The tethering posts found outside many Yakut homes are considered sacred, and the happiness of the household is often attributed to them. Often, families moving from one home to another dig up these posts and take them along. The horse also features prominently in Yakut fairy tales, songs, and art. It is usually characterized as being clever, noble, and modest and frequently defends its master. In art, horses are portrayed with blazing eyes, head held high, mane proudly streaming and one foot raised ready to stamp the ground.
Horses also feature in the Yakut calendar.
Today there are around 200,000 horses in Yakutia. They are looked after by about three thousand herders and their families, though the number of people dependent on horse breeding is much greater. City dwellers usually own horses that are looked after by relatives in rural areas. The Yakut horse is an efficient meat producer, and horsemeat is still the most popular meat available in Yakutia. The Yakut people have numerous ways of preparing it.