The Secret Horse: Quest for the True Appaloosa

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0:00:32 > 0:00:35HORSE WHINNIES I know.

0:00:36 > 0:00:41I have been breeding Appaloosas here in New Zealand since 1996.

0:00:41 > 0:00:44I've... All my life, I've loved the Appaloosa,

0:00:44 > 0:00:47ever since I was a little girl.

0:00:47 > 0:00:50The colouring, good bone, good personality.

0:00:50 > 0:00:54They're versatile. You can do anything with them.

0:00:54 > 0:00:58They're...they're not just for racing or just for

0:00:58 > 0:01:00trail riding, they can do anything.

0:01:02 > 0:01:05I've always been interested in where they came from.

0:01:12 > 0:01:15The Appaloosa Horse Club was founded in 1938.

0:01:15 > 0:01:19A group of farmers and ranchers from the Northwest areas -

0:01:19 > 0:01:21the corners of Washington, Idaho and Oregon.

0:01:21 > 0:01:24We believe that the horses originated from the Spanish

0:01:24 > 0:01:26herds that came over to the New World.

0:01:26 > 0:01:28Your eyes are red.

0:01:28 > 0:01:30I have never believed they came from Spain.

0:01:30 > 0:01:34I have always thought they came from Asia across the Bering Strait.

0:01:34 > 0:01:39For 40 years, I've preached that. And for 40 years, they've laughed at me.

0:01:39 > 0:01:42It's not hard to believe

0:01:42 > 0:01:45that some of the first horses in North America

0:01:45 > 0:01:49came by way of the ice bridge across the Northwest

0:01:49 > 0:01:52and the Alaska-Canada part of the world.

0:01:52 > 0:01:56But we still believe that they came from the Spanish horses that were

0:01:56 > 0:01:57brought over to the New World,

0:01:57 > 0:02:00as some of the other stockhorse breeds that are here now.

0:02:02 > 0:02:04Anyway, on a Sunday afternoon,

0:02:04 > 0:02:06I had taken care of all the horses

0:02:06 > 0:02:09and I was going to come in for two hours

0:02:09 > 0:02:11and just sit down and veg out.

0:02:11 > 0:02:15And I thought I was turning on Around The World In 80 Days,

0:02:15 > 0:02:18and it turned out to be Around The World In 80 Trades,

0:02:18 > 0:02:19in Kyrgyzstan.

0:02:19 > 0:02:22And I thought, "Well, this is kind of interesting. I'll watch it."

0:02:25 > 0:02:27No, he won't walk away.

0:02:27 > 0:02:29You don't want to walk away after all this.

0:02:29 > 0:02:3232,500 and he has got a great horse.

0:02:32 > 0:02:34After the first intermission,

0:02:34 > 0:02:38here comes this guy riding a gorgeous Appaloosa named Martin.

0:02:38 > 0:02:42And I stood up in my lounge and screamed.

0:02:42 > 0:02:44I'm sure people thought...

0:02:44 > 0:02:47If they had been around, they would have thought I was for sure crazy.

0:02:47 > 0:02:51Anyways, at that point, I thought, "I have got to get hold of this guy,"

0:02:51 > 0:02:54and try to convince him that he needed to go with me

0:02:54 > 0:02:58to Kyrgyzstan to find that horse, to find Martin.

0:03:44 > 0:03:46Now, I never thought I'd be here again.

0:03:46 > 0:03:47Yep.

0:03:52 > 0:03:54I'm glad I'm back, Munarbek.

0:03:54 > 0:03:56- It feels good to be back. - Yeah, yeah.- Yeah.

0:04:00 > 0:04:03Wow, it's a trip down memory lane.

0:04:06 > 0:04:09You know, four years ago, it was so different here.

0:04:09 > 0:04:10So many people.

0:04:12 > 0:04:15And you over there, watching.

0:04:15 > 0:04:17There was a bar across here.

0:04:17 > 0:04:20And I had all my horses tied up along the bar

0:04:20 > 0:04:23- and I was trying to sell them to various people.- Yeah, yeah.

0:04:23 > 0:04:25I lost a load of money.

0:04:28 > 0:04:29No, no, no.

0:04:29 > 0:04:30Yeah!

0:04:30 > 0:04:31No...

0:04:35 > 0:04:37- Yep. It wasn't.- It wasn't?- No.

0:04:37 > 0:04:39THEY LAUGH

0:04:39 > 0:04:43Oooh! I'm losing money on every single horse.

0:04:49 > 0:04:54I didn't really know that he was potentially, you know,

0:04:54 > 0:04:57this lost, special breed of Appaloosa horse.

0:04:58 > 0:05:02How many of the Kyrgyz horses, would you say,

0:05:02 > 0:05:04look like Martin

0:05:04 > 0:05:07and have the spots that maybe are Appaloosa?

0:05:07 > 0:05:08A small proportion?

0:05:18 > 0:05:22But there is something about Scott and her passion for this horse

0:05:22 > 0:05:26- that I just thought, "I've got to help her."- Yeah.

0:05:26 > 0:05:28Shall we go, we pick up Scott?

0:05:28 > 0:05:33- Yeah.- And then we see if we can find the farmer we sold Martin to.- Yes.

0:05:34 > 0:05:37- We're going to find this horse. - Sure, let's try.

0:06:04 > 0:06:08CONOR LAUGHS

0:06:10 > 0:06:13- I thought we'd...- Nothing like feeling lost in the world!

0:06:13 > 0:06:17I thought we'd lost you. I was waiting here for about 30 minutes.

0:06:17 > 0:06:19They took us out down there.

0:06:19 > 0:06:21And they had changed it, but they didn't tell us.

