"When nature created
In some inspired moment
Snake, cheetah and eagle
Single alloy -
Then arose
Tekinets, you!
Whose gaze is deep,
As if he remembers Mithridates.
Whose neck is a quivering stream
Living silver and gold.
Whose step is even, slightly ringing
Stones of ancient decoration...
Half a kingdom for a horse! ...
But where are the worthy half of the kingdom?
(Irina Khienkina, hereditary veterinarian and hippologist)
Tekinets, Argamak are just a few of the common names for a representative of the purebred Akhal-Teke horse breed. And what epithets are awarded to these horses by their fans - “golden horse”, “heavenly argamak”. There are so many legends about no other breed of horse. And this is not surprising. After all, the Akhal-Teke horse breed is the oldest in the world, it is at least five thousand years old. Among the purebred horse breeds, the Akhal-Teke rightfully takes first place, because the other two purebred breeds - the Arabian and the thoroughbred horse - were bred with the participation of Akhal-Teke. What are they, these “heavenly” horses?
How different are the breeds of dogs! You will never confuse a St. Bernard and a dachshund, even if you are not a dog handler. Distinguish between cats - say, Siamese and Persian.
Not so in hippology. Some breeds and specialists do not always distinguish. Except one. Her name is Akhal-Teke. The exterior of the Akhal-Teke is so unique and so different from the exterior of most riding horses that once you see a typical representative of this breed, you will no longer confuse it with any other.
What are the exterior features of Akhal-Teke horses? Firstly, they are incredibly beautiful, sophisticated and elegant. We can say that this is a horse in the “modern” style; its lines are reminiscent of the so-loved representatives of this “Silver Age” style.
The silhouette of the Akhal-Teke horse is clear, complete, and elegant. Everything about him is extraordinary: a refined dry and light head, long and thin ears, beautiful and expressive eyes of an elongated shape, a supernaturally long, thin and flexible neck, delicate thin skin through which the relief of blood vessels appears, short satin hair. Thanks to the clearly defined withers, the long back of the Tekin looks slightly inclined forward. The legs of the Akhal-Teke are long and excellently strong with “perfectly beaten”, as horsemen say, that is, prominent tendons. The tail and mane are thin and sparse; It happens that the bangs and mane are almost completely absent.
The colors of these horses are also unusual. Such diversity is not found in any other breed in the world. All the colors that humans have named and described in domestic horses over thousands of years of breeding are found in Akhal-Teke horses. And for many suits even names have not been invented! Black, bay, red, and gray are found among representatives of other breeds. Akhal-Teke horses are distinguished only by the extraordinary metallic shine of their “shirt”. But now you will rarely see dun, nighting, and game horses among horses of non-Teke origin. I'm not even talking about the rare Isabella color - these are horses of various shades of pink with blue eyes. Turkmen often give their Akhal-Teke nicknames containing the name of the color. For example: - a black bird, Melekush - a dun bird, Dorsekil - a bay with a blaze, Kirsakar - a gray one with a bald head.
And here’s another characteristic feature of the Tekin native noticed by livestock specialist K.I. Gorelov, a famous researcher of this breed:
“The neck of the Akhal-Teke horse is set high, and the head is set to the neck at such an acute angle that no other breed has. The Tekin horse carries its head at an angle of no less than 45 degrees to the horizon, and often more vertically; and yet, thanks to the long neck and small head, a horizontal line drawn at the level of the horse’s lips often runs higher highest point withers..."
Anyone who has ever seen an Akhal-Teke horse cannot help but admire its beauty and grace. And after talking with a well-bred Teke from a decent family, you will become his convinced fan. This is if you are not a horseman. Equestrian athletes, and even livestock specialists, hippodrome workers, and equine veterinarians often have a wary attitude towards these horses. Why? In order to understand this, we will have to start from the distant, distant past.
The origin of the Akhal-Teke horse is lost in the depths of centuries, and even millennia. Today no one can reliably explain where these divine horses came from. There is even a version that they are of alien origin. Their history goes back more than three thousand years. Portraits of horses, repeating in detail the characteristic appearance of the “heavenly argamak” (as even strict hippologist specialists poetically call the Akhal-Teke horse), can be seen on the walls of ancient Egyptian temples and on Scythian gold vases. Many researchers believe that the famous horse of Alexander the Great, Bucephalus, was an Akhal-Teke. Ancient authors left us surprisingly accurate descriptions of these horses. One of them was the well-known Herodotus:
“In Media there is an endless plain where majestic horses live.”
His Roman colleague, who lived after the Nativity of Christ, but also a very long time ago, Appian seems to continue the quote:
“These are horses worthy of powerful kings, beautiful in appearance, easily performing under the rider, easily obeying the bit. They carry their proud, hook-nosed heads high, and their golden manes soar in the air with glory.”
The “Endless Plain in Media” still exists. This is the territory of modern Turkmenistan. There you can still see the ruins of Nysa, the ancient capital of the Parthian kingdom. Not far from them (you can get there on horseback) there is a breeding center of the Akhal-Teke breed - the Niyazov stud farm, called Komsomol in Soviet times.
