Akhal Teke UK
©Black Fox 2007-2008
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"The Akhal Teke horse in sport"
"Golden Mustang" 2001, translation by Akhal Teke UK
"Golden Mustang" 2001, translation by Akhal Teke UK
In the equestrian world the purebred Akhal-Teke
horse occupies a special place among the
multitude of other breeds and divides riders into
the almost fanatical devotees of the breed and
those, non—less emotional, who strongly its
peculiar talents. Most professional riders admire
the grace and the strength of the Akhal-Teke, yet
are in no hurry to take them on into professional
sport, giving as a reason their difficult
temperament.
"Why is this so?" - we put this question to Sharip
Iakubovich Galimov, the manager of the Vladimir
Shamborant Stud and one of the most respected
pupils of the great breeder, who has been working
with the breed since 1970.
horse occupies a special place among the
multitude of other breeds and divides riders into
the almost fanatical devotees of the breed and
those, non—less emotional, who strongly its
peculiar talents. Most professional riders admire
the grace and the strength of the Akhal-Teke, yet
are in no hurry to take them on into professional
sport, giving as a reason their difficult
temperament.
"Why is this so?" - we put this question to Sharip
Iakubovich Galimov, the manager of the Vladimir
Shamborant Stud and one of the most respected
pupils of the great breeder, who has been working
with the breed since 1970.
“The Akhal-Teke horse, with its beauty, elegance, correct conformation, multitude of coat
colours, versatility and a characteristic contour bears no analogies in the equine world. This
is a light, agile, exuberant, hard-working, curious animal, wishing to participate in every tiny
detail of life which goes on around it.”
Despite the negative view which some of the less-patient and not-so-professional riders and
trainers form of the Akhal-Tekes’ suitability for serious sport, the statistics of the All-Russia
Institute of Horse Breeding show the Akhal-Teke as one of the most successful sports
horse breeds in the world.
In our time alone, the breed has produced such exceptional horses as
• The 1997 All-Russia Three-Day-Event Champion stallion Mansur;
• A multi-winner of Russian National Show Jumping, stallion Penteli;
• Olympic Gold Medallist in Dressage Absent;
• The winner of the 100-mile Endurance Ride around the Moscow Ring-Road stallion
Peikam.
What is then the reason for the rare appearances of the
Akhal-Teke horses at equestrian events?
1. The breed is rare: globally, there are only 1,200
broodmares.
2. The remoteness of most breeding centres from
sports facilities. Most breeding takes place in locations
where the main equestrian activity is flat racing (this is
particularly true of Turkmenistan).
3. Lack of professional trainers and riders willing to
take on an Akhal-Teke horse.
4. The history of modern Akhal-Teke breeding,
especially since the infamous decree by Nikita
Khrushchev [about the slaughter of Turkmen horses for
meat] has been directed at eradicating, rather than
developing, the breed.
5. Relatively high cost of an Akhal-Teke horse,
prohibitive for many sports riders.
Akhal-Teke horses at equestrian events?
1. The breed is rare: globally, there are only 1,200
broodmares.
2. The remoteness of most breeding centres from
sports facilities. Most breeding takes place in locations
where the main equestrian activity is flat racing (this is
particularly true of Turkmenistan).
3. Lack of professional trainers and riders willing to
take on an Akhal-Teke horse.
4. The history of modern Akhal-Teke breeding,
especially since the infamous decree by Nikita
Khrushchev [about the slaughter of Turkmen horses for
meat] has been directed at eradicating, rather than
developing, the breed.
5. Relatively high cost of an Akhal-Teke horse,
prohibitive for many sports riders.
Despite all this, some horses - often not the best ones
- who found themselves in equestrian centres and in
the hands of professional riders, have produced
excellent results.
“A rider taking on an Akhal-Teke horse is
confronted with its unique character - a thinking,
often wriggly animal, which demands respect and
tolerance from the rider. Upon their first encounter
with this combination of qualities, riders sometimes
draw unfavourable conclusions. It is a given that an
Akhal-Teke is a fast, turbulent horse, with extreme
stamina and quick recovery rate. Don’t think you
can simply tire it out, "knock the soul out of it" and
quickly gain its obedience. The conventional training
schedules and exercises are insufficient for an Akhal-
Teke.”
- who found themselves in equestrian centres and in
the hands of professional riders, have produced
excellent results.
“A rider taking on an Akhal-Teke horse is
confronted with its unique character - a thinking,
often wriggly animal, which demands respect and
tolerance from the rider. Upon their first encounter
with this combination of qualities, riders sometimes
draw unfavourable conclusions. It is a given that an
Akhal-Teke is a fast, turbulent horse, with extreme
stamina and quick recovery rate. Don’t think you
can simply tire it out, "knock the soul out of it" and
quickly gain its obedience. The conventional training
schedules and exercises are insufficient for an Akhal-
Teke.”