0:06:43 > 0:06:46If I didn't know any better today, flying from Bishkek to here,

0:06:46 > 0:06:50I would have sworn I was either over New Zealand or over North Idaho.

0:06:50 > 0:06:51So...

0:06:51 > 0:06:54Mountains are the same. Valleys are the same.

0:06:55 > 0:06:56Oh, that's lovely.

0:07:00 > 0:07:02So, the horses are possibly the same as well.

0:07:02 > 0:07:05It was a landmass at one time.

0:07:05 > 0:07:07And they know that animals moved across it,

0:07:07 > 0:07:09so there wouldn't be any reason in the world...

0:07:09 > 0:07:13Horses move to find food, to find grass.

0:07:15 > 0:07:19The Lewis and Clark expedition, which was the original explorers,

0:07:19 > 0:07:22wrote in their journals that there were tens of thousands

0:07:22 > 0:07:25of these spotted horses.

0:07:25 > 0:07:28As a breeder, I know you don't get tens of thousands overnight.

0:07:28 > 0:07:30This all takes time.

0:07:30 > 0:07:34When the Spanish came, there wasn't nearly enough time to even get

0:07:34 > 0:07:37the horses to the Pacific Northwest to even start that breeding.

0:07:39 > 0:07:42What do people in the United States say to you

0:07:42 > 0:07:44when you say that to them?

0:07:44 > 0:07:46They think I've lost my mind.

0:07:47 > 0:07:50The only way that we can conclusively prove this

0:07:50 > 0:07:54is to find a foundation Appaloosa, like Martin,

0:07:54 > 0:07:58and take samples and have those samples DNA tested. Is that right?

0:07:58 > 0:08:03DNA and measurements. All kinds of measurements.

0:08:03 > 0:08:06What characteristics is it that Martin needs to have for you

0:08:06 > 0:08:11to be sure that he is a genuine foundation Appaloosa horse?

0:08:11 > 0:08:15He needs to have sclera around his eyeball.

0:08:15 > 0:08:19They are the only breed that has that.

0:08:19 > 0:08:21No other breed has it.

0:08:21 > 0:08:24He has to have spots or colouring.

0:08:24 > 0:08:27They don't all have spots or colouring, there are solids,

0:08:27 > 0:08:30but it sticks out if you have the spots.

0:08:30 > 0:08:32Striped hooves.

0:08:32 > 0:08:34Good confirmation.

0:08:34 > 0:08:37They usually always do because they can't do the shuffle

0:08:37 > 0:08:39unless they do have good confirmation.

0:08:39 > 0:08:41- What is the shuffle?- Indian shuffle.

0:08:41 > 0:08:44That's what we refer to it.

0:08:44 > 0:08:46It is an even four-beat,

0:08:46 > 0:08:49only one hoof on the ground at a time.

0:08:49 > 0:08:51And smooth.

0:08:51 > 0:08:54A very, very smooth ride.

0:08:54 > 0:08:57Once you have been on a horse that shuffles,

0:08:57 > 0:08:59you'll never go back to anything else.

0:08:59 > 0:09:02Mm-hm. So we need to go over the plan for tomorrow.

0:09:02 > 0:09:04We have good news because six weeks ago,

0:09:04 > 0:09:10I sent Munarbek a photograph of the farmer that I sold Martin to.

0:09:10 > 0:09:13- Yes. OK. - And Munarbek has tracked him down.

0:09:18 > 0:09:21Let's hope he just really loved Martin,

0:09:21 > 0:09:23because if he did, he'll still have him.

0:09:23 > 0:09:24- Sure.- You get attached.

0:09:26 > 0:09:27And we even know his name.

0:09:27 > 0:09:29Tashbalot.

0:09:29 > 0:09:30And he lives how far from here?

0:09:31 > 0:09:32Really?

0:09:32 > 0:09:34I can hardly wait.

0:09:39 > 0:09:42We are going to see if we can find Martin.

0:09:42 > 0:09:44We know Martin's owner now,

0:09:44 > 0:09:45that is our trip today.

0:09:45 > 0:09:48I was up bright and early, waiting to do this.

0:09:48 > 0:09:52I am in Kyrgyzstan because I think we are finding the original Appaloosa.

0:09:52 > 0:09:56Most Appaloosas, especially in the United States,

0:09:56 > 0:09:59those that have been exported around the world,

0:09:59 > 0:10:01have been crossed with other horses,

0:10:01 > 0:10:06so they are crossbreeds, they are not the real Appaloosa.

0:10:06 > 0:10:09We don't have many of the real thing left.

0:10:09 > 0:10:11They think about 109 of the real McCoy.

0:10:35 > 0:10:38THEY GREET IN KYRGYZ

0:10:40 > 0:10:41Hi. Remember me?

0:10:41 > 0:10:43THEY LAUGH

0:10:44 > 0:10:46HE SPEAKS IN KYRGYZ

0:10:47 > 0:10:50I sold you a horse, do you remember that?

0:10:50 > 0:10:52HE TRANSLATES

0:10:56 > 0:10:57Do you still have it?

0:10:58 > 0:11:03HE SPEAKS IN KYRGYZ

0:11:15 > 0:11:17- Oh.- Oh.

0:11:17 > 0:11:19Does he know who he sold it to?

0:11:32 > 0:11:34Another guy called Saeb from the same village?

0:11:35 > 0:11:37OK.

0:11:37 > 0:11:39Can we...can we reach him?

0:11:45 > 0:11:47OK. So we have to find Saeb.

0:12:00 > 0:12:02He is home, good.

0:12:02 > 0:12:03OK, great.

0:12:03 > 0:12:05Let's hope.

0:12:07 > 0:12:08And how far is it?

0:12:14 > 0:12:17I hope Martin's standing in the front yard.

