The Akhal-Teke horse (from the Turkmen Ahal-teke aty) is one of the oldest purebred riding breeds, bred approximately 5,000 years ago. These graceful and hardy animals are called golden horses, heavenly argamaks, Akhal-Teke or simply Teke.

Akhal-Teke horses owe their appearance to the inhabitants of Ancient Turkmenistan, who decided to create the strongest and most beautiful breed of horses in the world. And they succeeded perfectly.

The name of the breed consists of two terms: “Ahal” - an oasis at the foot of the Kopet-Dag mountain range in Turkmenistan, and “Tekins” - the indigenous inhabitants of this area, who are considered the founders of the breed. In the Tajik language, heavenly horses are called Ahal-teke (“Ahal-teke”) or the horse of the Teke tribe from the town of Ahal.

Residents of Ancient Turkmenistan treated golden horses as members of the family: they fed them by hand, decorated them precious stones, in bad weather they took us home and played like with children. Hot climate Central Asia left his mark on the breed and made the horses lean and hardy.

Akhal-Teke horses were faithful companions of Genghis Khan, Alexander the Great, Peter I, Darius the Great and some other world famous commanders.

In Turkmenistan, Akhal-Teke horses are a national treasure. Their image can be seen on the national flag and banknotes of the country.

Akhal-Teke horse is a national treasure of Turmenistan

In the USSR, Akhal-Teke horses were bred in Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Russia. Nowadays, specialized factories in the Moscow region, Stavropol, the Republic of Kalmykia and the Republic of Dagestan are engaged in their breeding.

Video - History of the Akhal-Teke horse breed

General characteristics of the breed

Heavenly Argamaks cannot be confused with horses of other breeds. These graceful animals captivate at first sight and settle in your heart forever.

Exterior

Akhal-Teke horses are characterized by long thin legs, lean body without subcutaneous fat and unnecessary muscle mass, oriental eye shape, ideal ear shape, flexible neck, thin skin and silky, delicate coat, shimmering in the sun like silk.

A brief description of the exterior of the golden heavenly horses is presented in the following table.

Indicators	Indicator values
Weight, kg	400-470
Height at withers, m	1,55-1,60
Chest circumference, m	1,75-1,90
Oblique body length, m	1,60-1,65
Pastern girth, cm	19-20
Body type	Roasted, no fat
Head	Elongated, narrow front part
Back of the head	Well developed
Eyes	Quite large and expressive
Nostrils	Oblong, teardrop-shaped, large
Ears	Pointed, set wide
Neck	Elongated, straight, graceful
Back	Stretched
Rib cage	Oval, shallow
Legs	Long, slender. Joints are well developed
Croup	Elongated, wide, slightly sloping
Hooves	Neat, solid
Tail	Not thick, low set
Mane	Not thick, absent in some individuals
Leather	Thin, with a vascular network
Wool	Delicate, shiny, silky

Graceful argamaks differ from the more massive and muscular horses of other breeds. Many experts compare them to lean Doberman pinschers, greyhounds or cheetahs.

Basic suits

Akhal-Teke horses delight with a variety of colors, among them there are red, piebald, black, sand, yellow, chocolate-brown, cognac-red and even pinkish-milky with a pearlescent tint. A description of the most popular argamak suits is presented in the following table.

Photo	Name of suit	Description
	bay	The body is chocolate brown. On the legs there are black stockings. Mane and tail are black
	Bulanaya	The body is golden brown to yellowish. Mane and tail are black
	Voronaya	The coat is black, shining in the sun like satin. Mane and tail are black
	Redhead	The wool is cognac red. Color intensity varies
	Gray	The horse is gray, can be either pale gray, almost white, or dark gray. Black stockings on her feet. The mane and tail are also black
	Solovaya	The horse is yellowish-brown. The hair part of the tail and mane is lighter. There are light colored stockings on the legs
	Isabella	The wool is pink-milky, with a yellowish-pearl tint. Mane and tail are sandy or yellow

Among the Akhal-Teke horses, representatives of the bay color predominate (40%). Next in descending order are horses of dun (20%), black (12%), red (11%), gray (8%), nightingale (5%) and isabella (2.5%) colors.

Isabella suit

The rarest, and therefore the most expensive, Akhal-Teke are individuals of the Isabella color with pink skin and light green or sky blue eyes. The wool of Isabella Akhal-Teke horses burns in the sun like living gold. In bright daylight it takes on a silvery tint, and in dim light it takes on a soft milky hue.

It is quite difficult to explain the reason for the appearance of horses of the amazing Isabella color. Scientists suggest that this color appeared as a result of the combination of a pair of genes responsible for the formation of light colors in horses and suppressing the effect of darker pigments.

Very light skin, eye and coat color is an indirect sign of albinism. For this reason, Isabella Akhal-Teke horses more often suffer from eye and skin diseases, and also adapt less well to life in desert areas.

The coat of newborn Isabella foals has a slight pinkish tint. As the cubs grow older, it becomes creamy and shiny, plays in the sun and shimmers with silver, yellowish or even soft pink highlights. Over the years, the coat darkens a little, but remains shiny.

Isabella Akhal-Teke horses are very rare, and therefore are highly valued at international industry auctions. The price of the best representatives of this suit reaches several million US dollars.

Video - Cream Akhal-Teke horse

Character and temperament

Argamaks have the usual horse character. But among them, more often than among representatives of other breeds, there are active, excitable individuals with a hot southern temperament. But even such horses never show unnecessary aggression.

Tekins are attached to their owner and have a hard time being separated from him. Some animals are “monogamous” and do not allow strangers near them. Therefore, it will not be easy for a new horse owner to win its favor.

Argamaki is not one of those horses that will unquestioningly carry out commands under the influence of brute force. Patience, sincerity and subtle calculation will help you tame these proud animals. If the owner manages to make friends with the horse, then it will be ready to do anything for him. If contact cannot be established, then the horse will do whatever it pleases.