The modern name of the Akhal-Teke breed was formed in the 19th century after the name of the oasis “Akhal” and the warlike “Teke” tribe that lived there, which preserved this breed in purity to this day. Actually, the whole of Turkmenistan is engaged in horse breeding. There, the horse is a national symbol, and even the silhouette of a horse is on the coat of arms. This is a very specific horse, the wonderful stallion Yanardag, who became the 1999 world champion among Akhal-Teke horses and belonged to the first president of Turkmenistan, Saparmurat Niyazov.
Now we already know that the history of the Teke is very long. During this time, everything happened to him. But one thing was constant - this was a breed of war horses, the glory of which resounded throughout Eurasia, right up to the Celestial Empire. They were literally worth their weight in gold. Chinese emperors equipped military expeditions for them if they could not buy them.
What qualities did ancient warriors value in the Akhal-Teke?
Firstly, agility. Nowadays there are faster breeds of horses, but in those days a horse that could outrun a falcon - and this is what the Akhal-Teke is - was, of course, of great value.
Secondly, gaits that are comfortable for the rider. They are very elastic - a springy step, a soft flat trot, a powerful gallop, and in those days when they rode without saddles (even when the saddle was invented, they did not immediately figure out how to attach stirrups to it), the convenience of the gaits was not the least important thing.
Thirdly, extraordinary endurance, comparable only to the endurance of a camel. A trained argamak was capable of carrying its owner away from pursuit for several days, with minimal feeding and lack of water. However, why “was capable”? Modern argamaks, running thousands of kilometers across the desert, even today prove that they have not lost this quality. These horses can gallop for several hours, only occasionally breaking into a trot or walk. Such races are still held in Turkmenistan.
Fourth is a wonderful attachment to the owner, developed over centuries. These are truly faithful horses, loyal to their own and distrustful of strangers. The Akhal-Teke is a horse of one owner, a quality that is not so common in modern horses, which are handled by one person, ridden by another, and often owned by a third. Therefore, what was an advantage of a war horse becomes a disadvantage in a modern stable.
There is one more quality, valued by warriors in the old days, but inconvenient for the horseman of our days. In character modern horses unquestioning obedience is welcomed, but the argamak is capable of making decisions on its own, thinking for the rider. In ancient times, this could save the lives of both - after all, a horse has a much more subtle hearing and sense of smell than a person, and sometimes foresees natural disasters, such as earthquakes. They say that before the Ashgabat earthquake, the horses at the hippodrome were very worried.
All of the above advantages in the modern equestrian world become, at a minimum, useless, and often turn into disadvantages. Modern horsemen have an opinion of Akhal-Teke horses as uncontrollable, easily excitable, capricious, angry and often even dangerous. Therefore, athletes do not very often choose partners among representatives of the Akhal-Teke breed.
But if the Akhal-Teke horse ends up in good, confident hands...
Absinthe under the saddle of Sergei Filatov
Did you know that it was the Akhal-Teke horse that brought the first victory at the Olympics to Soviet equestrians? This happened in 1960 in Rome. The handsome black Absinthe under the saddle of the great horseman Sergei Filatov stunned the imagination of both judges and spectators. Documentary footage of this performance has been preserved, and today it is breathtaking with delight, although more than half a century has passed since then and the art of dressage has gone far ahead. It is in dressage - a kind of figure skating on a horse - Absinthe specialized. He took first places in the following Olympics, and his achievements have not been surpassed by anyone to this day. He is called the best sports horse of the century abroad, although he is credited with a different, non-Ahal-Teke origin.
Absinthe, Olympic champion 1960 dressage
Yes, everyone knows Absinthe. But his father, Arab - alas. And the history of this horse is so unique and unusual that it’s time to write a novel about him.
The Gray Arab was born in 1930 on one of the Turkmen collective farms; his father was a horse well known in those years. At the age of five, Arab (who had often won horse races himself) became a participant in the legendary Ashgabat-Moscow race, when Turkmen horsemen on horseback covered a distance of more than 4,300 km in 84 days, with a day's journey reaching 120 km! The Arab was presented to Stalin, placed in one of the Moscow arenas and became an athlete, performing in various disciplines. Arab achieved particular success in overcoming obstacles, was a champion several times, and at the age of sixteen (for a horse this is not youth) he set a record for high jumping, overcoming an obstacle of 2 meters 19 centimeters! Subsequently, Arab was sent to the Lugovskoy stud farm (in Kazakhstan), where he became the father of Absinthe.
Akhal-Teke stallion Arab, father of Absinthe
Now is the time to talk about the history of the Akhal-Teke breed in Russia. From historical documents one can learn that from time immemorial “Russians loved Argamaks immensely.” The highest prices were paid for such horses; in the royal stables they were forged onto silver horseshoes. There is information that Lisette herself, Peter the Great’s favorite horse, was of Tekin origin, in any case, her exterior, depicted in an ancient engraving, suggests that this is the case. Take a look at the portrait of Lisette: the favorite of Peter I holds her beautiful head so high that the line of her lips is above the level of her withers. Isn’t it true, a characteristic detail noticed by K.I. Gorelov, visible in this engraving?