0:12:25 > 0:12:27OK, we're here. Yay.

0:12:31 > 0:12:34HE GREETS IN KYRGYZ

0:12:36 > 0:12:41THEY SPEAK IN KYRGYZ

0:12:44 > 0:12:46You know Martin.

0:12:46 > 0:12:48Do you still have Martin?

0:12:48 > 0:12:50No?

0:12:50 > 0:12:53HE TRANSLATES

0:12:56 > 0:12:59THEY SPEAK IN KYRGYZ

0:13:12 > 0:13:14Does he know who he sold it to?

0:13:14 > 0:13:17THEY SPEAK IN KYRGYZ

0:13:27 > 0:13:28So we're at a dead end.

0:13:34 > 0:13:36- Are you very disappointed, Scott?- Yeah.

0:13:36 > 0:13:37LAUGHING SADLY: Yeah.

0:13:38 > 0:13:40HOLDING BACK TEARS: I don't want to do this.

0:13:40 > 0:13:41Very.

0:13:43 > 0:13:46We might see him in a field, we don't know.

0:13:50 > 0:13:51Stranger things have happened.

0:13:51 > 0:13:56When I shipped a horse to Australia, my friends in Christchurch

0:13:56 > 0:13:59called and they said, "She's down here in the paddock."

0:13:59 > 0:14:02Cos they delayed her shipment by three days.

0:14:02 > 0:14:03So you never know.

0:14:03 > 0:14:06We might see him when we're driving the roads.

0:14:06 > 0:14:08But I would've liked to have found him.

0:14:08 > 0:14:11SOBBING: I just hope he's at a good home.

0:14:11 > 0:14:12Make sense?

0:14:38 > 0:14:41The value of finding a true Appaloosa is -

0:14:41 > 0:14:46I can take a good stallion, a couple of good mares and integrate them

0:14:46 > 0:14:51into my blood line and we can continue to produce a quality breed.

0:15:25 > 0:15:29Those horses are dedicated to the riders. Holy hell.

0:15:45 > 0:15:47First time, yeah.

0:15:58 > 0:16:00- How are you enjoying it? - I am loving it!

0:16:00 > 0:16:04The horses are doing it because they like to, you can tell that.

0:16:04 > 0:16:07- Are you surprised by that? - Yeah, very much so.

0:16:07 > 0:16:10Well, Summer had me so scared, saying, "They beat their horses, Mom,

0:16:10 > 0:16:12"you're going to hate it."

0:16:16 > 0:16:19You knew I'd enjoy this, didn't you?

0:16:19 > 0:16:20LAUGHS: See?

0:16:27 > 0:16:30I have seen amazing horsemanship,

0:16:30 > 0:16:33absolutely amazing horsemanship.

0:16:33 > 0:16:35Young kids, bareback, full bore,

0:16:35 > 0:16:38four rounds around the field. That's...

0:16:38 > 0:16:39You'd never see that in the States.

0:16:39 > 0:16:42I don't think you'd see that any place else in the world.

0:16:42 > 0:16:43Truly.

0:16:43 > 0:16:46I've been jumping out of my seat.

0:16:46 > 0:16:48SHE GIGGLES

0:16:48 > 0:16:51And how I wish my daughters were here to see this.

0:16:51 > 0:16:55They'd... They wouldn't believe it. Summer is an excellent rider.

0:16:55 > 0:16:57She would've been one of those going with them.

0:16:57 > 0:17:00HE SPEAKS KYRGYZ

0:17:00 > 0:17:04CHEERING

0:17:09 > 0:17:13We don't know for sure, but I didn't see any Appaloosas out there playing.

0:17:18 > 0:17:20Yes. There's a reason

0:17:20 > 0:17:25- for each breed.- Exactly.- And this is what I try to tell people.

0:17:25 > 0:17:27"Stick with what you've got."

0:17:27 > 0:17:30Because Mother Nature made that horse.

0:17:30 > 0:17:32And she knew what she was doing.

0:17:48 > 0:17:51- They didn't crossbreed.- Exactly.- Yay!

0:17:57 > 0:18:00I used to have an old guy tell me,

0:18:00 > 0:18:05"If you have horses for your girls, they'll never be interested in boys."

0:18:05 > 0:18:08So that was... And that was true.

0:18:08 > 0:18:12I wasn't interested in boys until age 17.

0:18:12 > 0:18:15I dated a Spaniard for a while.

0:18:15 > 0:18:18They just have hot personalities. I think...

0:18:20 > 0:18:23Quite different than English or...

0:18:23 > 0:18:25Jamaicans are cute.

0:18:25 > 0:18:28Do you think the same applies to horses?

0:18:28 > 0:18:31Yes. Every breed has a different personality.

0:18:32 > 0:18:35Akhal-Tekes are aggressive.

0:18:36 > 0:18:38Thoroughbreds are hyper.

0:18:38 > 0:18:39We call them hot.

0:18:39 > 0:18:43Percherons, your draft breeds, are more docile.

0:18:45 > 0:18:47If I was a horse, Scott, what breed would I be?

0:18:48 > 0:18:50SHE LAUGHS

0:18:50 > 0:18:53Would I be an Appaloosa?

0:18:53 > 0:18:54No.

0:18:54 > 0:18:55SHE LAUGHS

0:18:57 > 0:18:58Yes.

0:18:58 > 0:19:01Munarbek is laid back enough that he could be an Appaloosa.

0:19:05 > 0:19:07Munarbek, why are we stopping?

0:19:15 > 0:19:16Let's go.

0:19:42 > 0:19:44There aren't any Appies here.

0:19:44 > 0:19:47- No, I don't see any. - But I'll bet you next time,

0:19:47 > 0:19:50there will be Appies cos they've seen what you're interested in.