Areas of application

Akhal-Teke horses successfully participate in races on flat terrain (smooth races) and distance runs; they are used a little less often in dressage and show jumping.

Argamaki are beautiful horses. Due to their endurance, horses can easily cope with sprint races and often come first to the finish line. Their springy movements are not tiring for riders.

In terms of speed, Akhal-Teke horses are inferior to English riding horses. In Turkmenistan, special competitions are held for Argamaks, in which horses of other breeds are not allowed to participate.

Akhal-Teke horses have no equal in dressage. Trained horses of this breed, following commands, seem graceful and fabulously beautiful. But behind unconditional obedience lie years of hard training.

In show jumping, the record for representatives of this breed is 2 m 12 cm, while the world record was recorded at 2 m 47 cm.

One of the features of the breed is late maturation: pika physical activity horses reach 4-6 years of age. This significantly increases the cost of their maintenance and reduces the potential for use in equestrian sports.

Akhal-Teke stallions are perfectly suited for circus training and horse riding.

Caring for Akhal-Teke

Caring for Akhal-Teke horses involves daily feeding, bathing, brushing, regular inspection of teeth and hooves, as well as providing the necessary physical activity.

Feeding

The Akhal-Teke diet should include the following types feed:

• green food (fresh grass);
• roughage (hay, straw, chaff of spring crops);
• juicy food (potatoes, beets, carrots);
• concentrated feed (rye, barley, oats, wheat, corn);
• silage (corn and sunflower).

The ratio between forage and concentrates at different physical activity horses can be identified using the following table.

Specific gravity of forage, %	Specific gravity of concentrates, %
Lack of work, games, activities on earth	80-100	20-0
Slow riding, light work up to 15 minutes	70	30
Harness riding, light show jumping, dressage	60	40
Moderate work	50	50
Hard work (eventing)	40	60
Speed ​​work (running, jumping)	30	70

Akhal-Teke horses should be fed regularly. In this case, by the time of feeding, the animals will produce food juices, and the food will be digested easier and faster. Irregular feeding can cause gastrointestinal diseases in the horse.

Akhal-Teke animals need fresh water. A horse drinks 35-45 liters of water per day, and in the hot season - 60-70 liters. A sweaty and tired horse should not be given cold water

During feeding, you first need to feed the animals hay, then give them green or succulent food. It is recommended to give vitamins only when necessary. It is better to divide roughage into four parts: feed two parts to the Akhal-Teke at night, the third and fourth – in the morning and during the day.

Feeders must be clean and the feed must be of high quality.

The horse should not be used for work 30 minutes before feeding and for 30 minutes after eating.

Bathing

IN warm time Akhal-Teke animals must be regularly bathed in a small pond or pool with a water temperature of 20°C and above. The bottom of the reservoir should not be silty, viscous or uneven. The frequency of water procedures is once every couple of days. The duration of the bath is a quarter of an hour. This time is enough for the animal to cheer up and regain strength.

Excess water is scraped off the animal's body with the side of the palm or a rounded scraper. Then the Teke is walked at a slow pace until the fur is completely dry.

Swimming in a pond can be replaced by dousing the horse with a hose or bucket. The main thing is that the animal is not afraid of the water that suddenly falls on its body.

Cleaning

Akhal-Teke wool needs to be brushed daily. For cleaning you need to prepare the following tools:

• three brushes (with hard, soft and long bristles);
• convenient comb;
• two sponges;
• velvet mitten or cloth;
• rags for washing hooves;
• hook for cleaning hooves.

The horse is cleaned as follows: first the head from left to right, then the shoulders, withers, back and legs. To clean the fur, use a hard-bristled brush, and areas where the bones come close to the surface of the skin are cleaned with a soft brush. Then comb the tail and mane with a convenient comb.

Next, the hooves are cleaned with a special hook. The outside of the hooves is wiped with a damp cloth. Wetted in warm water two sponges: one wipes the nostrils and the area around the eyes, the other wipes the skin under the tail. Finally, the wool is rubbed with a damp cloth or velvet mitten.

If your horse's tail looks shaggy and bristling, try wrapping it in a bandage for a few hours. This will help give the tail a neat, laconic shape.

Dental care

Every 6-12 months you need to check the condition of your argamak’s teeth. The older the horse gets, the more often dental examinations should be performed.

The structure of the teeth of Akhal-Teke horses is no different from the structure of the teeth of other horses (see table).

The examination should look for any sharp-edged incisors, canines or molars that are rubbing or wounding the horse's tender gums and cheeks. Such edges must be filed with a regular file.

During a dental examination, you can use a special device - a mouth opener, and use an anesthetic to relieve pain. This will allow the inspection to be carried out quickly and without hassle.

You can determine that an Akhal-Teke horse has toothache based on the following signs:

• sloppiness in eating;
• eating too slowly or not eating at all;
• the horse often shakes its head;
• the horse bites and chews the bit;
• the horse's back is in constant tension;
• the animal rears up or shows other signs of anxiety.

If you are unable to handle your pet's dental examination on your own, seek help from a veterinarian.

Breeding

Akhal-Teke horses enter puberty at the age of two years. But they start breeding this breed much later. The period when the mare is ready to let the stallion approach her is called “hunting.” During this period, she is artificially inseminated.

To maintain the purity of the breed, a suitable stallion is selected in advance for the mare. In this case, the suit of the future parents is taken into account.

Pregnancy lasts 11 months. Most often, one foal is born; less often, twins are born. Newborn babies seem clumsy and helpless, but after 5 hours they can move without assistance.

The first six months the mare feeds the babies breast milk. After this, the cubs are transferred to plant foods.

All newborn purebred foals are subject to a single breeding registration. The accounting is carried out by the All-Russian Research Institute of Horse Breeding, located in the village of Divovo, Rybnovsky district, Ryazan region.

After drawing up the appropriate zootechnical record, all activities for raising purebred foals, from feeding to education, are carried out under the constant supervision of specialists.