The excellent qualities of the oldest horses in the world were noted abroad. Modern hippologists believe that there is no horse breed in the world that does not have Teke blood flowing in its veins. With the participation of the Tekins, the famous Arabian breed, the fastest purebred English breed in the world, and the Trakehner breed, beloved by athletes, were created. As for Russian horse breeding, they could not do without argamak when breeding both the famous and Cossack Don breed, and the ceremonial Russian horse, and the now almost lost Karabakh one. According to Professor V. Witt, the Akhal-Teke breed
“represents a gene pool of incomparable value..., the last drops of that source of pure blood that created the entire horse breeding of the world.”
This is what these horses are like, this is their wonderful history.
What about today? Currently, the number of purebred Tekins without admixtures of other breeds throughout the world does not exceed three thousand heads. Wild animals with such numbers are included in the Red Book. But it’s good that there are people among horsemen who are concerned about the preservation of this priceless breed. In our country, thanks to the efforts of the All-Russian Institute of Horse Breeding (located near Ryazan), strict records of these horses are kept, stud books and annual certificates on the breed are published. There is an International Association of Akhal-Teke Horse Breeding (IAAC), which includes many equestrians, scientists and cultural figures, even prominent politicians. The Association holds wonderful holidays, the so-called Akhal-Teke Rallies. These meetings bring together Akhal-Teke enthusiasts not only from Russia, but also from other countries, including Germany, Italy, Sweden, France, and the USA. Wonderful equestrian festivals, in which only horses of Akhal-Teke origin participate, attract many spectators. And once they see the “heavenly horses,” people become their ardent fans for life. So the “Tekinist regiment” is growing year by year.
Despite their small numbers, Akhal-Teke horses are very popular among foreign buyers, second in price only to Arabian horses. In many countries of Western Europe, the USA and Canada, there are associations of Akhal-Teke horse lovers, and the breeding stock, although small and inferior in quality to that available in the CIS countries, already represents a good foundation for the future.
The Akhal-Teke horse or Akhal-Teke horse is an ancient breed bred on the territory of modern Turkmenistan. They not only did not change their original appearance over the years of existence, but also influenced the creation of other breeds, for example, the Arabian or thoroughbred horse. Their population in the world is very limited, as breeders carefully try to maintain the purity of the blood. They are distinguished by excellent exterior and working qualities. From the article you will learn the characteristics of this breed and the requirements for home maintenance. It is also worth paying attention to what the horse looks like and why it is bred.
Characteristics of the Akhal-Teke horse breed
The Akhal-Teke horse breed is one of the most expensive in the whole world. Breeding these stallions is considered not only a great luxury, but also a status occupation. This is an ancient breed that became the basis for most modern riding horses.
This is what the Akhal-Teke horse breed looks like
History of the breed
The origin of the Akhal-Teke goes back to ancient times. The first mentions of this breed date back to the Parthian state. Later, they began to be bred on the territory of modern countries of the Middle East and Turkmenistan. It was the Turkmen who were able to preserve the breed, since hardy horses were their only means of transportation. They were kept exclusively near houses, fed well and given a lot of time for training.
They taught not only how to ride fast and respect the rider, but also how to help the rider during battle - to bite and kick the enemy. This greatly influenced not only the horse’s appearance, but also its character.
This breed had many names - Massagetian, Parthian, Persian. Only in the 18th century did it receive its current name. The name is formed from two words: the oasis - Ahal, and also the tribe - Tege, which lived in that region. You may also be interested in information about the Shire horse, as well as information about its
On the video there is a description of the breed:
Despite its centuries-old history, the Akhal-Teke horse breed today has practically not changed its appearance. Starting with the Turkmen, they were treated in a special way. Over the years of active selection there have been almost no cases of inbreeding, since there is no blood that could improve this breed. They are still trying to maintain purity today. It is believed that the best horses can only be found at stud farms in Stavropol, Dagestan and the Moscow region, where they are bred for sporting purposes.
In the Russian Empire, the Akhal-Teke breed, like all other horses of the eastern color, was called Argamak. They were actively used by the Don Cossacks to improve the qualities of their horses.
But this will help you understand why Holstein horses are bred.
Dimensions and weight
Akhal-Teke horses are tall horses, their height reaches 1.6 m; mares are usually smaller than stallions. The chest circumference is at least 1.75 m, as they need a lot of oxygen while running. Body length along an oblique line is up to 1.65 m. Average weight– 400-450 kg. 
They have an elegant and light head. Many horse breeders note expressive and intelligent eyes, as well as an aristocratic profile. The ears are very mobile and of regular shape. The neck is graceful, especially beautiful when the horse is moving. Legs are straight with pronounced muscles. The hooves are small but incredibly hard. Developed limbs allow them to overcome up to 250 km per day. Have developed back, which can withstand even a massive rider. Sloping croup and small low tail. The stomach is tucked, the ribs are straight.