0:19:50 > 0:19:54- It depends.- There might be 20 Appies here by then.

0:19:57 > 0:19:59Yeah, yeah.

0:20:02 > 0:20:03In... Sure.

0:20:05 > 0:20:08If you were in the US, in the market for an Appaloosa stallion,

0:20:08 > 0:20:10what would you be expected to pay?

0:20:10 > 0:20:12It just depends.

0:20:12 > 0:20:15Some of them are 5,000, some are 100,000.

0:20:15 > 0:20:17- 100,000?!- Yeah. If they're good.

0:20:17 > 0:20:20Right. What about your beautiful stallion?

0:20:20 > 0:20:21- I would never sell him.- How much...?

0:20:21 > 0:20:24Never ever ever would I sell him.

0:20:24 > 0:20:27I was offered 100,000 in the States.

0:20:27 > 0:20:31And then they came back and said 150,000, and I said no.

0:20:31 > 0:20:34If you were to prove there was a link,

0:20:34 > 0:20:38a DNA link, between the Appaloosas here and the Appaloosas in the US,

0:20:38 > 0:20:40you wouldn't necessarily be able to pick up a stallion

0:20:40 > 0:20:44here for 1,000 bucks and sell it in the US for 100,000 bucks?

0:20:44 > 0:20:47No, because you don't have the pedigree behind it.

0:20:47 > 0:20:50But you might be getting a better stallion here.

0:20:50 > 0:20:53My thinking is that these horses are probably...

0:20:55 > 0:20:56..a much older breed.

0:20:56 > 0:21:01So I think I would be infusing old blood into my line,

0:21:01 > 0:21:02which to me is a good thing.

0:21:02 > 0:21:04Now, I imagine for people who've

0:21:04 > 0:21:09invested 100,000 in an Appaloosa stallion, the last thing

0:21:09 > 0:21:13they want is a load of cheap Kyrgyz Appaloosa horses being injected...

0:21:13 > 0:21:15In terms of simply numbers,

0:21:15 > 0:21:17you'd be multiplying the supply by a factor of hundreds...

0:21:17 > 0:21:20- That's right.- ..which means the price is just going to...

0:21:20 > 0:21:21It's a business.

0:21:21 > 0:21:23I don't have a business.

0:21:23 > 0:21:25Aren't you a horse trader?

0:21:25 > 0:21:27Ach...

0:21:27 > 0:21:28I have turned down so many people

0:21:28 > 0:21:32because I know the first thing they'd do would be crossbreed my horses.

0:21:32 > 0:21:33And I just won't do it.

0:21:44 > 0:21:47Do you think you like horses more than people, Scott?

0:21:47 > 0:21:48Now, yes.

0:21:48 > 0:21:50SHE LAUGHS

0:21:50 > 0:21:52Maybe then, too. I don't know.

0:21:54 > 0:21:56I know how to read horses.

0:21:56 > 0:21:59And I think horses are very truthful.

0:22:00 > 0:22:01What about you, Munarbek?

0:22:52 > 0:22:59THEY SPEAK IN KYRGYZ

0:23:01 > 0:23:04Who is this lady that we've picked up?

0:23:08 > 0:23:09Yeah.

0:23:12 > 0:23:13OK.

0:23:30 > 0:23:32So that we will be successful with our trip.

0:23:51 > 0:23:53SHE SPEAKS IN KYRGYZ

0:24:09 > 0:24:12IN KYRGYZ:

0:26:04 > 0:26:05Accident.

0:26:06 > 0:26:09- Do we stop?- Yeah, yeah. Let's turn.

0:26:12 > 0:26:13What can you see, Scott?

0:26:13 > 0:26:16I would say he was probably killed.

0:26:23 > 0:26:25Can you go around to the other side?

0:26:28 > 0:26:29Is there a body?

0:26:31 > 0:26:33Yeah, whoever was in there is dead.

0:26:38 > 0:26:40What are they looking for?

0:26:55 > 0:26:56Much too bad.

0:27:45 > 0:27:48- Have you ever lost a horse, Scott?- Oh, boy.

0:27:48 > 0:27:50CHOKED UP: I lost one to a lightning strike.

0:27:52 > 0:27:55I lost another... Came home, he was on the ground.

0:27:55 > 0:27:57We don't know what happened.

0:27:57 > 0:27:59We think an aneurism, we don't know.

0:28:01 > 0:28:06I lost one that got his head partly under the fence.

0:28:06 > 0:28:09And if a horse can't lift its head, it'll die.

0:28:09 > 0:28:10Lost Brady that way.

0:28:13 > 0:28:14Not good.

0:28:14 > 0:28:16- Still miss them?- CHOKED UP: Oh, boy!

0:28:20 > 0:28:21Yeah.

0:28:47 > 0:28:50You pick up the pieces and you go forward.

0:29:06 > 0:29:09HE GREETS IN KYRGYZ

0:29:22 > 0:29:25And these are mountains all along this side and all around this side?

0:29:29 > 0:29:32So that's why the president said this region is just

0:29:32 > 0:29:34cut off from the rest of the country.

0:29:46 > 0:29:49- There's no other way to get there? - No other way.- OK.

0:30:07 > 0:30:09How high?

0:30:10 > 0:30:12- Metres?- Metres.

0:30:17 > 0:30:21Have you ever known a 69-year-old lady to go over that pass before?

0:30:24 > 0:30:27- He's worried about you. - I know. I'm worried about me.

0:30:27 > 0:30:30- Cheers.- Here's to a good trip.

0:30:31 > 0:30:32Good luck.

0:30:32 > 0:30:36DISTANT HOWLING

0:30:51 > 0:30:53We'll teach you horse language.

