The Akhal-Teke horse, or Akhal-Teke (Turkmen: Ahal-teke aty), is a riding horse breed that was bred in the territory of modern Turkmenistan (Akhal-Teke) presumably about 5,000 years ago.
This is the oldest of the cultivated breeds, which influenced many breeds – the Arabian, the Thoroughbred and others. Along with the Arabian, it is considered a purebred breed, since it is a standard riding horse and has not been crossed with other breeds for 5,000 years. It is well adapted to a dry, hot climate and acclimatizes well in other conditions. In literature, there are names such as the Akhal-Teke, Tekin or Turkmen horse.
The Akhal-Teke horse is the result of the work of many generations of horse breeders in the field of selection, the legacy of ancient horse breeding cultures.
The history of this breed begins in ancient times, at a time when numerous Iranian-speaking peoples inhabiting the territory of Central Asia began to breed horses that would surpass all others in strength and beauty. They had a real cult of the horse. On the contrary, the ancient civilizations neighboring the Iranians did not have horses for a long time, and horses penetrated into Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt and other countries of the Middle East and the Mediterranean from Central Asia and Transcaucasia. In Chinese sources, ancient Davan (Fergana 2nd century BC) was famous throughout the world for its racehorses. It is no coincidence that Davan was called the country of “heavenly racehorses.” Fergana racehorses descended from racehorses that belonged to the gods themselves. In stature, beauty of running, agility and endurance, they had no equal. All horse experts, including those of neighboring and distant nations, believed that there was no more valuable commodity and no more valuable gift than Fergana horses.
In subsequent eras, these horses appeared under other names, but a careful study shows that it was one and the same breed, passed down from old cultures to new ones. Continuity can be traced even by the characteristic colors. Thus, Herodotus noted that “Nisa (the capital of Parthia) has yellow horses”, and the horses that the soldiers of Alexander the Great found on the territory of today’s Turkmenistan were “white and rainbow-colored, as well as the color of the morning dawn.” Apparently, for the ancient Iranians, the golden color had a sacred meaning, because the horse was dedicated to the deity of the sun.
Today’s Akhal-Teke horse differs from those that were 100, 300 and 1000 years ago only in its larger stature and more correct physique. All the unique features of the breed, both external and internal, were preserved.
In November 2012, the then President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov signed a decree on holding an annual International Akhal-Teke Horse Beauty Contest in April, dedicated to the Day of the Turkmen Horse. A competition was also established among artists, sculptors, carpet makers, jewelers, photographers, publishing workers, designers, and cameramen for the best artistic depiction of Akhal-Teke horses.