Though not possessing a great height, an Akhal-Teke is capable of jumping remarkable
obstacles (the record of the famous stallion Arab is 2.20m). For the lack of height, an Akhal-
Teke makes up by confidence and agility while the strong, sometimes difficult, temperament
helps it develop self-assuredness and meet the challenges presented to it by the rider. In the
trainer’s hands lies the secret to getting the horse away from the resistance and towards
cooperation. The pronounced temperament of the Akhal-Teke fully compensates for its
lesser size. For example, in the 1980s, stallion Gerey (Garem – Golubka) showed
remarkable achievements, jumping in professional competitions, fully utilising his innate ability
– and all this after being thrown out of the racing yard not only for his lack of enthusiasm for
racing but simply for his outright refusal to move under rider in the right direction. Key to his
success was the patience of his rider, who began his training by establishing trust and respect
with the horse, developing closer contact and thus succeeding in channelling his wilful
temperament into work under saddle. An Akhal-Teke responds to the demands placed on it
by the trainer with a rich palette of unconventional behaviours. The Akhal-Teke is capable of
a subtle recognition of minute flaws in the rider’s signals and responds accordingly.
obstacles (the record of the famous stallion Arab is 2.20m). For the lack of height, an Akhal-
Teke makes up by confidence and agility while the strong, sometimes difficult, temperament
helps it develop self-assuredness and meet the challenges presented to it by the rider. In the
trainer’s hands lies the secret to getting the horse away from the resistance and towards
cooperation. The pronounced temperament of the Akhal-Teke fully compensates for its
lesser size. For example, in the 1980s, stallion Gerey (Garem – Golubka) showed
remarkable achievements, jumping in professional competitions, fully utilising his innate ability
– and all this after being thrown out of the racing yard not only for his lack of enthusiasm for
racing but simply for his outright refusal to move under rider in the right direction. Key to his
success was the patience of his rider, who began his training by establishing trust and respect
with the horse, developing closer contact and thus succeeding in channelling his wilful
temperament into work under saddle. An Akhal-Teke responds to the demands placed on it
by the trainer with a rich palette of unconventional behaviours. The Akhal-Teke is capable of
a subtle recognition of minute flaws in the rider’s signals and responds accordingly.
“The negative image of the Akhal-Teke horse is
exacerbated by its slow maturing, which can be
the consequence of inadequate care, not to
mention the lack of individual rationing at the stud
farms in the Soviet times. Late maturity is one of
the most sensitive areas in the development of the
Akhal-Teke. The best antidote to it is the first-
rate standard of care at the European level.
Therein lies the uncovered potential for the use of
Akhal-Teke in sport. One has to say that never
in its history have the majority of the Akhal-Teke
enjoyed the level of care they do today.”
exacerbated by its slow maturing, which can be
the consequence of inadequate care, not to
mention the lack of individual rationing at the stud
farms in the Soviet times. Late maturity is one of
the most sensitive areas in the development of the
Akhal-Teke. The best antidote to it is the first-
rate standard of care at the European level.
Therein lies the uncovered potential for the use of
Akhal-Teke in sport. One has to say that never
in its history have the majority of the Akhal-Teke
enjoyed the level of care they do today.”
An Akhal-Teke has a natural ability to run fast over a long distance, making it one of the
most suitable breeds for endurance racing. Besides sound cardio-vascular system, success in
endurance depends on strong conformation, the size of the horse and economical
movements, with a correct and efficient stride. “
“An Akhal-Teke has a short cannon bone and long forearm, slightly narrow but deep chest,
with neck and head set high to the withers. This combination allows the horse to move
efficiently, without bounce, avoiding “jumpy” gaits. Particularly important is the fact that it
does not raise its feet during forward motion, moving parallel the ground, as if sliding along.”
“Other breeds often look like they have an advantage over an Akhal-Teke, when compared
by conformation, with their greater chest circumference and size of the barrel, making them
look like body-builders, but as soon as they start to move, one can see their movements high
off the ground, swaying and bouncy. With such a gait, not only more energy is expended
while in motion but more demands are placed on the whole muscular-skeletal frame. A
bouncy gait with a jump in each step and an exaggerated forward movement the foot
descends on the ground with a greater impact, which may cause trauma to the hooves, joints
and tendons, and result in stress to the animal, requiring a huge effort in covering the
distance. In an endurance race around Moscow Circular Road (120km) in 1999, only five
horses out of eleven finished the circuit, and three of those were Akhal-Teke. The Akhal-
Teke stallion Peikam won the race and the Akhal-Teke mare Melana won “Best Condition”
the following day.
One hopes that these observations will dispel prejudice against the sports qualities of the
Akhal-Teke. The changing requirements of the modern equestrian world may force riders to
revise their views on the advantages of different breeds.
most suitable breeds for endurance racing. Besides sound cardio-vascular system, success in
endurance depends on strong conformation, the size of the horse and economical
movements, with a correct and efficient stride. “
“An Akhal-Teke has a short cannon bone and long forearm, slightly narrow but deep chest,
with neck and head set high to the withers. This combination allows the horse to move
efficiently, without bounce, avoiding “jumpy” gaits. Particularly important is the fact that it
does not raise its feet during forward motion, moving parallel the ground, as if sliding along.”
“Other breeds often look like they have an advantage over an Akhal-Teke, when compared
by conformation, with their greater chest circumference and size of the barrel, making them
look like body-builders, but as soon as they start to move, one can see their movements high
off the ground, swaying and bouncy. With such a gait, not only more energy is expended
while in motion but more demands are placed on the whole muscular-skeletal frame. A
bouncy gait with a jump in each step and an exaggerated forward movement the foot
descends on the ground with a greater impact, which may cause trauma to the hooves, joints
and tendons, and result in stress to the animal, requiring a huge effort in covering the
distance. In an endurance race around Moscow Circular Road (120km) in 1999, only five
horses out of eleven finished the circuit, and three of those were Akhal-Teke. The Akhal-
Teke stallion Peikam won the race and the Akhal-Teke mare Melana won “Best Condition”
the following day.
One hopes that these observations will dispel prejudice against the sports qualities of the
Akhal-Teke. The changing requirements of the modern equestrian world may force riders to
revise their views on the advantages of different breeds.