0:30:58 > 0:31:01I hope so. SHE LAUGHS

0:31:01 > 0:31:05We hope. If I can't, we're in big trouble.

0:31:05 > 0:31:07I'll never live it down.

0:31:07 > 0:31:09Will I?

0:31:09 > 0:31:11I can manage. Don't worry, I'll stay on.

0:31:13 > 0:31:15I just said, if I fall off, go on without me

0:31:15 > 0:31:18and I'll get myself up and going.

0:31:18 > 0:31:19But you can ride, can't you?

0:31:19 > 0:31:23Yes, I've been on a horse for a long time, just not in the last 12 years.

0:31:23 > 0:31:25But I can do it. Don't worry.

0:31:42 > 0:31:44Are we going to take dogs with us?

0:32:08 > 0:32:10We shouldn't at that altitude, should we?

0:32:10 > 0:32:12Yes.

0:32:16 > 0:32:19Now, I don't have any...to grab hold of, do I?

0:32:19 > 0:32:21No.

0:32:21 > 0:32:24Is it going to stay or is it going to go?

0:32:25 > 0:32:28SHE LAUGHS Oompa!

0:32:28 > 0:32:31I oompa-ed. I'm here.

0:32:31 > 0:32:35Now, where is my other stirrup? Oh, I'm good. That's a good side.

0:32:35 > 0:32:36Yep, good, good, good.

0:33:06 > 0:33:09I wish I would have married a cowboy.

0:33:09 > 0:33:13I'm so horsey and none of my husbands were horsey at all.

0:33:13 > 0:33:15How many husbands have you had?

0:33:15 > 0:33:17Do we have to do my life history?

0:33:17 > 0:33:20- I'm interested. We have nothing else to talk about.- Five.

0:33:20 > 0:33:24- Five husbands?- Five husbands. I'm like a Zsa Zsa Gabor.

0:33:24 > 0:33:25SHE CHUCKLES

0:33:25 > 0:33:30Left all of them. Absolutely...not the answer.

0:33:30 > 0:33:31So, number one was...?

0:33:31 > 0:33:34Number one was for one day.

0:33:35 > 0:33:38Wait, it's interesting also.

0:33:38 > 0:33:40- Very interesting.- One day.

0:33:40 > 0:33:43- First husband was for one day. - Yes.- One day, only one?

0:33:43 > 0:33:44Yes, one day only.

0:33:44 > 0:33:47And then there was Bill and he was the best man at the first wedding.

0:33:47 > 0:33:51- So, you like the best man more than the groom?- Yeah, I think so.- OK.

0:33:51 > 0:33:54Well, the groom misbehaved. That's all it took for me.

0:33:54 > 0:33:58- On day one?- On day one.- Oh, well, at least you found out early.

0:33:58 > 0:34:00That's right! Wasn't that a good thing, huh?

0:34:00 > 0:34:03Husband number two, we moved to the state of Washington

0:34:03 > 0:34:09from California and he decided he didn't need to bathe.

0:34:09 > 0:34:11Lovely guy, lovely guy!

0:34:11 > 0:34:13So, we got back to Flagstaff, Arizona,

0:34:13 > 0:34:15and the psychiatrist called me

0:34:15 > 0:34:18and said, "I've got him clear down to primal scream."

0:34:18 > 0:34:21And I didn't know what primal scream was, but I soon learnt.

0:34:21 > 0:34:25- So, that marriage kind of ended on that.- Right. So, number three?

0:34:25 > 0:34:28Number three was full Cherokee.

0:34:28 > 0:34:31The day of our wedding he never drank in the year that I knew him

0:34:31 > 0:34:34before and the day of our wedding, he started drinking.

0:34:34 > 0:34:37And his relatives were all there and they said,

0:34:37 > 0:34:40"Oh, no, he was doing so well with his alcoholism."

0:34:40 > 0:34:43- Until you came along. - SHE SIGHS

0:34:43 > 0:34:47- I guess I drove him to drink.- You drove him to drink.- That's right.

0:34:47 > 0:34:50- Anyways... - So, number four?- Yes, number...

0:34:50 > 0:34:55number four was Jerry Conaster and I met him in Chewelah, Washington.

0:34:55 > 0:34:58And I had been in a terrible car accident

0:34:58 > 0:35:03and I think he saw money from the settlement from the accident.

0:35:03 > 0:35:05- Oh, man!- I truly think that was it, so...

0:35:05 > 0:35:08Yes, so that one lasted three months.

0:35:08 > 0:35:10- Three months?- Three months.- Wow!

0:35:10 > 0:35:13- You make your mind up pretty quick, don't you?- Yes, I do.

0:35:13 > 0:35:14- In and out.- Well...

0:35:14 > 0:35:18LAUGHING: ..if it's not a good sign, you get out of there.

0:35:18 > 0:35:20- And number five?- Number five...

0:35:20 > 0:35:21Number five, who was number five?

0:35:21 > 0:35:23Should have ended it whole lot sooner than I did.

0:35:23 > 0:35:27Number five was Dale Engstrom, a geologist...

0:35:27 > 0:35:29AKA everything else.

0:35:29 > 0:35:32And he kept saying every time I'd ask a question, he'd say,

0:35:32 > 0:35:36"Oh, because of your car accident you don't remember."

0:35:36 > 0:35:38And then I'd think, "Well, maybe I don't remember

0:35:38 > 0:35:42"because of the car accident," so lasted...lasted...

0:35:42 > 0:35:45knew him for two years, got married, lasted 15 years.

0:35:48 > 0:35:50No. No.

0:35:50 > 0:35:52Why, are you asking, Munarbek?

