| Description |
Egar-jabduq (saddle and harness) making is a traditional form of craftsmanship in Uzbekistan closely linked to the country's long-standing equestrian culture. This craft includes the design and handmade production of saddles (egar), bridles, stirrups, reins, and other horse tack used in everyday riding and ceremonial contexts.
Master craftsmen (egarsozlar or jabduqchilar) use leather, wood, felt, metal, and decorative elements to create durable and aesthetically rich riding equipment. Items are often adorned with national patterns, embossing, stitching, and metal ornaments to reflect social status, regional identity, and ritual importance.
The tradition is especially valued in rural and nomadic communities where horses remain central to daily life, transport, farming, sport (such as buzkashi and chovgan), and cultural ceremonies like weddings and festivals. |
| Social and cultural significance |
Egar-jabduq making reflects Uzbekistan’s deep-rooted equestrian tradition and pastoral way of life. It connects communities to ancestral knowledge, strengthens rural identities, and contributes to economic resilience. These items are often used during traditional celebrations, symbolizing dignity, strength, and mobility. |
| Transmission method |
The craft is passed down through oral teaching, observation, and hands-on training, primarily within artisan families or ustoz-shogird (master-apprentice) systems. Apprentices learn techniques like cutting, molding, stitching, tanning, and ornamentation under close supervision. In some regions, vocational schools and festivals help preserve and promote the tradition. |
| Community |
Saddle and harness makers (egarsoz ustalar), Horse breeders and riders, Traditional sports participants (buzkashi, chovgan), Rural and nomadic families, Heritage preservation NGOs, Local blacksmiths and leatherworkers
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