Russia is seeing a sharp increase in horse sales as rising fuel-related challenges prompt some rural residents to seek a more affordable alternative to driving.

Horse breeders say demand has surged over the past month. Some farms have sold or reserved seven to eight horses in just a few weeks, compared with previous periods when a single horse could remain unsold for two to three months, The Caspian Post reports via Mash Telegram channel.

Breeders attribute the trend to the high cost of operating fuel-hungry vehicles such as the UAZ and Lada Niva in rural areas, where maintaining a horse can now be more economical than frequent refueling.

Horse prices currently range from 100,000 to 200,000 rubles (approximately $1,275-2,550), depending on the animal's age, breed, and training.

Routine care includes hoof trimming every six weeks, horseshoe replacement every two months, hay, nutritional supplements, and annual veterinary care-costs that some buyers now consider more manageable than the rising expense of keeping an off-road vehicle on the road.