There are three varieties of the breed depending on the constitution - lean and tall, average, as well as large and massive stallions. Akhal-Teke dogs have practically no mane or bangs, but the texture of the coat is one of the advantages of the breed. It resembles satin, due to which it shimmers in the sun and is extremely pleasant to the touch.
The Turkmens called the Akhal-Teke breed royal because of its graceful shape, beautiful coat and excellent racing qualities. Horses were used as gifts to heads of other states.
Other characteristics
The peculiarities of the Akhal-Teke's upbringing directly affected their character. These are temperamental, hot-tempered and energetic animals. They do not tolerate strangers near them, they trust only their owner, becoming strongly attached to him. They get along well with children and do not tolerate aggression or self-neglect at all.
Distrust of strangers remains at the genetic level in the breed. The Turks loved their horses, allocated a separate and spacious paddock for each individual, and fed them with high-quality food. They considered them friends and had a close connection with them. Because of envy, other residents could throw stones at the animal, so trust is an artificial characteristic, instilled later. 
Horses of this breed have exceptional intelligence. They are happy to learn commands and try to hone their skills. Some coaches note that sometimes it can be difficult to work with Akhaletians; if they don’t want to follow commands, they won’t do it. This problem can only be corrected with patience and affection, to which horses respond very sensitively.
Despite their thin skin, they are able to withstand almost any temperature, both cold and hot. The amazing endurance of the breed is noted. They are one of the best horses for sporting competitions.
Researchers of the breed say that despite his slender build, an adult stallion could carry two large warriors in full uniform.
But what are the characteristics and what it looks like in the photo, you can see here.
It is recommended to keep them in an individual spacious pen, in which there should be constant access to food and water. The stable should be regularly ventilated and cleaned once a week. 
To maintain the physical fitness and temperament of the animal, regular physical activity. Fast cross-country trips are suitable for this. Akhal-Teke horses love to be communicated with, so while riding you need to maintain a connection with the horse. Intellectual load is also necessary.
In the summer, animals can be released to pasture, but they should not be given much freedom. The peak of physical development in this breed occurs late - at 4-5 years of age, but the foal must begin training from the first year.
For all sporting horses, the saddle and bridle are made individually. The main thing is that it is comfortable for the animal, the bit should not break the teeth, and the saddle should not rub the back. After each ride, the hooves should be inspected for injuries and cracks. Veterinary examination is required every 3 months. But how to keep a Friesian horse can be seen in this
Feeding
The diet is not much different from other breeds. Due to the fact that they grew up in a hot climate, little water is required, but access to it must be constant. The diet should consist of soft and hard food. 
For this purpose, hay, fresh herbs, and cereals (oats or barley) are used. At least 5 kg of feed per day is required per adult. Vegetables and fruits are recommended to be given as treats and not as main food.
Vitamin and mineral supplements are only necessary for show horses and during pregnancy and illness. It is advisable to follow a diet; portions should be small but frequent.
With a deficiency of vitamins in food, the wool quickly begins to lose its silkiness and satiny texture. Problems with teeth and hooves may occur.
But for what purpose a Russian riding horse is bred and how it is fed, you can read
Comparison with other breeds
Akhal-Teke horses are special horses. They require specific handling and an individual approach. This breed is not suitable for a novice owner, and if not handled properly the animal can become aggressive and dangerous.
Akhal-Teke horse
They are considered excellent horses, so they are widely used for racing and competitions. However, they peak late physical fitness, only by the age of 3-4 years do they enter sexual maturity and are not famous for their good fertility. At proper training and handling, they are revealed in all their glory during races at the hippodrome, where only Arabian and Russian horse breeds compete with them. You may also be interested in information about what it looks like and how it is contained.
Price - how much does an Akhal-Teke horse cost?
The cost of an Akhal-Teke stallion starts from 200 thousand rubles. The price depends on the pedigree, body type and appearance of the horse. The most expensive horses are the Isabella color; their cost varies from 500 thousand rubles to 1-2 million rubles. But what is the cost of a large heavy breed horse and which of them are the best?
The Akhal-Teke breed is an ancient animal with interesting story. The peculiarities of their content and use influenced appearance, as well as character. Today they belong to an elite breed; breeders try to maintain the purity of the blood without resorting to inbreeding during breeding. Horses become attached to one person and require proper treatment. If reciprocated with affection and care, they exhibit incredible intelligence and physical characteristics.
The Akhal-Teke thoroughbred horse was created in the hot climate of the oases and deserts of Central Asia as a specialized riding horse. For thousands of years, this horse was formed under the conditions of military campaigns, which required from it, first of all, agility and endurance, and swept away everything frail and weak. Pure breeding, based on the ancient traditions of the Turkmens and the economic unprofitability of any crossbreeding, led to the development of a relatively large, exceptionally dry horse, capable of high performance at a gallop.
The exterior of the Akhal-Teke purebred horse is distinguished by its unique majestic beauty and sharply distinguishes it from other horse breeds. Anyone who has ever seen an Akhal-Teke horse of a distinct type will no longer confuse it with other breeds. The combination in the exterior of powerful levers, voluminous joints with exaggerated elegance of the head and neck, general dryness and thinness of the skin remains characteristic of the best modern Akhal-Teke horses.
