Agan’s breed: The Akhal-Teke
|
Agan belongs to the ancient Akhal-Teke breed
(appr. 3000 years old). The Akhal-Teke is one of the three
thoroughbred breeds in the World (the other two are the English thoroughbred
and the Arabian Horse). According to recent scientific research the
Akhal-Teke is one of the ancestors of both the English Thoroughbred and the
Arabian Horse. The Akhal-Teke’s natural habitat is that of
the steppes of Central Asia, nowadays most Akhal-Tekes are found in the area
of Turkmenistan. They’re named after the most influential tribe of Turkmen’s
(the Teke) and the oasis where that tribe mostly lived (Akhal), the tribe
that was known for breeding the best horses of this breed. The Akhal-Teke was
in ancient times revered for their beauty, stamina, colours and speed. They
were also entitled als Emperor’s Horses since they were often “given” to
other emperor’s/Kings as a precious and valuable sign of friendship. The Akhal-Teke suffered much under
the political changes of the past 150 years, at least three times there were
about to become extinct. The first time around 1880 when the Russians took
over control of Turkmenistan and destroyed Geok-Tepe the city of the Teke’s
and slaughtered most of their horses to make sure that the Tekes wouldn’t
bother them anymore. It is estimated that there were only 100 purebred
Akhal-Teke’s alive around 1900. |
Due to lack of food the surviving horses threw horses that didn’t grow well and looked very poor.
The Russians decided to add blood of the English Thorougbred to get bigger and faster horses.
This resulted in horses that weren’t really so much faster but that also didn’t have the endurance and hardiness of the pure Akhal-Teke.
In order to prevent the disappearance of the
pure Akhal-Teke a group of breeders undertook a ride from Ashgabat to Moskou to
proof the value of the Akhal-Teke breed and its cousin, the Yomud. They all
arrived in Moskou impressing the Russians with their endurance.
Soon after the use of the English Thoroughbred came
to a halt.
The numbers of pure Akhal-Teke were slowly
increasing and the breed was recovering until president Chroetsjev of the USSR
decided (in 1965)
that in order to feed the Turkmens (there was a
huge lack of food at that time) all horses had to be slaughtered.
Only about 300 mares and 80 stallions survived.
Again putting the breed at the edge of extinction.
Nowadays there are between 3000 and 4000
Akhal-Tekes world wide and the breed is officially out of the ranks of
extinction but still in the ranks of endangered breeds. The Akhal-Teke is also
slowly regaining it’s fame of the old days.
Conformation
Akhal-Teke’s are built lean and narrow, with
high withers, spare mane, dry, long legs.
See below sculpture as excellent example of
their conformation.
Sculpture by Andrea Kessler painted by Jen
Kroll.
Character
Akhal-Teke’s are very intelligent and quick
learners and therefore are easily bored. A diverse training suits them best.
They’re very social, to both horses and humans
(most Akhal-Tekes are great with children) and bond very well with “their”
person.
Colours
Akhal-Teke’s can be Black, Chestnut, Bay, Grey, Buckskin, Palomino, Cremello and Perlino and can have Sabino patterns.
Officially the breed doesn’t have the Dun gene but since there are many horses carrying the marks for Dun
one will have to wait for the dna-test for this colour to settle this matter once and for all.
Use
Akhal-Tekes can be used in almost every
discipline of horse sports. They’re very versatile.
At the moment they’re mostly used in Racing (in
Turkmenistan and Russia) and in Endurance, Dressage and Eventing (Europe &
USA).
Though they’re also used in Jumping and even
Polo.
And several Circus’ use them as show horses.