All purebred Akhal-Teke horses in Russia are provided with qualified veterinary care. It does not matter which livestock the animal belongs to, public or private.

Until the mid-twentieth century, Akhal-Teke dogs were bred exclusively in Turkmenistan. Currently, Argamak breeding centers are concentrated at the Lugovsky Stud Farm in Kazakhstan, the Stavropol Stud Farm in Russia, the Dagestan Stud Farm in the Republic of Dagestan and the Akhal-Teke Peasant Farm in Dubna, Moscow Region. In terms of the number of Akhal-Teke livestock, Turkmenistan ranks first in the world, with the Russian Federation in second place.

• Horses of this breed can for a long time do without water and cover a distance of up to 250 km per day. This is a kind of endurance record for equid animals.
• Behind the graceful appearance of the breed lies incredible strength and endurance. There are known cases when an Akhal-Teke horse, wounded in battle with a saber, carried two adult men away from pursuit through the quicksand of the desert.
• The former head of the USSR Nikita Khrushchev presented the Queen of England with the Akhal-Teke stallion Melekush of Isabella color. The golden skin of the horse shocked the royal grooms so much that they decided that the horse had been painted. But all attempts to wash the animal with shampoo were in vain.
• Akhal-Teke is depicted on the coat of arms, currency and postage stamps Turkmenistan. In Ashgabat and some other cities of this state there are monuments dedicated to the Akhal-Teke.
• An Akhal-Teke mare named Lisette was the favorite of the Russian Emperor Peter I. The horse shared with the emperor all the hardships and hardships of the Northern War, including the Battle of Poltava.
• The most famous sports races are associated with horses of this breed. In 1935, Akhal-Teke riders covered the distance from Ashgabat to Moscow in 12 weeks. Participants covered the Karakum in three days, without stopping to eat or sleep. The horses reached Moscow in full force.
• At international auctions, Akhal-Teke horses are valued as highly as high-quality Arabian horses. Argamaki are deservedly popular among connoisseurs of the breed and are kept in elite stables.

The Akhal-Teke horse is one of the oldest purebred riding horse breeds. More than five thousand years ago, it was bred by representatives of the peoples living on the territory of modern Turkmenistan, and played a significant role in the formation of such elite riding breeds as the English racehorse, Donskaya, Trakehner and a number of others. A purebred Akhal-Teke horse is considered such because for thousands of years Akhal-Teke horses did not mix with representatives of other breeds, there were no admixtures of other blood.

History of the breed

Horses of the Akhal-Teke breed, with a spectacular appearance, the highest endurance, excellent speed characteristics and adaptability to a variety of climatic conditions were highly valued and used in their military campaigns by such famous military leaders of antiquity as Genghis Khan, the Persian king Darius and others. Many historians, based on detailed descriptions, left by ancient authors, it is believed that the famous horse of Alexander the Great (Macedonian) - Bucephalus - was an Akhal-Teke breed.

The famous Italian traveler Marco Polo also wrote in his travel notes about Akhal-Teke horses as beautiful and very expensive. By the 17th century, when it was mastered sea ​​route to India, the meaning of the Great Silk Road and the number of trade caravans following them decreased greatly. Sales, including of Akhal-Teke horses, have decreased significantly, which has led to less popularity and, to a certain extent, oblivion.

Why was it called that?

“Paradise Horse”, “Heavenly Argamak”, “Golden Horse of Parthia” was the name of the Akhal-Teke horse in ancient times. However, researchers studying the historical genealogy of this breed found that its name used to change depending on belonging to a particular tribe. Initially it was called Massagetian, then it became Parthian. Later it was called Turkmen, after that - Nisean. Before becoming Akhal-Teke, the breed was called Persian. Only towards the end of the 18th century did horse breeders begin to call it ahal - teke. Where “akhal” means the name of the oasis, and “teke” is the name of the Tekin tribe that controlled and lived in it.

Conditions for rock formation

Most peoples living in desert areas needed a hardy, smart, strong and courageous horse, which became practically a member of the family, on which a lot often depended, including life. The horses were hand-fed, groomed and taken care of, and cleaned with sand. The Tekin people loved horse racing, so high-spirited representatives of the breed who showed good speed results were highly valued. Long-term existence in harsh conditions continental climate led to the fact that the Akhal-Teke horse easily tolerates significant temperature fluctuations - from +50 0 C to -30 0 C and quickly adapts to various conditions.

Akhal-Teke in Russia

Representatives of this breed, according to historical documents, were highly valued in Russia and were called Argamaks, emphasizing their eastern origin. Russian rulers and nobles paid huge sums for such horses, and in the royal stables they were shod with silver horseshoes. A number of historians and hippologists, based on ancient documents and engravings, claim that the favorite of Peter I, the mare Lizzetta, is an Akhal-Teke horse.

IN Soviet time this breed was actively bred in Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, where breeders worked to improve the external characteristics and increase the growth of horses. Today, according to experts, the best population of Akhal-Teke horses is located in Russia. They are bred in the Moscow region, Stavropol Territory, Kalmykia, the North Caucasus and Dagestan.

general description

A unique feature of this breed is its long lines. Thus, the oblique body length of such horses ranges from 160 to 165, and the chest girth ranges from 170 to 190 cm.

"Face" of the breed

The Akhal-Teke has a unique head shape with a straight profile, although there are also hook-nosed individuals: the front part is thin and elongated, the back of the head is well developed, and the forehead protrudes slightly. The deep-set large and expressive eyes of the animal are slanted and elongated - the so-called Eastern (Asian) shape.

The facial part is distinguished by elongated and thin features. The ears are set wide apart, thin and pointed. The neck is thin, flexible and long.

Possible colors

The Akhal-Teke breed is also famous for its variety of colors. Hippology specialists say that all the colors described by man over the thousand-year history of horse breeding are found among the Akhal-Teke horses. The most common are bay, dun, black and red colors and their various shades. The game, nightingale and gray horses are not often found, but the rarest is the Akhal-Teke horse of the Isabella color, in which the animal's skin is painted in various shades of pink, and its eyes are greenish or blue.

