A khorey is a pole with a length of up to five meters, used to drive a reindeer sled team. For thousands of years, wooden sleds have been the main means of transportation in the conditions of impassible northern terrain. There are cargo and passenger sleds, men’s and women’s sleds, as well as special ones designed for transporting various nomadic belongings. Usually, a sled is pulled by a single deer or a team of up to six deer.
In the lower part, the khorey is thick enough to be conveniently grabbed by a hand, and at the top, it narrows to the size of a thumb. In order not to harm the deer, the sharp end of the pole is equipped with a bone tip made of wild deer or moose antler, or more rarely wood. The other end of the khorey features an iron spear. It serves as a counterweight and can also be used to check the depth of the snow and the strength and thickness of the ice.
The khorey is usually made of birch because it is strong and durable. This tree is also considered sacred by many indigenous peoples of the North and is believed to unite the three realms — the Upper, Middle, and Lower worlds. The birch is venerated and is used as the material for pagan idols, cradles, amulets, poles for the house, and parts of harness. A khorey is made using an ax, a knife, and a planer. It can be made from either a single tree trunk or from separate pieces fastened together with sturgeon glue.
Nenets sit on the left side of the sled. The driver holds the reins of the lead deer in the right hand and the khorey in the left hand. A well-trained lead deer obeys voice commands, the reins, and khorey, and the other deer follow its movements. The driver can steer to the left by pulling the reins slightly and to the right by hitting the side of the deer with the reins. To stop the team of deer, the driver pulls the reins back to the sled so that the deer form a semicircle and stand facing the rear of the sled.
In many Nenets fairy tales and legends, everyday objects are purported to have supernatural powers and abilities. For example, a simple wooden stick used by women to knock snow off shoes and clothes can be transformed into a sword that prevents evil forces from entering the house. Men’s working tools are also endowed with the ability to ensure protection against evil spirits, bring good luck in hunting, and serve as protection from wild animals and mythological creatures. Therefore, a khorey can supposedly be used for this purpose along with the gun and the bow.