0:35:54 > 0:35:56- You couldn't kidnap Scott?- No.

0:35:56 > 0:36:00- But I know some guys.- No! No!

0:36:00 > 0:36:03We could get you kidnapped, Scott. We could arrange a kidnapping.

0:36:03 > 0:36:05- Yeah, yeah!- No. I don't need that.

0:36:11 > 0:36:13- Or 69.- Or 69...

0:36:23 > 0:36:24Then she's lucky(!)

0:36:31 > 0:36:34- Did you kidnap your wife, Munarbek? - Me?- Yeah.

0:36:34 > 0:36:38- Yes.- Your wife knew you were going to kidnap her, didn't she?

0:36:38 > 0:36:39- Yeah, yeah.- Yeah.

0:37:01 > 0:37:06- HE SPEAKS KYRGYZ - Let's unload the horses.

0:37:06 > 0:37:08Are you kidding?

0:37:08 > 0:37:10SHE GRUNTS Dismount.

0:37:10 > 0:37:12I'm going, I'm going.

0:37:12 > 0:37:16I may not be able to walk. I'm there. Thanks.

0:37:16 > 0:37:19- We have to first install our camping and then...- OK.

0:37:19 > 0:37:22- OK.- OK, so I take my tent.

0:37:22 > 0:37:24Well, let's see. Where do I want to go?

0:37:24 > 0:37:26Are you going to stay here?

0:37:26 > 0:37:28That's the rain guard.

0:37:28 > 0:37:29Or is this the rain guard?

0:38:31 > 0:38:32Not warm.

0:38:35 > 0:38:38So, is that colder last night than normal for this time year?

0:38:48 > 0:38:51How cold does it get in these mountains in winter?

0:38:52 > 0:38:54- In the winter or just a bit later? - In the winter?

0:39:01 > 0:39:03Oh, you've got to be joking.

0:39:07 > 0:39:11I thought I was going to die of hypothermia last night.

0:39:11 > 0:39:13CHUCKLING: I could not believe how...

0:39:13 > 0:39:15I was shaking and I thought, "This is great,

0:39:15 > 0:39:17"I won't even get to see the horses."

0:39:22 > 0:39:26- Eggs. It's ready.- Thanks(!)

0:39:26 > 0:39:28Scrambled eggs this morning.

0:39:45 > 0:39:49- It's good, it's got the odd crunchy bit.- Crunchy?

0:39:49 > 0:39:52- A little bit, in places.- Mm.

0:39:52 > 0:39:53I wonder why.

0:40:02 > 0:40:04It's good for your knees.

0:40:10 > 0:40:12I'm on a mission.

0:40:12 > 0:40:16That's the whole idea of this whole trip is to find the Appaloosa.

0:40:18 > 0:40:20I feel... Mm.

0:40:20 > 0:40:22CHOKED UP: I'm going to get emotional.

0:40:22 > 0:40:27I really feel this is necessary.

0:40:27 > 0:40:28It's got to be proven.

0:40:28 > 0:40:33So sick of all the stories and people fighting over it

0:40:33 > 0:40:35and it'd just be nice if we can prove it.

0:40:37 > 0:40:40- Well, there's only one thing in our way.- That mountain!

0:40:40 > 0:40:42SHE LAUGHS

0:41:40 > 0:41:42I don't feel good. I'm dizzy.

0:41:42 > 0:41:45- You are not enjoying this, Scott? - No.

0:41:45 > 0:41:48Not at all. Not at all.

0:41:48 > 0:41:52I'm freezing to death. I know it's beautiful up here, but I...

0:41:52 > 0:41:55I think I've got flu or something. I don't know.

0:41:55 > 0:41:57That's the valley.

0:41:57 > 0:42:00Yes, I see it down there.

0:42:00 > 0:42:03- Huge valley.- You can see just the...the lake.

0:42:03 > 0:42:05- Just see the edge of the lake.- Yeah.

0:42:05 > 0:42:08- That's where the nomads live.- Yeah. - You can see why no-one bothers them.

0:42:08 > 0:42:11Yes. And I want to get down there.

0:42:11 > 0:42:13- OK, let's get down there. - Let's get down.

0:42:29 > 0:42:33- Munarbek says you have to eat an apple.- No.

0:42:33 > 0:42:36Is this a bit harder than you thought?

0:42:36 > 0:42:38No, I think it was the elevation

0:42:38 > 0:42:40because I had a terrible headache coming down.

0:42:40 > 0:42:43I don't think I've been at... Well, I've been at the elevation in jets,

0:42:43 > 0:42:46but not... CONOR LAUGHS

0:42:46 > 0:42:48- You know if...- Not on a horse. - I was going to say,

0:42:48 > 0:42:52if you go over 10,000 feet in a plane, you get oxygen.

0:42:52 > 0:42:54- Mm.- Mm. Right? So...

0:42:54 > 0:42:58- We were...we were over 12,000 feet. - I know!

0:43:00 > 0:43:02I'll survive.

0:43:02 > 0:43:04I'm told I'm a survivor.

0:43:12 > 0:43:14- What, riding?- For riding, yes.- OK.

0:43:24 > 0:43:27- Yeah, I don't think we're going to see any horses tonight, are we?- No.

0:43:27 > 0:43:31- We are going to be lucky to get there before dark.- Yup, yup. Sure.

0:44:38 > 0:44:40OK.

0:44:40 > 0:44:44TRANSLATION:

0:46:21 > 0:46:24Does this horse even have a name in Kyrgyz culture?

0:46:30 > 0:46:33In some places they call it something slightly different.

0:46:33 > 0:46:34Here they call only Chaar.

0:47:10 > 0:47:12Look, over there. That's an Appaloosa.

0:47:56 > 0:47:57Two herds.

