Akhal Teke UK
©Black Fox 2007-2008
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Ingrid Jutta Høvik lives in Norway and owns purebred
stallion Saad (Singapour-Molva), line Skak, bred at the
Shamborant Studfarm “ShaEl” (www.shaelteke.com).
Since buying Saad in Russia, Ingrid has taken part in
several endurance competitions and one-day events in
Norway, achieving good results. Further training in
dressage with Siri Aschim led to an excellent
performance at the Danish Palomino Association
Grading where, in 2007, Saad was named Stallion of the
Year and approved for breeding as improver. He is the
first Akhal-Teke in Europe to achieve such honour.
Here Ingrid and Siri talk about their journey with Saad…
______________________________________________
stallion Saad (Singapour-Molva), line Skak, bred at the
Shamborant Studfarm “ShaEl” (www.shaelteke.com).
Since buying Saad in Russia, Ingrid has taken part in
several endurance competitions and one-day events in
Norway, achieving good results. Further training in
dressage with Siri Aschim led to an excellent
performance at the Danish Palomino Association
Grading where, in 2007, Saad was named Stallion of the
Year and approved for breeding as improver. He is the
first Akhal-Teke in Europe to achieve such honour.
Here Ingrid and Siri talk about their journey with Saad…
______________________________________________
MM: Since you owned him, what have you found to be the biggest challenge? Or is it
all a "smooth ride" all the way?
IJH: The biggest challenge has been getting him stabilized in dressage, but that is again me
that is the problem. It has helped a lot after I started to ride for Siri and that she trained him
this season. That has made a big difference. It is not always a smooth ride - he is like most
horses - has his good and bad days. But you now that when you arrive in the stable, what
mood he is in. You must sometimes ride after his mood - so it does not always go as planed.
He is normally not spooky, but one day he can spook for everything and then you must
adjust the training after that. When he have learned something new - he likes to show that.
This summer he has learned to change gallop on command [flying changes], so whenever he
has the possibility to do that - he tries to do it. So we tried him on two-time changes and he
does that on command!
MM: What are you plans for the future?
IJH: I have plans to start some eventing myself this season - to qualify him for the one-star
eventing. I have not been riding actively for almost a year - so we will start slow and build it
up again. I am in contact with a Swedish eventing rider, that are very interested in the breed,
after meeting Saad in Denmark and he is coming in early February to see if we can work
something out. He is very interested in the breed as a refiner - to make a perfect eventing
horse. I have tried to tell him that the AT is a perfect eventing horse - but he will know that
after he has tried Saad in competition. It would be fun if we manage to get Saad ready for
Prix St.George in dressage and two-star eventing!
I also hope that he gets some mares through Danish Palomino Association, and also
Akhal-Teke mares - so we can see some off-spring and what he brings to his off-spring.
One thing is sure - he has shown what he is made of and has a great capacity and potential in
dressage, showjumping and eventing. But then again, it is up to the Akhal-Teke breeders,
what they prefer. But I hope that someone sees an advantage in using a stallion who has
great results to show. I know this is a risky thing to say, there are so many different opinions
on this subject... I know that I would love to have an off-spring from Saad - must just find
the perfect mare!
all a "smooth ride" all the way?
IJH: The biggest challenge has been getting him stabilized in dressage, but that is again me
that is the problem. It has helped a lot after I started to ride for Siri and that she trained him
this season. That has made a big difference. It is not always a smooth ride - he is like most
horses - has his good and bad days. But you now that when you arrive in the stable, what
mood he is in. You must sometimes ride after his mood - so it does not always go as planed.
He is normally not spooky, but one day he can spook for everything and then you must
adjust the training after that. When he have learned something new - he likes to show that.
This summer he has learned to change gallop on command [flying changes], so whenever he
has the possibility to do that - he tries to do it. So we tried him on two-time changes and he
does that on command!
MM: What are you plans for the future?
IJH: I have plans to start some eventing myself this season - to qualify him for the one-star
eventing. I have not been riding actively for almost a year - so we will start slow and build it
up again. I am in contact with a Swedish eventing rider, that are very interested in the breed,
after meeting Saad in Denmark and he is coming in early February to see if we can work
something out. He is very interested in the breed as a refiner - to make a perfect eventing
horse. I have tried to tell him that the AT is a perfect eventing horse - but he will know that
after he has tried Saad in competition. It would be fun if we manage to get Saad ready for
Prix St.George in dressage and two-star eventing!
I also hope that he gets some mares through Danish Palomino Association, and also
Akhal-Teke mares - so we can see some off-spring and what he brings to his off-spring.