The name of this suit, according to legend, came from the Spanish Queen Isabella, who for some reason vowed to always wear a shirt of the same color. Horses painted in the same color as the item of clothing of this crowned person began to be called Isabella. Formally, the skin of these animals is described as red, but it looks exactly like pink. The Isabella or cream Akhal-Teke horse in America even has a special name - “cremello”. Another hallmark This breed has a silvery or golden sheen to its hair, the so-called shirt, inherited from the ancient Bactrian and Parthian ancestors.

Character

According to experts, Akhal-Teke horses are smart horses with a fine mental structure and a developed sense of self-esteem. Representatives of this breed are more sensitive than others to a cold and inattentive attitude towards themselves from a person, but they do not demonstrate their feelings. Many hippologists talk about the “dog-like” affection and devotion of Akhal-Teke horses to their owner, especially if he managed to establish contact and understanding with the animal. This character was formed as a result special conditions content. For centuries, most Akhal-Teke horses were kept alone and in constant interaction with their owner, which is why they developed such a strong attachment to people. It is extremely difficult for these horses to tolerate a change of owner. The temperament of the Akhal-Teke, like most breeds from the south, is energetic and hot, easily excitable, but non-aggressive. As experts say, these horses are obedient, soft bridle and maneuverable. However, this breed is not suitable for beginners and occasional training amateurs; it is for professionals who can find contact.

As already mentioned, Akhal-Teke horses have never been bred in herd conditions. Where this breed was previously bred, there are quite a few pastures, and they can be used for no more than three months a year. Most of the time, horses are hand-fed small portions of high-quality feed: once a day with green alfalfa hay and twice with clean, selected barley. Water is given at least three times a day.

Akhal-Teke breeding

Today, the breeding of Akhal-Teke horses is carried out in two directions: racing and sports, with mandatory and careful selection for exterior. The breed is cultivated following lines, most of which go back to the stallion Boynow, famous in the 19th century:

Other modern genealogical lines of the Akhal-Teke breed are:

1. Gelishikli are the most typical representatives of the breed with clearly readable characteristics.
2. Kir Sakara - horses with a strong constitution and good results at a distance.
3. Racehorses - representatives of this line are large, with a somewhat elongated body.
4. Kaplana was separated from the Kir Sakara line. The animals have a well-defined breed type and are tall and have high performance.
5. Spruce - horses are quite simple in shape, which is why they began to be used much less.
6. Araba stallions of this line are mostly black, and mares are usually tan and bay. Representatives of this line have proven themselves well in sports, as well as in half-bred horse breeding.
7. Karlavacha are compact, medium-sized animals that show good results in smooth racing.
8. Fakirpelvana - horses have proven themselves well in classical equestrian sports, but improvement work continues.

IN modern Russia The breeding and improvement of the Akhal-Teke breed is carried out at such stud farms as Stavropol, named after Naib Idris, named after. V.P. Shamboranta, "Ahalt - Service", as well as in such breeding farms as "Tekin Legion", "Yunav" and a number of others. In addition, Akhal-Teke horses are bred at stud farms in Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan. In our country, scientists of the All-Russian Institute of Horse Breeding keep strict records of all representatives of the breed, issue stud books and publish annual certificates.

A very old horse breed in Asia is the Akhal-Teke horse breed. Her blood flowed into many breeds of European horses, for example, Don and, German and, Karabair and Karabakh.

Back in the last century, active study of the breed began, collecting historical facts and documented records. At the same time, it was proven that the Akhal-Teke horse comes from the southern horse of Central Asia; the breed had many different names. The last name, which is still used today, consists of two words, where “Ahal” is the name of the oasis and “Teke” is the name of the Turkmen tribe that led and bred a race of horses in this oasis.

Akhal-Teke

The history of this Akhal-Teke breed dates back to ancient times. At first they were bred in the Parthian state. And later they began to produce them in Persia and Turkmenistan. Only the Turkmens managed to preserve the breed, since stallions were very expensive and served as the only means of transportation. The best stallions were placed near the house. The owners spent a lot of time training their horses in order to defeat enemy horses in battle.

Later, Akhal-Teke horses appear under different names, but a thorough study proves that they are representatives of the same color. This can be traced by its distinctive features. According to Herodotus, horses of a yellow color predominated in Nisa, and the soldiers of A. Macedonian discovered horses that were distinguished by light skin tones. They compared this color with the shades of the morning dawn. Perhaps the suit of gold had a hidden but important meaning, because the horse was considered a symbol of the sun.

IN Russian Empire This color of horses was called argamak. It is worth noting that this name is typical for any representative of the eastern color. The blood of the Akhal-Teke runs through numerous horse breeds in Russia, for example, the Don.

The Akhal-Teke horse breed is the ancestor of purebred horses and occupies a leading position in influencing other colors, for example, played decisive role in the development of the Arabian breed.

The Turkmen were huge amateurs before racing, they trained their horses with the utmost care. The experience of this activity was inherited. The researchers argued that the system of training Turkmen horses and thoroughbred stallions for racing in Europe have many similarities. All the features of the Akhal-Teke speak of the innateness of the horse.

The most famous Akhal-Teke people: Boinou (b. 1885) and his son Melekush (b. 1909).

During the USSR, Akhal-Teke horses were improved: all actions were aimed at increasing the number of these individuals and eliminating the few shortcomings of the exterior.

Today in Russia this color of horse is bred at stud farms Stavropol Territory, in the Moscow region and in other areas. Therefore, Russia has the best horses of this breed today.

Monument in Ashgabat

The modern Akhal-Teke, unlike its ancestors, has increased height and a harmonious physique. All other advantages of this suit were not affected.

