Sixty million years ago, in the Tertiary period, lived the Eohippus, also called the horse of the Dan of eons who grew to a height of app. 36 cm. Later, Mesohippus and Miohippus developed, which were somewhat higher descendants of the Eohippus and finally, the breed Equus developed. Equus is the basis of all contemporary horse breeds. It reached a height of approximately 145 cm.

  Until the present time, wild horses have survived in the wild – e.g. the Prevalus horse, nevertheless, we are more familiar with domesticated horses.

  Horses were tamed about four millennia ago in Eurasia. We owe this probably to the nomad tribes of Aria, who traveled in the prairie between the Red Sea and Caspic Lake. They learned how to ride and use their power in harness. They began to raise them and create breeds to be used for different purposes. A slim, tall and fast horse was used for riding, and a heavier, smaller breed for field work and drawing.

History of Akhal-teke horses

  The Akhal-Teke horses are one of the oldest breeds. They are the purest descendants of the Iranian and Persian horses. Owing to their resistance, endurance and vigour, they have been able to survive the hard desert conditions. Moving on dunes caused their very specific, pleasant quality of movement, which makes them very desirable in the dressage arena.

  The roots of the pure-bred Akhla-Teke breed reach as far back as 2-3 thousand years B.C., to the Fergan basin which has, thanks to its inaccessibility, created unique conditions for a long-term pure-blood breeding. Their name originates in the Turkmen tribe “Teke” who bred these horses in the “Akhal” oasis. This oasis is surrounded by the Karakum Desert (Black Sands) on one side, and by the Kopetdag Mountain on the other. These natural conditions have enabled the preservation of the breed in its purest form, without the introduction of other breeds into the bloodline. In about 1000 B.C., the Oguzis, an ancient Turkish tribe, took over the reign of the territory and has, along with Islam, accepted a new name – Turkmen. Owing to the Islamic laws, the pure-blood breeding has been preserved further. The Turkmen tribes, along with their population of Akhal-Teke horses were, under the pressure of the Uzbec tribes, gradually forced out of their former territory into the territory of the present Turkmen Republic. Under the extreme climate, the herds underwent a long-term natural selection. Today’s Akhal-Teke horse, unique in the world, is the result of this process. It is a universal horse for all kinds of riding sports. Many horses of this breed became a lifetime legend - thanks to their achievements and strength.

  A sad chapter in the history of these horses is the reduction of their number under the government of the Soviet Union when tens of thousands of these beautiful animals were slaughtered under the pretext that they were “a bourgeois relic”. The Turkmen risked their lives, and hid approximately 320 horses in the mountains.

  The Akhal-Teke horses, owing to their unique qualities and because of the imperilment of their existence, were declared a World Culture Heritage and they are listed in the Red Book of Threatened Animals.

  Today the Akhal-Teke horses are being bred in Turkmenistan, Russia and Uzbekistan and the breeds are gradually spreading to the US and Europe. The current total number is estimated to reach 6, 000. The Akhal-Teke horses are divided into 18 lines, most of which are derived from the 2a Boinou stallion. The following lines are most strongly represented: Geishikli, Kaplan, Kir Sakar, El, Sere, Arab, Posman and Peren. The stud book is administered in Russia at the All-Russian Scientific-Research Institute of Horse Breeding (VNIIK) in the Rjazanj region. The international association of Akhal-Teke horse breeders is called MAAK.

  Turkmenistan itself declared the horses a national treasury, banned their export and as far as they are not sold at millions of dollars, they may leave the country solely as a present to the head of another state (e.g. the British Queen).

Akhal-Teke Horses

  ...are creatures of ancient times, pure, genuine, proud and loving…

  The Akhal-Teke horse is special for its unique charm, exterior and type. Typical exterior signs are – medium-size head with straight profile, slender in the nose, bigger movable ears. The neck is long, slender, low-set, withers higher, breast not too wide, and the chest not extremely deep.

  The back is long, the long pelvis firmly set up. The limbs are long and slender, narrowly set, with long hooves. The coat is short, close-fitting and shiny, and the skin is soft. The coat colours vary; the most valued is light with a golden shine.

  JThe temperament is influenced by the horse’s specific relationship with people. The Akhal-Teke is a devoted, emotional and intelligent companion. These qualities and abilities breed true. After centuries of walking in the desert sand, the gait acquired a gliding quality, and therefore is very comfortable for riding.

  Each horse was brought up individually from an early age and was fed from the hand of its master. The secret of its breeding along with the names of the lines was passed from father to son. The ownership of these horses was a sign of wealth and power. Famous men like Alexander the Great, Dhenghis Khan, Dareus and Marco Polo were enchanted by the magic of these beautiful horses. Because of their beauty, they have been called sun-golden, or heavenly ones. And their price equaled their weight in gold. They were considered one of the most precious gifts given to sultans and kings.

Famous Akhal-Teke horses

  The most famous endurance test of the Akhal-Teke horses was the ride from Ashabad to Moscow in 1935. It was 4,128 km long and the desert stretch was 360 km. The ride lasted 84 days. No other breed would have survived such a challenge. A stallion named Arab took part in this event. In 1945, his descendant Absent was born. Absent won the dressage contest at the 1960 Olympics in Rome. Four years later, he won the bronze medal at the Olympics in Tokyo and at the Olympics in Mexico in 1968 he won fourth place. Participating in three Olympics is very unusual for a horse, and therefore - and also because of his unusual beauty and nature - Absent is being called the Horse of the Century.

  In the 80-ies of the past century the Akhal-Teke breed has been successfully represented by the stallion Perepel, the world record holder for high jumping (8.78 m). Currently, the mare Galambija, the champion of Russia in versatility in the category of young horses, is greatly acclaimed, as well as the stallion Sotchi participating in versatility contests (2nd place, Junior Championship in Switzerland). The stallion Sengar from the U.S. also took part in versatility contests (as a member of the American team). The stallion Sugun participates in endurance contests in France, the stallions Zabeg and Pejkam are competing in the same discipline in Russia.

 Absent left behind only 11 direct descendants

Akhal-Teke horse breeding in the Czech Republic

  In 1989, in the north of the Czech Republic in Chrastava, a project of the recovery of Akhal-Teke breeding was started. In 1990, the Havlíček family imported the first pair of horses – Lakmus, the grand-son of the legendary Absent and Duvme 36, the elite breeding mare. The two of them became the base of the Akhal-Teke breeding in the Czech Republic. After a relatively short time, the Havlíčeks´ farm was able to breed over 100 horses. Unfortunately, tragic events intervened and ended the project, forcing the widow to sell the horses to other breeders who continue to be proud supporters of these unique horses and their descendants.

 Nowadays, there are about 14 breeders in the Czech Republic, some of which are members of the Czech Akhal-Teke Breeders Union (CSCHAT).

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