One thing is sure - he has shown what he is made of and has a great capacity and potential in
dressage, showjumping and eventing. But then again, it is up to the Akhal-Teke breeders,
what they prefer. But I hope that someone sees an advantage in using a stallion who has
great results to show. I know this is a risky thing to say, there are so many different opinions
on this subject... I know that I would love to have an off-spring from Saad - must just find
the perfect mare!
MM: I understand you grew up dreaming of owning an Akhal-Teke one day - tell me
about the first one you ever saw in real life.
IJH: The first AT I saw alive was in Sweden, at Karakum Studfarm (www.karakumstud.com)
in 1998/1999, I think. I had had some contact with the Keiths and went to look at their horses.
They did not have anything that I was interested in then, because of age and size. I do
remember Yaspolad pretty well and he then showed me that AT stallions could be really gentle
and good to handle. The dream was still there after the visit:-)
MM: Tell me about your trip to Russia and how you bought Saad -was he the only horse
you considered buying or did you have a choice?
IJH: I went with my mother and a veterinarian and we were meeting with a woman that I had
had contact with over e-mail. I had told her about my requirements and she sent me pictures
and information on different horses. I was especially interested in a black stallion from
Turkmenistan, as he had the height that I need (I am 176cm). I do not remember his name.
The black stallion was not right for me, and he did not have the best conformation or
temperament, but we got interested in a palomino called Kazi. Kazi was too expensive for us,
but we managed to get him down in price, however, the response came too late, as I had
decided on Saad by then - I do not regret that at all!:-) I am still wondering what happened to
Kazi. He was only four then, (would be 10 now) but a really gentle horse with a nice
temperament.
about the first one you ever saw in real life.
IJH: The first AT I saw alive was in Sweden, at Karakum Studfarm (www.karakumstud.com)
in 1998/1999, I think. I had had some contact with the Keiths and went to look at their horses.
They did not have anything that I was interested in then, because of age and size. I do
remember Yaspolad pretty well and he then showed me that AT stallions could be really gentle
and good to handle. The dream was still there after the visit:-)
MM: Tell me about your trip to Russia and how you bought Saad -was he the only horse
you considered buying or did you have a choice?
IJH: I went with my mother and a veterinarian and we were meeting with a woman that I had
had contact with over e-mail. I had told her about my requirements and she sent me pictures
and information on different horses. I was especially interested in a black stallion from
Turkmenistan, as he had the height that I need (I am 176cm). I do not remember his name.
The black stallion was not right for me, and he did not have the best conformation or
temperament, but we got interested in a palomino called Kazi. Kazi was too expensive for us,
but we managed to get him down in price, however, the response came too late, as I had
decided on Saad by then - I do not regret that at all!:-) I am still wondering what happened to
Kazi. He was only four then, (would be 10 now) but a really gentle horse with a nice
temperament.
The next day we went to Leonid’s place and he
showed us some horses and the last one was Saad.
I also looked and tried his half brother (by
Singapour), but Saad had the best temperament
and gave me the most when I tried to ride them
both. I was discussing options with my veterinarian:
Saad’s half-brother was more trained, but he was
more of a stallion and I wanted a gelding!?!? I was
looking for a horse for endurance and Saad’s half-
brother was trained for that. So he was actually
more suitable for me at that time. Leonid showed
me Saad as he qualified with his height, age and
price. He said that he was thought of as an eventing
horse, but he was not trained that much - so he
could do endurance as well. The choice fell on
Saad when I saw them eat their food - Saad did
not stress at all and was looking at you with his
ears straight forward. And of course - he had a
nice colour.
showed us some horses and the last one was Saad.
I also looked and tried his half brother (by
Singapour), but Saad had the best temperament
and gave me the most when I tried to ride them
both. I was discussing options with my veterinarian:
Saad’s half-brother was more trained, but he was
more of a stallion and I wanted a gelding!?!? I was
looking for a horse for endurance and Saad’s half-
brother was trained for that. So he was actually
more suitable for me at that time. Leonid showed
me Saad as he qualified with his height, age and
price. He said that he was thought of as an eventing
horse, but he was not trained that much - so he
could do endurance as well. The choice fell on
Saad when I saw them eat their food - Saad did
not stress at all and was looking at you with his
ears straight forward. And of course - he had a
nice colour.
MM: How old were you both when he first
arrived in Norway? What had you done with
horses up till then and what had he done in
Russia?
