She would have turned 92 this year. It so happened that the first Turkmen female jockey, circus performer Sona Berdiyeva passed away very early, at the age of 38. However, she left a bright mark in the history of the circus of Turkmenistan.

In the thirties of the last century, just a girl, she, along with Dovletbay Khodjabaev, ended up in an orphanage. This acquaintance of peers became a landmark in her fate. In 1945, among 50 children, they were selected to work in the circus. The then head of the ensemble of Turkmen circus riders A. Galkanov immediately noticed the perseverance and diligence of the orphans Berdyeva and Khodjabaev.

Rehearsals and at the same time studies took place in a capital building built on the corner of Merv Avenue and Stavropol Street (now Magtymguly Avenue and B. Kerbabaev Street), in the area of the current Parahat cinema and concert hall (Mir cinema). After a year of rehearsals, the ensemble went on tour for the first time in the cities of the former Soviet Union. And six years later, in 1951, three of the ensemble, including Sona Berdiyeva, were awarded the title of Honored Artist of Turkmenistan.

After the change of leader, in early 1960, the Turkmen traveling circus ensemble of equestrians was headed by Dovletbai Khodjabaev, already awarded the title of «People's Artist of Turkmenistan». From this moment, numerous foreign trips begin, where one of the leading roles during performances is played by Sona Berdiyeva. The audience of Yugoslavia, Italy, Finland, Belgium, France, USA, Canada, Turkey, Germany, Switzerland, Peru, Argentina, Mexico applauded Khodjabaev's horsemen.

Here is what her son, now the instructor of the arena of the Ashgabat circus, not so long ago, was awarded the medal "For Love for the Fatherland", Vyacheslav Muradovich Chakanov, said about his mother.

- In 1947, my mother married Artykmurad Chakanov, a circus colleague. A year later, their son, Vyacheslav, was born in Moscow. In 1948, when the Ashgabat earthquake happened, circus artists were abroad on tour. The incident was learned too late. At that time, the circus people did not have apartments, so many had nowhere to return. Having worked for the twenty years required for a circus performer, my mother immediately took out a pension and received an apartment in Ashgabat. She died in 1967.

From colleagues and from the stories of his mother, V. Chakanov remembers several amazing moments associated with her performances. The most memorable was 1957. This summer, during the days of the International Festival of Youth and Students in Moscow, Turkmen jigits performed with great success at the Central Hippodrome. During the execution of the element called "cliff", in front of the noisy crowded stands, Sona's horse named "Melekush" got out of control. Sona's head with long black braids dragging along the sand was almost under the sparkling horseshoe hooves of the horse's hind legs, which flashed before the eyes of the shocked spectators. But when Sona jumped into the saddle and famously galloped in front of the jubilant stands, the hippodrome exploded with a flurry of applause. The next day, a photo of a brave rider appeared on the front pages of many newspapers and magazines.

There was another memorable bright episode in such a short life of the jockey Sona Berdiyeva. Around the same time, after one of the performances, she was awarded a special prize as the best rider. The figurine of a porcelain horse was personally handed to her by Marshal S.M. Budyonny.

- The birthplace of Sona Berdiyeva is recorded as "Krasnovodsk" (now Turkmenbashi), - recalls V. Chakanov, - but this is not accurate. The parents of an orphan who ended up in an orphanage in the thirties remained unknown. And the record about the place of birth - "Krasnovodsk" appeared from the fact that when asked by the employees of the orphanage about her memories, she answered - "There was a lot of water."

Today, for us, this family nuance from the life and work of S. Berdiyeva may not be so significant, the main thing is that she glorified and selflessly loved Turkmenistan. And therefore, we, in turn, are obliged to remember Sona Berdiyeva.