Characteristic

The colors that are most often found among Akhal-Teke horse breeds are gray, red and dun, black, isabella and nightingale. The height of the horse is 144-157 cm. It is mainly used for horses, but does not like frequent changes of riders, since it gets very used to one person, the horse is quite rebellious.

Outwardly, the horse looks easy; it is sometimes called the desert hound. The head is very light, the forehead is slightly flattened, the profile is straight and flat. The ears are long and swan-like. The tail is set low and the chest is narrow. The horse's legs are very slender and at the same time quite strong. The hooves are small and very neat. The horse's mane and tail are usually short or middle length. Some individuals are not endowed with a mane or bangs.

Isabella suit

The character of the Akhal-Teke horse breed can be called quite temperamental, however, it is very sensitive and restrained, loyal and attached to the owner. It can also be noted that the character is quite playful and energetic; the horse has extraordinary endurance for hiking over long distances.

Breed Features

The Akhal-Teke horse breed was certainly influenced by the lifestyle of the Turkmens. The exterior and interior of the suit is based on the specifics of nutrition and certain training - a combination of races over both short and long distances. Horses are distinguished by extraordinary endurance, do not have excess fat, that is, they are sinewy and do not need large quantities food and its quality.

Horses of this breed are intended for riding. Their movements are fluid. Since this breed is purebred, it requires a certain approach. When handled correctly, the Akhal-Teke horse demonstrates decent athletic results.

Since Akhal-Teke horses are descendants of horses raised in merciless desert conditions, they have inherited extraordinary stamina and stress resistance. They are grateful to the state of the Karakum sands for their beautiful smooth gait.

Akhal-Teke stallions are able to withstand temperature fluctuations from -30 to +50 °C, despite their thin skin and rather short hair.

The external fragility of this breed hides extraordinary resilience inside. According to hippologists, a wounded horse carried two men from the battlefield in the shifting sands of the desert.

In the last century, stallions of this breed more than once carried out long adventures and athletic runs. One of the famous ones is the 1935 run along the Ashgabat-Moscow route. The distance was covered in 84 days, despite the fact that the riders crossed the Karakum sands without stopping. At the end of the race, all the stallions remained alive, and the horse Tarlan was called the winner.

The Akhal-Teke horse breed has great potential, which is used in horse racing. They were first organized after the formation of the USSR and included classic prizes, the main award being the Derby prize; groups by age and gender of horses, and also included a traditional distance.

All main prizes, such as the “All-Russian Derby” for Akhal-Teke horses, are held at the Pyatigorsk hippodrome, which ranks second in importance in Russia. It is also possible to admire horse racing at the hippodromes of Krasnodar, Ashgabat and Tashkent.

Stallions such as Arab, who completed the Ashgabat-Moscow race, taking 2nd place, and horses Penteli and Posman, distinguished themselves for their successes. The show jumping horse Arab also showed his worth in jumping, reaching and overcoming a height of 2.12 m.

The son of the winning horse, the horse Absinthe, exalted his color in the eyes of the whole world. He and Sergei Filatov, his rider, won champion titles at the 1960 Rome Olympics. Throughout history, Absinthe is an unrivaled dressage horse, but has no connection to German origins. Except this title Absinthe won the title of European champion and became a multiple-titled horse of the USSR.

Absinthe or Black Swan

Absinthe, as a significant representative of his breed, even has a monument erected in his homeland, Kazakhstan!

Akhal-Teke stallions are mainly used for racing, with particular emphasis on dressage.

In the Akhal-Teke color, horses are bred along the line whose ancestor is Boinou: the horses Melekush, Everdy Teleke and Sapar Khan.

Other pedigree directions of the modern Akhal-Teke suit are the lines of Gelinshikli, Kir, Arab, Kaplan, Sakara, Yelya and Fakirpelvan.

Akhal-Teke horses are represented today both at races and in the rings of large events. For example, every year the International Equestrian Exhibition “Equiros” is held in Moscow, where a major show of Akhal-Teke horses is held. Founder - Vladimir Shamborant.

Dressage

Participation in the Victory Parade

For a long time it was believed that G.K. Zhukov participated in the 1945 Victory Parade at the Akhal-Teke Arab. This image is captured using various imaging media.

In the 1980s, according to new data, Zhukov’s stallion was Kumir, born in Terkonzavod.

This version has become doubtful - all horses of the Terek breed have a kind of mark. This was reported by the Horse World magazine, published in 2005. The following year, the data about the Idol became established.

At the same time, in 2010, due to the parade in Moscow, many sources claimed initial evidence of the marshal’s horse. This year's parade featured Gyrat, an Akhal-Teke horse by origin, a descendant of Arab.

According to other sources, historians have discovered huge differences in the colors of the horses that took part in the 1945 and 2010 parades.

Beauty contest

Not so long ago, in April 2012, the annual International Beauty Contest of Akhal-Teke horses began to be held in honor of the Day of the Turkmen Stallion. At the same time, a competition was organized to create the most elegant image of the Akhal-Teke between various representatives of art.

"When nature created

In some inspired moment

Snake, cheetah and eagle

Single alloy -

Then arose

Tekinets, you!

Whose gaze is deep,

As if he remembers Mithridates.

Whose neck is a quivering stream

Living silver and gold.

Whose step is even, slightly ringing

Stones of ancient decoration...

Half a kingdom for a horse! ...

But where are the worthy half of the kingdom?

(Irina Khienkina, hereditary veterinarian and hippologist)

Tekinets, Argamak - these are just a few of the common names for a representative of the purebred Akhal-Teke horse breed. And what epithets are awarded to these horses by their fans - “golden horse”, “heavenly argamak”. There are so many legends about no other breed of horse. And this is not surprising. After all, the Akhal-Teke horse breed is the oldest in the world, it is at least five thousand years old. Among the purebred horse breeds, the Akhal-Teke rightfully takes first place, because the other two purebred breeds - the Arabian and the thoroughbred horse - were bred with the participation of Akhal-Teke. What are they, these “heavenly” horses?