The head of the Akhal-Teke horse is dry and light, with an elongated and thinned facial part, the ears are long or medium length, erect, sometimes sickle-shaped or lyre-shaped. The eyes are large, expressive, sometimes with a characteristic almond-shaped “oblique” cut. The profile of the head is straight or hook-nosed with a convex forehead. Sometimes there are Akhal-Teke horses with a concave head profile, but still with an elongated facial part. The neck of the Akhal-Teke horse is usually long, with a long poll, set high and with a high outlet. The chest is of medium width, deep, with well-developed withers, sloping and well-muscled shoulder. The back and loins are often long. The croup is wide, most often of medium length; the shape is most often oval or flattened. The legs are long, extremely dry with well-developed joints. The hooves are well shaped and strong, sometimes with flat hooves and low heels. Akhal-Teke horses have short and silky hair, thin skin, through which a network of blood vessels appears, muscles and tendons are visible. Many horses have extremely poor mane development, sometimes no mane at all. The main disadvantages that occur in Akhal-Teke horses are: an overdeveloped Adam's apple, narrow chest, soft back and sunken lower back. With appropriate selection and good feeding, these shortcomings can easily be corrected.
Despite the presence of common exterior features in the Akhal-Teke breed, there are horses of different types. Along with large, hook-nosed horses of long lines, distinguished by an extremely high set long neck, there are more compactly built horses with a straight head profile and a less high-set neck. Between these two main types there are many intermediate options, which can differ greatly, including in height and massive build.
This is how the distribution by type of modern Akhal-Teke horses looks:
Type one - Basic
Representatives of this type are characterized by large stature and the pronounced unique beauty of the Akhal-Teke horse of long lines. The temperament is energetic, the constitution is strong. The head is long and often slightly hook-nosed, the eyes are large and expressive, the ears are long, thin and beautifully set. The neck is long, thin with a high outlet. The withers are high and long. The chest is deep. The body is of medium length and with well-developed muscles.
Disadvantages include a long soft back, a flat shallow body, poor muscle development and low heels (short straight pasterns).
To the most prominent representatives This type includes horses from the Gelishikli (via Yulduz), Peren, Posman and Everdy Teleke lines.
Type two - Medium
Characterized by fairly large stature, energetic temperament and light, dry build. The head is small, light, eyes are large, expressive, ears different lengths, but always subtle and beautifully staged. The neck is often long. The withers are well defined. The body is of medium length and sometimes flat. False ribs are often short. The limbs are dry, with clearly broken tendons. With noble forms, this type is characterized by a strong constitution and outstanding fast gait. This type is widespread. This includes mainly representatives of the Gelishikli (via Gundogar), Elya, Kaplan, Mele Kusha, Skaka and Fakirpelvan lines.
Type three - Massive
It is characterized by massive build and significant bonyness. This is a rough but durable type of Akhal-Teke horse with high performance. It includes the best representatives from the offspring of the Arab, Dor Bayram, Karlavacha, Kir Sakara and Sere lines.
Type four
Undesirable, but quite common. It is represented by small, poor-boned and nervous horses with a small chest girth and a flat body. In racing, these horses are quick to pick up, but cannot maintain the distance. This extremely nervous, asthenic type of horse was formed by crossing narrow-bodied, similar representatives of related lines with a light build with each other under conditions of insufficient feeding. Satisfactory offspring are obtained only by crossing with horses of the third, massive type.
Of all the eastern horse breeds, the Turkmen Akhal-Teke horse has always been tall. Teke stallions bred from Turkmenistan to Russia in the first half of the 19th century were mostly 158 cm at the withers, but some reached 166 cm. Average measurements of the height at the withers of Akhal-Teke horses made by G.A. Mazan in 1916, were 155.6 cm for stallions and 152.6 cm for mares. The stallions turned out to be much larger because they were always raised, fed and trained in Turkmen horse breeding better than mares. The thing is that the Turkmens, unlike the Arabs, rode exclusively on stallions, and riding mares was considered a disgrace. In 1966, the average height of Akhal-Teke stallions was 157.9 cm, oblique body length 158.3 cm, chest girth 175.7 cm, metacarpus girth 19.5 cm. Accordingly, in mares 155.4 - 157.4 - 175.5 -18 ,9.
The modern Akhal-Teke breed has approximately the same measurements: stallions 158.9 - 160.1 - 177.2 - 19.25; mares 157.6 - 159.6 - 178.6 - 18.76. In the leading stud farms of Russia, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan, the average height of sires exceeds 160 cm, and there is a tendency to further increase growth while maintaining the type and other qualities inherent in the Akhal-Teke breed. For example, at the Chamborant "Shael" stud farm, the average measurements of the uterine composition are: 161.4 - 187.5 - 19.86.
