Akhal-teke
One of the most ancient and
unique breeds of the world the Akhal-Teke was created in Southern Turkmenia by
the "Teke" tribe on the "Akhal" oasis. Akhal-Teke is the most distinctive strain of the
ancient race of horses known as the Turkoman or Turkmene. Directly descended
from the wild steppe horse, the Turkoman is the legendary horse from Fergana and
Bactria where it was called the Bactrian or Turanian horse and used by the great
leaders Darius and Alexander. The cavalry of Darius was mounted on this "horse
of quality" and very successful because of it. In Chinese legends it was known
as the "heavenly horse" and the "horse that sweats blood". The Chinese attacked
Bactria in 126 B.C. solely to obtain some of these "heavenly blood sweating
horses", such was then Akhal-Teke reputation.
Located in Southern Turkmenistan, away from the trade routes, bordered by the
Kara Kum desert and Kopet Dag mountains, the Akhal oasis is in an area not
subjected to continual conquest or occupation. This isolation, along with the
great pride the Teke tribesmen took in the purity of their horses has produced
a breed of ancient line's and great purity.
The Akhal-Teke is a true desert bred horse with a light, elegant build and an
original and distinctive conformation: long, tapering, aristocratic face;
beautifully shaped mobile ears; wide nostrils and large expressive eyes having a
proud fiery gaze, The neck is straight, long and often thin, set high on
excellent sloping shoulders. Very prominent withers; body long, lean, narrow and
sinewy with pronounced croup and sloping hindquarters. Legs long and dry; good
forearms and hocks well let down with short cannons of dense bone; the hooves
are small with a thick wall of strong horn. A characteristic feature is the
sparse short mane and forelock and absence of feather on the legs. The skin is
very thin with a short, fine and silky coat. The overall effect is of the long,
lean grace of a greyhound. The prevailing color is gold; either as golden dun,
golden bay or golden chestnut though other colors do occur. This special golden
color with a metallic sheen is genetically distinct and is a unique
characteristic of the breed. Magnificent action, free and flowing: in all paces a
soft, gliding, elastic stride. Quiet temperament, but easily aroused. Bold, Alert
and intelligent; responding well to sensitive training. Normal height 15 to 16hh,
weight 900 to 1000 pounds.
Early in this century the purity of the breed was threatened as thoroughbred
stallions were introduced in some lines in an attempt to improve the racing
speed. Fortunately, in 1935 the purebreds proved their endurance and stamina in
the famous 2700 mile trek from Ashkabad to Moscow which they covered in 84 days.
At one point they crossed 225 miles of desert in 3 days, virtually without
water. This convinced the authorities the Akhal-Teke should be preserved in its
pure form and all outcrossing was stopped. The Russians now consider the
Akhal-Teke part of a genetic fund of exceptional value, a remnant of that
precious fund that gave rise to breeding of saddle horses throughout the world.
Today the Akhal-Teke is quite rare by modern breed standards, with less than
2000 existing worldwide. The major population of about 1400 is in Russia, with
the second largest group of about 200 in West Germany. Here in the United States
there are fewer than 100.