0:47:59 > 0:48:02Aren't they beautiful?

0:48:02 > 0:48:05- Wow.- And gorgeous stallions.

0:48:05 > 0:48:09- Absolutely gorgeous stallions. - That is such...

0:48:09 > 0:48:11an amazing sight.

0:48:18 > 0:48:19Speechless.

0:48:19 > 0:48:21SHE GIGGLES I'm thrilled to death.

0:48:30 > 0:48:34How does that rate with the...lifetime experiences?

0:48:34 > 0:48:35Top-of-the-line.

0:48:35 > 0:48:38Other than child-bearing, top-of-the-line.

0:48:38 > 0:48:40Yeah, for sure.

0:48:41 > 0:48:43Just beautiful.

0:48:44 > 0:48:45I actually have a tear in my eye.

0:48:45 > 0:48:50Did you? Did you? Oh, listen to us talk. Dream come true.

0:48:51 > 0:48:53I've been crying, haven't I? Hmm.

0:48:54 > 0:48:58CHOKED UP: Just look at them. Real special.

0:49:00 > 0:49:03Everything I was hoping for...and more.

0:49:22 > 0:49:24- Right, Scott.- I'm ready.

0:49:32 > 0:49:35Well, they definitely got the Appaloosa bum.

0:49:35 > 0:49:36He's got sclera, too.

0:49:38 > 0:49:39Striped hooves.

0:49:42 > 0:49:45Yes, but look at all the colours.

0:49:45 > 0:49:46That's a good sign, too.

0:49:49 > 0:49:51- Mottled skin again?- Yep.- Yep.

0:49:54 > 0:49:56- We have everything.- Really?

0:49:56 > 0:49:59- Yeah. Everything's there.- Scott!

0:49:59 > 0:50:00I know.

0:50:03 > 0:50:05That's it. You got it.

0:50:07 > 0:50:09That is the shuffle, gentlemen.

0:50:15 > 0:50:18- It's not a pace.- Yep.

0:50:18 > 0:50:20- Indian.- Indian shuffle.

0:50:20 > 0:50:23- Or maybe Kyrgyz shuffle. - A Kyrgyz shuffle, yes.

0:50:31 > 0:50:34Should I... I better go get my tape measure, huh?

0:50:34 > 0:50:35OK. Getting everything.

0:50:38 > 0:50:40- You can just...talk to these... - Yes.- ..can't you?

0:50:40 > 0:50:42Yes, I will talk to them when I get in there.

0:50:42 > 0:50:45Do you want to get them to form a...an orderly queue?

0:50:45 > 0:50:46And you'll just do them one at a time?

0:50:46 > 0:50:49- Do want me to just call them in and...?- Call them in one by one.

0:50:49 > 0:50:51- Yeah.- Come in number one?

0:50:51 > 0:50:54It's time for your beauty shot?

0:50:54 > 0:50:56WHISPERS: You are so bad!

0:50:56 > 0:50:57Come on, guys. Let's go.

0:50:59 > 0:51:01You going to go and pull 30 hairs out of his head?

0:51:01 > 0:51:03No, he is.

0:51:18 > 0:51:22He's absolutely pure black and white and that's gorgeous.

0:51:22 > 0:51:24He needs an Indian name.

0:51:30 > 0:51:34OK. Number 30 - Chaar Suulu, stallion, black and white.

0:51:41 > 0:51:44I feel like we are kind of halfway through a story, now.

0:51:44 > 0:51:49Yeah, well, we need to be through DNA and then we'll...we'll be better.

0:51:50 > 0:51:53But I never thought I'd be in Kyrgyzstan looking at this.

0:51:53 > 0:51:57Well, I think you've got another interested breeder in Munarbek.

0:51:57 > 0:52:00You think? I hope so.

0:52:00 > 0:52:01I think...

0:52:01 > 0:52:03I think they aren't aware because they have

0:52:03 > 0:52:08so many of these horses, they aren't aware of how scarce they are.

0:52:08 > 0:52:11They aren't in other parts of the world. I guarantee you.

0:52:11 > 0:52:16I mean, if I hadn't seen you riding out on Martin, I would have

0:52:16 > 0:52:18been oblivious to what was here.

0:52:18 > 0:52:20This is horsey paradise.

0:52:25 > 0:52:29But if it turns out that the Appaloosa in the States

0:52:29 > 0:52:32- and these Chaar horses...- Yeah.

0:52:32 > 0:52:34..here in Kyrgyzstan are just...

0:52:34 > 0:52:38two genetic mutations that happened in different

0:52:38 > 0:52:41continents at different times,

0:52:41 > 0:52:43what will you feel, then?

0:52:43 > 0:52:44I'll have to live a whole lot longer.

0:52:44 > 0:52:47SHE LAUGHS

0:52:47 > 0:52:51Make more babies. No, I'm sure they are. There's no doubt in my mind.

0:53:17 > 0:53:21So, we took the Kyrgyz data and put it into the analysis

0:53:21 > 0:53:24of the geographic races of spotted horses

0:53:24 > 0:53:28and comparing them to North American spotted horses.

0:53:28 > 0:53:32What we got was this tree diagram where

0:53:32 > 0:53:38individuals are clustered based upon how genetically similar

0:53:38 > 0:53:41they are to each other and the closer they are on the branches,

0:53:41 > 0:53:44the more closely similar they are.

0:53:44 > 0:53:48And we get a very distinct cluster right here in the middle that is

0:53:48 > 0:53:53only composed of the North American horses and the Kyrgyzstan horses.

0:53:53 > 0:53:56It clearly supports the possibility of the Asian

0:53:56 > 0:53:58ancestry for these horses.