How different are the breeds of dogs! You will never confuse a St. Bernard and a dachshund, even if you are not a dog handler. Distinguish between cats - say, Siamese and Persian.

Not so in hippology. Some breeds and specialists do not always distinguish. Except one. Her name is Akhal-Teke. The exterior of the Akhal-Teke is so unique and so different from the exterior of most riding horses that once you see a typical representative of this breed, you will no longer confuse it with any other.

What are the exterior features of Akhal-Teke horses? Firstly, they are incredibly beautiful, sophisticated and elegant. We can say that this is a horse in the “modern” style; its lines are reminiscent of the so-loved representatives of this “Silver Age” style.

The silhouette of the Akhal-Teke horse is clear, complete, and elegant. Everything about him is extraordinary: a refined dry and light head, long and thin ears, beautiful and expressive eyes of an elongated shape, a supernaturally long, thin and flexible neck, delicate thin skin through which the relief of blood vessels appears, short satin hair. Thanks to the clearly defined withers, the long back of the Teke looks slightly inclined forward. The legs of the Akhal-Teke are long and excellently strong with “perfectly beaten”, as horsemen say, that is, prominent tendons. The tail and mane are thin and sparse; It happens that the bangs and mane are almost completely absent.

The colors of these horses are also unusual. Such diversity is not found in any other breed in the world. All the colors that people have named and described in domestic horses over thousands of years of breeding are found among Akhal-Teke horses. And for many suits even names have not been invented! Black, bay, red, and gray are found among representatives of other breeds. Akhal-Teke horses are distinguished only by the extraordinary metallic shine of their “shirt”. But now you rarely see dun, nightingale, or game horses among horses of non-Teke origin. I'm not even talking about the rare Isabella color - these are horses of various shades Pink colour with blue eyes. Turkmen often give their Akhal-Teke nicknames containing the name of the color. For example: - a black bird, Melekush - a dun bird, Dorsekil - a bay with a blaze, Kirsakar - a gray one with a bald head.

And here’s another characteristic feature of the Tekin native noticed by livestock specialist K.I. Gorelov, a famous researcher of this breed:

“The neck of the Akhal-Teke horse is set high, and the head is set to the neck at such an acute angle that no other breed has. The Tekin horse carries its head at an angle of no less than 45 degrees to the horizon, and often more vertically; and yet, thanks long neck and a small head, a horizontal line drawn at the level of the horse’s lips often passes above the highest point of the withers...”

Anyone who has ever seen an Akhal-Teke horse cannot help but admire its beauty and grace. And after talking with a well-bred Teke from a decent family, you will become his convinced fan. This is if you are not a horseman. Equestrian athletes, and even livestock specialists, hippodrome workers, and equine veterinarians often have a wary attitude towards these horses. Why? In order to understand this, we will have to start from the distant, distant past.

The origin of the Akhal-Teke horse is lost in the depths of centuries, and even millennia. Today no one can reliably explain where these divine horses came from. There is even a version that they are of alien origin. Their history goes back more than three thousand years. Portraits of horses, repeating in detail the characteristic appearance of the “heavenly argamak” (as even strict hippologist specialists poetically call the Akhal-Teke horse), can be seen on the walls of ancient Egyptian temples and on Scythian gold vases. Many researchers believe that the famous horse of Alexander the Great, Bucephalus, was an Akhal-Teke. Ancient authors left us surprisingly accurate descriptions of these horses. One of them was the well-known Herodotus:

"There is in Media endless plain, on which there are majestic horses."

His Roman colleague, who lived after the Nativity of Christ, but also a very long time ago, Appian seems to continue the quote:

“These are horses worthy of powerful kings, beautiful in appearance, easily performing under the rider, easily obeying the bit. They carry their proud, hook-nosed heads high, and their golden manes soar in the air with glory.”

The “Endless Plain in Media” still exists. This is the territory of modern Turkmenistan. There you can still see the ruins of Nysa, the ancient capital of the Parthian kingdom. Not far from them (you can get there on horseback) there is a breeding center of the Akhal-Teke breed - the Niyazov stud farm, called Komsomol in Soviet times.

The modern name of the Akhal-Teke breed was formed in the 19th century after the name of the oasis “Akhal” and the warlike “Teke” tribe that lived there, which preserved this breed in purity to this day. Actually, the whole of Turkmenistan is engaged in horse breeding. There's a horse there - national symbol, and even on the coat of arms there is a silhouette of a horse. This is a very specific horse, the wonderful stallion Yanardag, who became the 1999 world champion among Akhal-Teke horses and belonged to the first president of Turkmenistan, Saparmurat Niyazov.

Now we already know that the history of the Teke is very long. During this time, everything happened to him. But one thing was constant - this was a breed of war horses, the glory of which resounded throughout Eurasia, right up to the Celestial Empire. They were literally worth their weight in gold. Chinese emperors equipped military expeditions for them if they could not buy them.

What qualities did ancient warriors value in the Akhal-Teke?

Firstly, agility. Nowadays there are faster breeds of horses, but in those days a horse that could outrun a falcon - and this is what the Akhal-Teke is - was, of course, of great value.

Secondly, gaits that are comfortable for the rider. They are very elastic - a springy step, a soft flat trot, a powerful gallop, and in those days when they rode without saddles (even when the saddle was invented, they did not immediately think of attaching stirrups to it), the convenience of the gaits was not the least important thing.

Thirdly, extraordinary endurance, comparable only to the endurance of a camel. A trained argamak was capable of carrying its owner away from pursuit for several days, with minimal feeding and lack of water. However, why “was capable”? Modern argamaks, running thousands of kilometers across the desert, even today prove that they have not lost this quality. These horses can gallop for several hours, only occasionally breaking into a trot or walk. Such races are still held in Turkmenistan.

Fourth is a wonderful attachment to the owner, developed over centuries. These are truly faithful horses, loyal to their own and distrustful of strangers. The Akhal-Teke is a horse of one owner, a quality that is not so common in modern horses, which are handled by one person, ridden by another, and often owned by a third. Therefore, what was an advantage of a war horse becomes a disadvantage in a modern stable.