The Akhal-Teke breed is famous for its most diverse set of colors, often distinguished by a unique golden and silver tint. Now the breed has the most bay horses, approximately 36%, the second most common color is dun - 27%, then black - 14%, red - 8%, nightingale, gray - 5% each and isabella - 3%. But this was not always the case: in the first half of the 20th century, gray Akhal-Teke horses were the most numerous, in 1927 they made up 36% of the entire breed, while bays accounted for 21%. Subsequently, the number of gray horses decreased, but this does not mean that this color is not characteristic of the breed.
Like any purebred horse, the Akhal-Teke requires understanding and an adequate attitude from the rider. For the most part, horses of this breed have an energetic, good-natured character; talk about the excessive complexity of the character of the Akhal-Teke breed is clearly exaggerated.
Akhal-Teke horse It is distinguished by easy, non-tiring movements for the rider. It is characterized by a wide stride, a light, free trot and a beautiful flat canter. In Central Asia, in oases, mountains and deserts, horses often have to overcome various obstacles, which is apparently why the Akhal-Teke horse has a naturally developed ability to jump.
There is a lot of information in the literature about the outstanding endurance of the Akhal-Teke horse. The endurance of Turkmen horses was confirmed in the famous Ashgabat-Moscow race, in a five-hundred-kilometer race at the Moscow hippodrome in 1945, and in a race along the ring road around Moscow in 1999. There are also some examples in modern distance runs good performance Akhal-Teke horses, but there are even more untapped opportunities.
However, first of all, the Akhal-Teke horse differed from all other breeds in its exceptional agility, especially in the short distance. The preservation and development of this quality was facilitated by traditional Tekin horse racing short distances, from 250 meters to a kilometer. Moreover, the winner rode again on the same day, sometimes 3-4 times. Purebred Akhal-Teke horses in these races were not inferior to Anglo-Teke horses, and sometimes beat English thoroughbreds. Further work with the Akhal-Teke purebred breed confirmed that a well-bred and properly trained Akhal-Teke horse is capable of showing high agility at any distance.
The Akhal-Teke horse breed is not a specialized sports breed, but individual Akhal-Teke horses showed very high results in sports. The most titled Akhal-Teke horse in show jumping was the bay Penteli (Fakirpelvan - Peydachi). Under the saddle of Viktor Lisitsin, he won the USSR Cup and was part of the country's Olympic team. The mare Gerek (Almaz - Gulyalek), stallions Posman (Fakirpelvan - Paska), Polet (Gelishikli - Gul), Mogar (Melekush - Ganga), Glazok (Gundogar - Kaska), Arslan (Abdurakhman - Selbiniyaz), Man ( Melekush - Aqua) and some others. In triathlon they proved themselves with best side Akhal-Teke Mansur (Dornazarbek - Medea) and Anglo-Teke Propeller (Prize - Angara). But of all the classic equestrian sports, the most high achievements among Akhal-Teke horses in dressage, primarily thanks to the great Absinthe, born in 1952. (Arab - Baccarat). Under saddle S.I. Filatova Absinthe won the Olympics in Rome and took third place in Olympic Games in Tokyo. Under another rider, Ivan Kalita, at the Olympics in Mexico City, Absinthe took fourth place in the individual competition and third in the team competition. Absinthe not only showed outstanding results in equestrian sports, but also became an excellent producer in sports horse breeding. A number of his children successfully competed in the Grand Prix dressage program. The most famous of them are Abakan, Argument, Akbulak, Alar, Agdam, Ayu-Dag and Elba.
For more successful performance of Akhal-Teke horses in sports, targeted selection is necessary, without which it will be impossible to compete with the rapidly developing half-bred sports breeds. Some experiences of using Akhal-Teke horses in half-bred horse breeding also indicate the possible role of the Akhal-Teke as an improver of half-bred sport breeds. Such qualities of the Akhal-Teke breed as speed, elegance, flexibility and springiness are undoubtedly in demand in a modern riding horse.
One of the valuable riding horse breeds is the Akhal-Teke. A native of the East has deep roots. The Akhal-Teke horse is almost the oldest breed in the world. Today the number of Akhal-Teke horses is no more than 3 thousand individuals. That is why they are considered a valuable rarity at a high cost.
But it is not only the ancient roots of this breed that make the Akhal-Teke horse special. An incredibly beautiful and graceful physique gives every right to call the Akhal-Teke " heavenly Argamak" allow the animal to endure harsh weather conditions, which makes it possible to breed these horses in countries with different climatic conditions.
History of the Akhal-Teke horse
The formation of the breed began about 5 thousand years ago in the region of Central Asia, the territory of which today belongs to Turkmenistan. To breed horses, nomads crossed local horses to produce tall, graceful and hardy individuals.
Akhal-Teke horses were closely related to Arabian horses. Some scientists suggest that both breeds were used to breed Arabian horses. But according to the available historical data, it has so far been proven that the species were formed separately from each other.
Beginning of Akhal-Teke horse breeding was founded by the ancient Parthian kingdom. Then Persia and Turkmenistan noticed beautiful animals and also began to breed these animals on their territory. Unfortunately, the breed was preserved only among the Turkmen, who greatly valued horses: horses in this country were one of the main means of transportation and were often used during the war. Horses grazed in oases and ate grain and flat cakes. IN winter period blankets were put on the animals and taken to tents specially created for them. The best horses were selected by experienced horse breeders, who kept the animal at their home, looked after it and trained it for competition in battles.