IJH: Saad arrived Norway after a long and hard
trip, in June 2002 - he was 5 years old then and I
was 24. I bought Saad for endurance as I had
ridden that with my old horse. Saad is only my
second horse, as I did buy my first own horse at
the age of 20. I had not competed much in classic
disciplines - so that has been a huge challenge for
me. Saad had not done anything special in Russia
that I know of. I rode him in a couple of endurance
competitions and he made his mark then. The
Arabians had to take two steps when Saad took
one, but when we tried eventing, just for fun, it
was a done deal! No doubt that eventing is Saad’s
best discipline.
arrived in Norway? What had you done with
horses up till then and what had he done in
Russia?
IJH: Saad arrived Norway after a long and hard
trip, in June 2002 - he was 5 years old then and I
was 24. I bought Saad for endurance as I had
ridden that with my old horse. Saad is only my
second horse, as I did buy my first own horse at
the age of 20. I had not competed much in classic
disciplines - so that has been a huge challenge for
me. Saad had not done anything special in Russia
that I know of. I rode him in a couple of endurance
competitions and he made his mark then. The
Arabians had to take two steps when Saad took
one, but when we tried eventing, just for fun, it
was a done deal! No doubt that eventing is Saad’s
best discipline.
MM: Tell me about the early days with Saad - was it easy? hard? Were there any
surprises?
IJH: I had a hard start with Saad. He had a long and hard trip from Russia to Norway. He
was limping and after one week he got a stomach ulcer and lost 100kg really fast. I walked
with him for a lo-o-ong time. I had planed to geld him when he came to Norway, but since he
came in the summer -it was not a good time to geld and he did behave so good and without
any big problems, so he stayed a stallion. I was surprised that he behaved so well in traffic as
not that many trucks and buses drove around the stud farm in Russia. I know now that it was
his super temperament that did it.
He was no fun to take out around other horses at competition the first time - and we were
almost pulled at the first vet gate - before the start. But after the first competition - and when I
started to transport him for training - everything changed. We started to trust each other and
now I can go everywhere alone with him. Saad has now got a lot of routine and experience -
and is a dream to travel with!
surprises?
IJH: I had a hard start with Saad. He had a long and hard trip from Russia to Norway. He
was limping and after one week he got a stomach ulcer and lost 100kg really fast. I walked
with him for a lo-o-ong time. I had planed to geld him when he came to Norway, but since he
came in the summer -it was not a good time to geld and he did behave so good and without
any big problems, so he stayed a stallion. I was surprised that he behaved so well in traffic as
not that many trucks and buses drove around the stud farm in Russia. I know now that it was
his super temperament that did it.
He was no fun to take out around other horses at competition the first time - and we were
almost pulled at the first vet gate - before the start. But after the first competition - and when I
started to transport him for training - everything changed. We started to trust each other and
now I can go everywhere alone with him. Saad has now got a lot of routine and experience -
and is a dream to travel with!
MM: When did you start working with your
trainer, Siri?
IJH: I started to train with Siri in summer
2006, as my eventing trainer did not have so
much time to travel around and give instruction
in dressage anymore. And dressage was the
discipline we needed most help with.
Our dressage had just started to stabilize
before I started to train with Siri and with her
help - we suddently were in the top 5 after
dressage and not in the top 15! Our problem
was that Saad and I were both fresh in
classical riding - so it went slowly. But the
more we trained - the better it all went. Saad
has been educated in dressage in the 2007
season - so he is now much more stabilized
and better prepared for eventing.
trainer, Siri?
IJH: I started to train with Siri in summer
2006, as my eventing trainer did not have so
much time to travel around and give instruction
in dressage anymore. And dressage was the
discipline we needed most help with.
Our dressage had just started to stabilize
before I started to train with Siri and with her
help - we suddently were in the top 5 after
dressage and not in the top 15! Our problem
was that Saad and I were both fresh in
classical riding - so it went slowly. But the
more we trained - the better it all went. Saad
has been educated in dressage in the 2007
season - so he is now much more stabilized
and better prepared for eventing.
MM: Siri, have you heard of Akhal-Teke before you started working with Saad?
Siri Aschim: I had never heard about the breed Akhal-Teke before
I saw Saad for the first time.
MM: What were your early impressions of him? Did these impressions change over
time?
S.A: I liked him immediately the first time I rode him but I didn’t think he had the greatest
movements and I thought he would be more of a jumper than a dressage horse. I really liked
his temperament though and his positivity to work and to please his rider.
As I got him in training he really started to grow on me. He is so fun to work with because he
loves learning new things and to be challenged. I could feel him improving from day to day.
His movements improved during the training as he got stronger and he really likes to show
himself off now.