There is one more quality, valued by warriors in the old days, but inconvenient for the horseman of our days. The character of modern horses welcomes unquestioning obedience, but the argamak is capable of making decisions on its own, thinking for the rider. In ancient times, this could save the lives of both - after all, a horse has a much more subtle hearing and sense of smell than a person, and sometimes foresees natural disasters, for example, earthquakes. They say that before the Ashgabat earthquake, the horses at the hippodrome were very worried.

All of the above advantages in the modern equestrian world become, at a minimum, useless, and often turn into disadvantages. Modern horsemen have an opinion of Akhal-Teke horses as uncontrollable, easily excitable, capricious, angry and often even dangerous. Therefore, athletes do not very often choose partners among representatives of the Akhal-Teke breed.

But if the Akhal-Teke horse ends up in good, confident hands...

Absinthe under the saddle of Sergei Filatov

Did you know that it was the Akhal-Teke horse that brought the first victory at the Olympics to Soviet horsemen? This happened in 1960 in Rome. The handsome black Absinthe under the saddle of the great horseman Sergei Filatov stunned the imagination of both judges and spectators. Documentary footage of this performance has been preserved, and today it is breathtaking with delight, although more than half a century has passed since then and the art of dressage has gone far ahead. It was in dressage - a kind of figure skating on a horse - that Absinthe specialized. He took first places in the following Olympics, and his achievements have not been surpassed by anyone to this day. He is called the best sports horse of the century abroad, although he is credited with a different, non-Ahal-Teke origin.

Absinthe, 1960 Olympic dressage champion

Yes, everyone knows Absinthe. But his father, Arab - alas. And the history of this horse is so unique and unusual that it’s time to write a novel about him.

The Gray Arab was born in 1930 on one of the Turkmen collective farms; his father was a horse well known in those years. At the age of five, Arab (who had often won horse races himself) became a participant in the legendary Ashgabat-Moscow race, when Turkmen horsemen on horseback covered a distance of more than 4,300 km in 84 days, with a day's journey reaching 120 km! The Arab was presented to Stalin, placed in one of the Moscow arenas and became an athlete, performing in various disciplines. Arab achieved particular success in overcoming obstacles, was a champion several times, and at the age of sixteen (for a horse this is not youth) he set a record for high jumping, overcoming an obstacle of 2 meters 19 centimeters! Subsequently, Arab was sent to the Lugovskoy stud farm (in Kazakhstan), where he became the father of Absinthe.

Akhal-Teke stallion Arab, father of Absinthe

Now is the time to talk about the history of the Akhal-Teke breed in Russia. From historical documents one can learn that from time immemorial “Russians loved Argamaks immensely.” The highest prices were paid for such horses; in the royal stables they were forged onto silver horseshoes. There is information that Lisette herself, Peter the Great’s favorite horse, was of Tekin origin, in any case, her exterior, depicted in an ancient engraving, suggests that this is the case. Take a look at the portrait of Lisette: the favorite of Peter I holds her beautiful head so high that the line of her lips is above the level of her withers. Isn’t it true, a characteristic detail noticed by K.I. Gorelov, visible in this engraving?

The excellent qualities of the oldest horses in the world were noted abroad. Modern hippologists believe that there is no horse breed in the world that does not have Teke blood flowing in its veins. With the participation of the Tekins, the famous Arabian breed, the fastest purebred English breed in the world, and the Trakehner breed, beloved by athletes, were created. As for Russian horse breeding, they could not do without argamak when breeding the famous Don Cossack breed, the ceremonial Russian horse breed, and the now almost lost Karabakh breed. According to Professor V. Witt, the Akhal-Teke breed

“represents a gene pool of incomparable value..., last drops that source of pure blood that created the entire horse breeding of the world.”

This is what these horses are like, this is their wonderful history.

What about today? Currently, the number of purebred Tekins without admixtures of other breeds throughout the world does not exceed three thousand heads. Wild animals with such numbers are included in the Red Book. But it’s good that there are people among horsemen who are concerned about the preservation of this priceless breed. In our country, thanks to the efforts of the All-Russian Institute of Horse Breeding (located near Ryazan), strict records of these horses are kept, stud books and annual certificates on the breed are published. Exists International Association Akhal-Teke horse breeding (MAAK), which includes many equestrians, scientists and cultural figures, even prominent politicians. The Association holds wonderful holidays, the so-called Akhal-Teke Rallies. These meetings bring together Akhal-Teke enthusiasts not only from Russia, but also from other countries, including Germany, Italy, Sweden, France, and the USA. Wonderful equestrian festivals, in which only Akhal-Teke horses participate, attract many spectators. And once they see the “heavenly horses,” people become their ardent fans for life. So the “Tekinist regiment” is growing year by year.

Despite their small numbers, Akhal-Teke horses are very popular among foreign buyers, second in price only to Arabian horses. In many countries of Western Europe, the USA and Canada, there are associations of Akhal-Teke horse lovers, and the breeding stock, although small and inferior in quality to that available in the CIS countries, already represents a good foundation for the future.

In this article we will talk about one of the most graceful animals, namely the Akhal-Teke horse. This breed is one of the most ancient. There are many tales and legends about them, they are called differently. Let's look at what the Akhal-Teke horse breed is.

History of the breed

The Akhal-Teke horse is already about 5 thousand years old. This rather ancient riding breed appeared thanks to the inhabitants who occupied the territory of modern Turkmenistan. An excellent horse was created, from which almost all breeds of the Western world originated.

Akhal-Teke horses became in demand in Rus' and Central Asia, and Europeans and Arabs made do with local horses. At that time, almost no one monitored the purebredness of animals, and Russia’s conquest of Central Asia saved them from extinction.

At that time, purebred individuals were only found in the Ahal-Teke oasis (hence the name). During the Soviet era, selection work was carried out to modernize this breed.