This attitude towards animals has shaped Horses have a special character and appearance. Today Akhal-Teke horses look exactly like their ancestors.
External characteristics of the Akhal-Teke horse
The Akhal-Teke horse breed stands out among the rest. These are the most elegant, graceful and beautiful individuals on the planet. With their ancient history, they represent a real asset that every owner of this breed is proud of. The price for Akhal-Teke is growing from year to year.
Dimensions and proportions
Akhal-Teke horses are quite tall. It ranges between:
- 155–163 cm for horses,
- 151–155 in mares.
Tall animals have a lean constitution. Looking at an Akhal-Teke horse running, it seems as if a noble, strong and graceful mountain fallow deer is running. Horses look elegant and beautiful with long and straight legs. Although the body line is slightly curved, it is proportional to all parts of the body.
Horses have a unique head shape, which is characterized by a well-developed occipital part, a long and graceful neck, a perfectly even profile and a slightly narrowed lower part. Large ears have the correct shape. Large and expressive almond-shaped eyes are set deep and appear slightly slanted in appearance.
The Akhal-Teke horse has a narrow, deep chest and powerful croup. The body is supported by strong, muscular legs.
The Akhal-Teke breed is characterized by thin skin with prominent subcutaneous vessels. Short hair has a silky feel. The body is characterized by small vegetation in the area of the mane and tail. Some individuals have no mane at all. This breed has an anomalous feature: sometimes newborn foals are completely hairless and usually die early in their lives.
Horses with lean but powerful bodies were compared in ancient times to animals such as the cheetah, snake and eagle. Smoothness and flexibility of movements, thin skin, silky and smooth skin, high neck gives the animal a resemblance to a snake. Powerful, flying gallop, proud and majestic appearance reminiscent of an eagle. The leanness and dryness of the body resembles the body of a cheetah or a purebred greyhound dog. The Akhal-Teke horse can rightfully be considered a work of art, the creation of which took many years of work by horse breeders.
Types of colors
Akhal-Teke breed amazes with the variety of colors. Horses are:
Animal fur has a characteristic golden sheen, which is very noticeable in the sun. Perhaps because of this feature, Akhal-Teke horses were nicknamed “heavenly” in ancient times.
But this is an incomplete list of breed color options. In life you can meet individuals with lilac and piebald colors. There are even rare representatives with a golden-red body color, whose mane and tail are colored in dark shades.
Character
Akhal-Teke horses are distinguished by their wayward character, formed over millennia, during which the animals coexisted next to the only person for them. This breed does not recognize anyone other than its owner. But these horses are very smart and independent. They do not show violent feelings, although they have a hot disposition and great vital energy. The trust of animals of this breed must be earned, as they have a well-developed sense of self-esteem.
If it is not possible to establish psychological contact with the Akhal-Teke, then the horse will not obey the owner. She will make any decisions on her own. Because of complex nature Akhal-Teke horses turn out to be difficult to prepare for sports competitions. If you manage to establish contact and mutual understanding with them, then they will forever become loyal and good friends.
Features of the Akhal-Teke breed
The breed was formed in deserts with quicksand. This is what influenced the smoothness and height of the horse’s stride, gallop and trot. Behind the grace and elegance of individuals lies high endurance:
- they can remain without food and water for a long period;
- overcome long distances and grueling hikes;
- endure heat and frost.
Since horses were trained as racers, the animals acquired high levels of speed. The breed was prepared for riding, so the elastic movements of the animals do not tire the riders. But rude treatment and neglect towards a horse can greatly hurt it. Purebred individuals are not " sports equipment", who will fulfill any demands and orders of the rider. A horse needs a special approach. Only an experienced and confident rider will be able to gain the understanding and trust of this animal and be able to achieve high sporting results with it.
The best sports uniform Akhal-Teke horses reach only 5–6 years of age, so their maintenance is quite expensive.
Individuals are fed only high-quality feed: green alfalfa hay is given to horses once a day, pure selected barley - 2 times a day. Animals must be given water at least 3 times a day.
Application of Akhal-Teke horses
In the past these horses were used How war horses or assistants in falconry. They rarely took part in regular trips, and they were never used in carts or as pack animals.
Modern individuals take part in competitions such as smooth racing and distance running. Occasionally they are trained for dressage or show jumping. The horses are distinguished by high agility, but their speed indicators are far from the results of English riding horses.
Akhal-Teke horses are easy to train for horse riding competitions. They are also suitable for circus training with their smooth movements and subtle mind.
Declining Akhal-Teke population
Using folk selection methods, the unique Akhal-Teke horse breed has remained unchanged for thousands of years. The pedigree of individuals was not kept in a stud book: the Turkmens passed it on from generation to generation. The 20th century was a disastrous period for this breed. At this time, horses were involved in factory breeding, which caused great damage to their population.
In the last decades of the century, there was a decline in Akhal-Teke horses. The cruel law forced the Turkmen to send the best representatives of the breed to slaughter. It should be noted that this nation never consumed horse meat from animals that they considered the national treasure of their country.
