Akhal-Teke Horses
Ht. 15 - 15.2 hh
Color: Usually dun but they can also be bay, chestnut, black or palomino. They have an iridescent coat that is unique to the Akhal-Teke and can't be found on any other breed in the world.
One of the most mysterious and striking horses in the world, the Akhal-Teke has been bred for 3,000 years in the deserts of Turkmenistan, a region to the north of Iran. The elite guard of King Darius of Persia reportedly rode Akhal-Tekes. Raised by Turkman nomads (Teke) on an oasis (Akhal), its isolated homeland has kept the Akhal-Teke fairly free from outside influences, keeping the breed pure.
A native to desert extremes of hot days and cold nights, the Akhal-Teke is a tough, lean horse that is fast, has tremendous stamina and is hardy. In 1935 an Akhal-Teke went from Ashkhabad, their historic breeding center, to Moscow in 84 days, going most of the way on virtually no water. This incredible feat has never been equaled and is due in large part to the way the horses were raised. The traditional Turkmen method of horse stabling was to wrap the animal in felt with only their heads uncovered and kept on tethers. Their meager diet included small amounts of dry hay, barley and mutton fat, eggs and fried dough cake. Foals were weaned young and raced as yearlings. Today they are kept in stables like any other horse and not raced until they are two or three years old.
Highly valued for their speed and raced from the earliest records, at one point breeders tried crossing the Akhal-Teke with a Thoroughbred to increase their speed. The result was a horse that was marginally faster but wasn't nearly as hardy or able to withstand the extreme desert climate and the effort was abandoned.
The Akhal-Teke bears a slight resemblance to the Arab with its refined head, large expressive eyes and perfectly shaped ears. Their very fine hair creates a coat the shimmers, giving the Akhal-Teke its uniquely striking appearance. Spirited and athletic, the Akhal-Teke is used today as a general riding horse. Their phenomenal stamina also makes them excellent endurance horses. However, by western standards the Akhal-Teke's confirmation is flawed. Their backs tend to be very long, their rib cage is shallow and they lack a substantial second thigh needed to give them greater push. Their long, refined neck is set too high by our standards, making it difficult for them to come on the bit. Despite these challenges, Russia dressage rider Sergey Filatov took home Olympic Gold in 1960 on the Akhal-Teke gelding Absent. The twosome went on to get the bronze in 1964 and help the Soviet dressage team win Silver in 1968.
As the world becomes a smaller place and the former Russian republics participate in more international events, the Akhal-Teke is being crossed with other breeds to make it conform to European equestrian competition standards. Since 1983, the Akhal-Teke Association of America, among others, is dedicated to trying to preserve this unique breed.
Interesting fact: The Akhal-Teke is renowned for its devotion to its rider but sometimes has a difficult temperament.