Siri Aschim: I had never heard about the breed Akhal-Teke before
I saw Saad for the first time.
MM: What were your early impressions of him? Did these impressions change over
time?
S.A: I liked him immediately the first time I rode him but I didn’t think he had the greatest
movements and I thought he would be more of a jumper than a dressage horse. I really liked
his temperament though and his positivity to work and to please his rider.
As I got him in training he really started to grow on me. He is so fun to work with because he
loves learning new things and to be challenged. I could feel him improving from day to day.
His movements improved during the training as he got stronger and he really likes to show
himself off now.
MM: Please describe what he is like in work, particularly in dressage: what
movements does he find easy and what is more challenging for him? What's his
behaviour like - does he concentrate well? Does he need much warming up time?
S.A.: He does not need to much warming up but I always let him walk for quite some time
before and after training so that his muscles do not get too sore. Its good for him to canter a
lot in the warming up in a deep and round form so he loosens up in his back. If you pick him
up too soon he could easily be a little tensed and work without the back. He does the flying
changes very well and it helps loosening him up. I would say the flying changes and, in
particular, the changes a tempi, every third, second or every step, are his favourites. He also
loves showing himself off in an extended trot on the diagonal. He also does the shoulder-in,
travers and the lateral movements very well. He finds it a little bit harder to collect himself
really in the collected trot or collected canter. He does do some steps into the passage and
canter-pirouettes but he finds it easier with the forward movements. All-in-all, he is a great
horse to work with because he always tries his best and you can feel that he enjoys to work.
He can be a little bit tense and lacking concentration in the beginning sometimes because he
has a lot of energy but when you ask him to work he will work and, after all, it’s the rider’s
job to give him enough tasks to make him concentrate.
Although his energy level is rather high, he would never do anything to harm his rider. He
behaves so well and knows to use his energy on the work and not on "spooking around". He
is a horse that I always look forward to ride and a horse it is difficult to forget once you have
ridden him.
movements does he find easy and what is more challenging for him? What's his
behaviour like - does he concentrate well? Does he need much warming up time?
S.A.: He does not need to much warming up but I always let him walk for quite some time
before and after training so that his muscles do not get too sore. Its good for him to canter a
lot in the warming up in a deep and round form so he loosens up in his back. If you pick him
up too soon he could easily be a little tensed and work without the back. He does the flying
changes very well and it helps loosening him up. I would say the flying changes and, in
particular, the changes a tempi, every third, second or every step, are his favourites. He also
loves showing himself off in an extended trot on the diagonal. He also does the shoulder-in,
travers and the lateral movements very well. He finds it a little bit harder to collect himself
really in the collected trot or collected canter. He does do some steps into the passage and
canter-pirouettes but he finds it easier with the forward movements. All-in-all, he is a great
horse to work with because he always tries his best and you can feel that he enjoys to work.
He can be a little bit tense and lacking concentration in the beginning sometimes because he
has a lot of energy but when you ask him to work he will work and, after all, it’s the rider’s
job to give him enough tasks to make him concentrate.
Although his energy level is rather high, he would never do anything to harm his rider. He
behaves so well and knows to use his energy on the work and not on "spooking around". He
is a horse that I always look forward to ride and a horse it is difficult to forget once you have
ridden him.
MM: Ingrid, describe the three most memorable moments with Saad!
IngridJuttaHovik: The first moment where when he arrived at the dockside in Oslo after
three months of waiting. To open the trailer door and see Saad, my horse! I remember that I
got happy tears in my eyes. My own AT was finally here - my dream came true!
The second memorable moments happened at different times - when we started to train for
eventing and he just did everything like he had done it all his life. The joy he showed when
coming out to the eventing field!
The third must be from the grading and material test [for Danish Palomino Association].
When he was approved as the horse with the best gaits and got the title Stallion of the Year.
But I must admit, that I get a kick and fall in love with him every time I see Siri ride him. He
then shows himself so good and what he can do.
IngridJuttaHovik: The first moment where when he arrived at the dockside in Oslo after
three months of waiting. To open the trailer door and see Saad, my horse! I remember that I
got happy tears in my eyes. My own AT was finally here - my dream came true!
The second memorable moments happened at different times - when we started to train for
eventing and he just did everything like he had done it all his life. The joy he showed when
coming out to the eventing field!
The third must be from the grading and material test [for Danish Palomino Association].
When he was approved as the horse with the best gaits and got the title Stallion of the Year.
But I must admit, that I get a kick and fall in love with him every time I see Siri ride him. He
then shows himself so good and what he can do.