0:53:58 > 0:54:01Do you get a sense here then that we are rewriting

0:54:01 > 0:54:03the history of the Appaloosa?

0:54:03 > 0:54:07This very strongly suggests that Asia is the more likely source.

0:54:22 > 0:54:24We are looking for Scott Engstrom's place.

0:54:24 > 0:54:27- Yeah, it's right here on the left. - On the left? Thanks.

0:54:32 > 0:54:34The day has come.

0:54:36 > 0:54:38She's got no idea that I'm turning up.

0:54:39 > 0:54:43I just know that she's going to be a little bit surprised.

0:54:55 > 0:54:58- Scott? - HE LAUGHS

0:54:58 > 0:55:00What are you... SHE LAUGHS

0:55:00 > 0:55:03Why didn't you tell me? I've got to get another bed made up.

0:55:03 > 0:55:08Well, I thought I'd come and tell you in person...

0:55:08 > 0:55:09What?

0:55:09 > 0:55:13- We got the DNA results back from Kyrgyzstan.- Yes.

0:55:13 > 0:55:16- Yes.- Guess what?

0:55:16 > 0:55:19They match? Am I right?

0:55:19 > 0:55:22- You were right, Scott. - I knew I would be.

0:55:22 > 0:55:26I knew when I saw Martin what I saw, so good.

0:55:26 > 0:55:28Good, good, good. Yay!

0:55:28 > 0:55:32I knew that! I don't know how to explain it, but I...

0:55:32 > 0:55:35- I knew there wouldn't be any question whatsoever.- You did know it.

0:55:35 > 0:55:37- I did know it.- You did know it. - That's right.

0:55:37 > 0:55:40And you keep saying how do I know it, I don't know how I know it.

0:55:40 > 0:55:42I just knew it.

0:55:42 > 0:55:47Thank you, sir. Thank you very much. I'm thrilled.

0:55:47 > 0:55:49- Let's sit down. I've got a lot to tell you.- OK.- OK.

0:55:49 > 0:55:52- I'd love it OK.- Let's go.- All right. I can't believe you are here.

0:55:52 > 0:55:54I just can't!

0:56:02 > 0:56:06Scott, now that you've had time to think about all the DNA results

0:56:06 > 0:56:08and what that means, what next?

0:56:10 > 0:56:13That's what I want to know. Are we going back to Kyrgyzstan?

0:56:13 > 0:56:14Is that what you'd like?

0:56:14 > 0:56:17I'd like to bring back at least one mare,

0:56:17 > 0:56:19preferably two or three,

0:56:19 > 0:56:24put them to my stallions and get even a purer breed than what I have now.

0:56:24 > 0:56:28Are you not worried that this is...

0:56:28 > 0:56:30That breeding your horses with the Kyrgyz horses is just another

0:56:30 > 0:56:33- type of crossbreeding? - No, it's not crossbreeding at all.

0:56:33 > 0:56:36It's enhancing the breed.

0:56:36 > 0:56:39The whole idea of this adventure was to go find the origin

0:56:39 > 0:56:42of the Appaloosa. To find the real...

0:56:43 > 0:56:45..the real, original horse.

0:56:45 > 0:56:48So to bring the real, original horse to my horses

0:56:48 > 0:56:56and if I can infuse the real blood of the original Appaloosas,

0:56:56 > 0:56:59then I'm just doing a good job.

0:56:59 > 0:57:02In my heart of hearts, it's the right thing to do.

0:57:02 > 0:57:06More importantly, we found the real McCoy.

0:57:06 > 0:57:08That was the greatest thrill of all.

0:57:10 > 0:57:12If I came to you and I said... and I said,

0:57:12 > 0:57:16"You know, I've...I've found...

0:57:16 > 0:57:19"found these horses and they've got spots and they've got sclera...

0:57:19 > 0:57:22- Guess what they are, yes. - "..and they've got striped hooves

0:57:22 > 0:57:23"and they've got... I've seen their anus.

0:57:23 > 0:57:26"They've got the mottled skin as well. What do you think that is?"

0:57:26 > 0:57:27Yeah, no kidding!

0:57:27 > 0:57:31I mean, would your first reaction...be well...?

0:57:31 > 0:57:35I'd have said, "Well, you must have gone to South Dakota or some place."

0:57:35 > 0:57:37- What, because of the landscape? - Yeah.- Yeah.

0:57:37 > 0:57:40It's extraordinary, isn't it? That you think, "Well, that looks...

0:57:40 > 0:57:43"looks like an Appaloosa and smells like an Appaloosa."

0:57:43 > 0:57:46Well, I'm glad I didn't say that I would discount any theory, right?

0:57:46 > 0:57:48Yeah, yeah, absolutely.

0:57:52 > 0:57:58Well, today is 27 October,

0:57:58 > 0:58:00and now I am...

0:58:00 > 0:58:05in the village where lives our Chaar Suulu.

0:58:05 > 0:58:08I have met with the guy, who is the owner of Chaar Suulu.

0:58:09 > 0:58:12We had a very tough discussion...

0:58:14 > 0:58:20..and...and well, finally I succeed to get Chaar Suulu. It was...

0:58:20 > 0:58:23It was not easy, but I succeed.

0:58:23 > 0:58:25I paid the...

0:58:25 > 0:58:28I paid the double price for Chaar Suulu, which

0:58:28 > 0:58:32I never would do in my life, but the fact is that I have already done it.

0:58:32 > 0:58:35But anyway, anyway I'm happy.

0:58:35 > 0:58:37I am happy.

0:58:37 > 0:58:39Well, maybe you can't see any emotion on my face

0:58:39 > 0:58:42but you have to believe me, I am very happy.

0:58:42 > 0:58:45It's... Everything is deep in my heart.