Efforts were aimed at eliminating defects in the appearance and increasing the growth of the animal. Unique characteristics ancestors were preserved, but the horse became taller and more athletic.

general characteristics

Nomads needed horses that had endurance and were able to endure long journeys without food or drink. This is exactly what the Akhal-Teke people are. They look fragile and graceful, but have excellent characteristics: endurance and strength.

Exterior

The external data of this handsome man are as follows:

• weight about 400-500 kg;
• height at withers – 1.50-1.60 m;
• lean body about 1.60 m long;
• the head is dry and elongated;
• the neck is straight, thin and very flexible;
• the back is not very muscular, with a arch (sometimes with a sunken lower back);
• the croup is wide, muscular, slightly sloping;
• chest oval, with short ribs;
• legs are dry, long, with well-developed joints;
• characterized by underdeveloped hairline, the coat is shiny and silky;
• the mane is sparse (many people don’t have it at all);
• the tail is sparse, set low;
• thin skin with translucent blood vessels;
• blue eyes (any color).

Suits

In Rus' everyone eastern horses It was customary to call Argamaks (including the Akhal-Teke breed). Distinctive feature Argamaks are distinguished from other horses not only by their elegant structure, but also by their variety of colors.

Did you know? The wool of all Tekins has a specific metallic tint. It is explained by the original structure of the hairs.

Among the most popular are the following:

Gray hair is characteristic of all horses, but the gray color of the Akhal-Teke has a gene for early graying.

Character

The character of the horse fully corresponds to its appearance. He has a southern temperament, he is not used to complete submission. They say that these are aggressive and wayward horses, but this is not so. They never show excessive aggression.

They become very attached to their owner and react painfully to the new owner. They can only be tamed with care and patience. Under no circumstances should you use force or rudeness. When a common language with the horse is found, it will be obedient (otherwise the animal will do whatever it wants).

Advantages and disadvantages

The Akhal-Teke horse has many “advantages”, but, unfortunately, not all of them are relevant in our time.
Among the advantages we list the following:

• this is one of the most playful and fastest horses;
• the animal is able to cover long distances without stopping;
• has endurance comparable to a camel (it tolerates lack of food and thirst);
• with full understanding with the owner it becomes very devoted friend(it is called a horse of one owner).

Did you know? There are only about 3 thousand purebred Tekins in the whole world, and 50% of them belong to Turkmens. They revere this horse very much: books are written about it, the animal appears on banknotes, and even a beauty contest has been established for such horses.

There are also advantages that, under certain conditions, were considered disadvantages:

• loyalty to the owner and distrust of others are problematic, since previously the horse had basically one owner, but today it’s like this: one owns it, another rides, and a third takes care of it;
• in ancient times, the ability of a horse to disobey and accept own solution could save the rider’s life (for example, animals sense an earthquake in advance), but today disobedience is regarded as a “minus”;
• due to their nature, argamaks take a long time to adapt (get used to) to athletes, and therefore are not particularly popular;
• late maturation: they are most active only at the age of about 5 years (this reduces the likelihood of use in sports due to the inappropriateness of their long-term maintenance).

Scope of use

In ancient times, argamaks were used in battles and hunting. They were never used for pack work or harnessed to carts.

Nowadays, despite their unusualness, Akhal-Teke horses have great potential, and therefore their applications are different:

• they are excellent horses (thanks to their exceptional endurance, they cope well with both short and long races);
• These horses have no equal in dressage (graceful movements; thanks to years of training, they give excellent results);
• in show jumping (overcoming obstacles): the record for this breed is 2 m 12 cm, and the world record is 2 m 47 cm;
• in distance races that have been popular in recent years, where the endurance of these horses is very important;
• horses are excellent at circus tricks and horse riding;
• it is possible to use them for tourism, despite the myth about their bad character (with skillful selection, they are quite suitable for these purposes).

The main purpose of these horses is riding and exhibitions.

A horse is a herd animal, and to keep it healthy, it needs walking.

In addition, to keep horses you need:

• stable;
• hay storage room;
• shed for other feed;
• a place to keep tools, harnesses and various equipment.

Conditions in the stable

Animals spend most of their time in the stable, where they should have everything they need:

Cleaning and hygiene

The animal and the room in which it is located must be kept clean. Otherwise, it will affect his health and life expectancy.

To prevent this from happening, you need to:

Proper feeding

The Tekin diet consists of the following foods:

• green grass;
• hay, straw or other roughage;
• carrots, potatoes, beets (you can give cabbage, apples or watermelons, but not much);
• oats, wheat, corn and bran;
• silo;
• table salt in the form of a briquette;
• vitamin and mineral supplements (if necessary).

A horse weighing about 500 kg eats per day:

• oats - about 6 -7 kg;
• dry grass – up to 10 kg;
• bran - about 2 kg;
• vegetables – up to 6 kg.

It is advisable to divide the daily intake of oats, wheat or corn in equal parts into three doses. It is preferable to give hay 5 times a day. You can sprinkle it with salt water before serving. Before each meal, the horse must be watered.

Roughage makes up almost half of the total daily diet. It is better to use meadow or cereal-legume hay. First they give dry food, and then succulent food. Half an hour before and after eating, the animal should not be overloaded with work.
Now about watering the horses. Daily norm is from 40 to 50 liters of water, and in hot weather– 65-75 l. The amount of liquid consumed is influenced by what kind of food is more in the animal’s diet (if dry food predominates, the water norm increases).

The nature of the work performed is also important. The more a horse is loaded, the more it sweats. Consequently, the need to drink increases.

Important! A hot and tired horse should not be given cold water. Hoofing (the so-called rheumatic inflammation of the hooves) may occur.

The uniqueness of the Teke lies in the fact that, having survived more than one century, he is not only an example of the primitiveness of his breed, but has also acquired others positive traits. It is important to preserve this unique creation and pass it on to our descendants.