The reduction in livestock has led to loss of genetic diversity. When the number of individuals of the Akhal-Teke breed decreased to alarming levels, horse breeding resumed.
Today, the first place in the number of Akhal-Teke horses is occupied by Turkmenistan, the second is Russia. In Europe and the United States of America They also breed this breed, which is valued and loved for its unique beauty and working qualities.
The Akhal-Teke is a one-of-a-kind breed of horse that has incredible smooth movements, shiny coat, a proud figure and swan neck. Horses have almost equal value to Arabian horses. Despite their rarity and high cost, Akhal-Teke horses are very popular.
The Akhal-Teke horse has gained worldwide popularity thanks to its grace, beauty, and pleasant disposition. She always attracts attention with her unusual appearance. The features of the exterior, character, and use in ancient times and today will be discussed in the article.
How did the breed appear?
The described breed is the oldest of all currently existing species of eastern origin. It belongs to the riding species, is small in number and very expensive. It is appreciated by professional breeders, amateurs and athletes.
The history of these horses goes back more than 5000 years! It is believed that she came from wild horses living in Central Asia. In Ancient Russia it was called argamak; even then, representatives of the species had amazing grace and an unusual exterior, which is characteristic of them even today. The Parthian kingdom, Persia, and Turkmenistan played a major role in increasing the number of the breed. But only the Turkmen managed to preserve the thoroughbred nature of the horses.
They were bred en masse in the Teke tribe (Turkmenistan). This place is considered the birthplace of the Akhal-Teke. Since ancient times, the tribe has increased in number the best horses, so it is not surprising that the breed comes from there. The name of the species comes from the Ahal oasis. It is believed that the largest herd of this species lived there.
Description of the Akhal-Teke breed
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In addition to the rarity of horses, their value as the oldest oriental ones, they also attract attention with their stunning exterior!
Height at the withers - 147-163 cm. Akhal-Teke horses are inherently dry, they do not have excess fat or muscle mass. The body is oblong, the back is smooth and graceful. The croup is well developed, the hips are oblong. Rib cage deep. The legs are straight, strong, the hind legs are saber-shaped. The hooves are powerful. The neck is flexible, rather thin, elongated. The head is medium in size, proportional to the body, and has a hump-shaped profile. The ears are small and stand up. The eyes are almond-shaped, intelligent, clear.
The skin is delicate, thin, and blood vessels may be clearly visible. The coat is silky and very shiny, and can shimmer beautifully in the sun. The tail is not voluminous, the mane is either loose, like the tail, or absent altogether.
The color can be golden bay, golden red, black, golden salt, isabella and dun. Markings on the legs and head are acceptable.
What are the characteristics of Isabella horses?
Akhal-Teke horses of Isabella color are probably the most beautiful representatives of the breed, but, of course, this is a matter of taste. And yet they are extremely highly valued - they are much more expensive than individuals of other stripes. They were found both in ancient times and now, unfortunately, they are few in number.
Sometimes this color is confused with cream, but in this case there is a softness of shades and tints that are especially visible in the sun. Shades are golden, yellow, cream, pink, gray.
The main feature of the Isabella Akhal-Teke is their incredible resistance to heat and any climate change. In a day, such a horse can cover 250 km! They eat and drink little, but walk briskly, developing greater speed if necessary.
What is the character of the horses?
The Akhal-Teke horse moves gracefully, the step, gait, and gallop are high, fluid and smooth. This type of move is associated with the feature ancient life– they often had to move across the sands.
They are extremely hardy, although they look fragile, which again attracts everyone's attention to them. They can go without water for a very long time, walk enormous distances in a day, are not afraid of heat, and to some extent they are ideal for moving through the desert precisely because of these qualities. They ride with or without a saddle, withstand significant weight, and require a minimum of time to rest between peak loads.
A special connection develops with the owner. The breadwinner is loved, respected, and obeyed. They are often called one-owner horses because they do not tolerate separation very well. A change of owner is extremely undesirable; it can negatively affect the health and character of the animal. Only under certain conditions and even with the use of certain psychological techniques, can a horse more or less adequately cope with a change of owner.
Horses are smart, observant, and can feel the rider: his mood, desires, and sometimes act by predicting commands.
Another quality of Akhal-Teke horses is independence. Without a special connection with the rider, the animal will act as he wants, and not as the person wants. Not aggressive, but quick-tempered, this is a proud beast that you need to know how to deal with.
Where is the breed used?
In ancient times, they were mainly used for riding, hunting, and participating in hostilities. The Turkmens trained them so well that the horses even bit their opponents to help their own rider!
Today they often participate in races, runs, competitions, and are used for amateur riding. You can often find them at circus training and vaulting competitions.
They were never used in teams or as pack horses. It is difficult to imagine such a handsome man working in the field or in a harness, even if he has to carry royal people - they are not designed for this.
The Akhal-Teke horse has been bred for many years in different countries. Her character and appearance are surrounded by legends, but there are scientific facts that horse lovers will be interested to know about.
