Guide
The Museum of War Horses stands in the Hamidiye Culture Park in Sivas, and its subject is exactly what the name says: the breeds, characteristics and history of horses used in war. The directorate describes it as the first museum of its kind in the world.
It has two galleries, covering the anatomy of the horse, its domestication, the history of the war horse, equestrian sports and the games used to prepare for battle. Breeds from different parts of the world that were used as war horses are shown as sculptures at full size.
Three pairs are staged as set pieces: Mehmed the Conqueror with his horse Kuheylan, Abdülhamid II with Ferhan, and Mustafa Kemal Atatürk with Sakarya. Around them are cavalry armour of various periods, weapons, and horse armour and harness, again as sculpture.
Worth knowing before you go: much of what you see is full-scale replica rather than original, though the museum also holds genuine historical items, and traditions and cults connected with the horse are presented through dioramas.
