses – for 12 years now. Alongside, he works at an agricultural company and manages 86 hectares of organically valuable meadows in various parts of Latvia. In his free time, he leads tourists on excursions.

During the conversation, there were two mares and two foals in the enclosure, along with the stable's guard cat, Beka. Māris says that before Beka arrived, rodents regularly damaged the horses' supplementary feed.

This year, he has sold three horses, but the market is very volatile.