Akhal-Teke

Akhal-Teke

Akhal-Teke
Distinguishing features Riding horse bred for endurance; noted for 'metallic' coat of some individuals
Country of origin Turkmenistan
Breed standards
Akhal-Teke Association of America Breed standards
International Association of Akhal-Teke Breeding (MAAK) Breed standards
Equus ferus caballus

The Akhal-Teke (/ˌækəlˈtɛk/ or /ˌækəlˈtɛki/; from Turkmen Ahalteke, [ahalˈteke]) is a horse breed from Turkmenistan, where they are a national emblem.[1] They have a reputation for speed and endurance, intelligence, and a distinctive metallic sheen. The shiny coat of palominos and buckskins led to their nickname "Golden Horses".[2] These horses are adapted to severe climatic conditions and are thought to be one of the oldest existing horse breeds.[3] There are currently about 6,600 Akhal-Tekes in the world, mostly in Turkmenistan and Russia, although they are also found throughout Europe and North America.[4]

There are several theories regarding the original ancestry of the Akhal-Teke, some dating back thousands of years. The tribes of Turkmenistan selectively bred the horses, recording their pedigrees orally and using them for raiding. The breed was used in the losing fight against the Russian Empire, and was subsumed into the Empire along with its country. The Akhal-Teke has influenced many other breeds, including several Russian breeds. There has been extensive crossbreeding with the Thoroughbred to create a fast, long-distance racehorse and as a result all Akhal-Tekes have a Thoroughbred ancestor.[5] The studbook was closed in 1932.[6] The Russians printed the first stud book for the breed in 1941, including over 700 horses.

Breed characteristics

An Akhal-Teke stallion

The Akhal-Teke typically stands between 14.2 and 16 hands (58 and 64 inches, 147 and 163 cm). These horses are well known for those individuals who have a golden buckskin or palomino color, a result of the cream gene, a dilution gene that also produces the perlino and cremello colors. A number of other colors are recognized, including bay, black, chestnut, and grey. Aficionados of the breed claim that the color pattern served as camouflage in the desert.[7] Many Akhal-Tekes have a natural metallic sheen to their coat, particularly noticeable in those with cream gene colors.[8] Akhal-Tekes are not thought to carry the dun gene or roan gene.

Perlino Akhal-Teke. Many members of this breed carry a gene for the cream dilution.

The Akhal-Teke has a refined head with predominantly a straight or slightly convex profile, and long ears. It can also have almond-shaped or "hooded" eyes.[9] The mane and tail are usually sparse. The long back is lightly muscled, and is coupled to a flat croup and long, upright neck. The Akhal-Teke possess sloping shoulders and thin skin. The breed is tough and resilient, having adapted to the harshness of Turkmenistan lands, where horses must live without much food or water. This has also made the horses good for sport. The breed is known for its endurance,[10] as shown in 1935 when a group of Turkmen riders rode the 2500 miles from Ashgabat to Moscow in 84 days, including a three-day crossing of 235 miles of desert without water.[11] The Akhal-Teke is also known for its form and grace as a show jumper.

The quality of the Akhal-Teke horses are determined by the studbook manager. For over forty years now this has been the same individual, which has led to continuous criticism and dissatisfaction from breeders all over the world. Depending on type, conformation, pedigree, quality of offspring and achievement in sport, the horses are designated as either Elite or Class I or Class II.[12] There are usually 2 annual grading events in Moscow, Russia called the "International Sport Meeting and World Championship “Heavenly Argamak”" and "Golden Akhal-Teke Cup Shael" where breeders present their best horses to a group of judges. At the World Championship a group of judges evaluate the horses in age and gender categories as well as in various sport disciplines and a halter class.

History

1848 French image of a "Turkmene" horse

The ancestors of the breed may date back to animals living 3,000 years ago, known by a number of names, but most often as the Nisean horse.[13] The precise ancestry is difficult to trace, however, because prior to about 1600 AD, horse breeds in the modern sense did not exist; rather, horses were identified by local strain or type.[14]

According to one theory of origin, the Akhal-Teke were kept hidden by tribesmen in the area where the breed first appeared, the Turkmenistan desert Kara Kum, which is a rocky, flat desert surrounded by mountains. Others claim that the horses are descendants of the mounts of Mongol raiders of the thirteenth and fourteenth century.

The breed is very similar to, and possibly the direct descendant of the Turkoman horse, a breed believed to be extinct, though a related strain may be bred today in Iran. Other breeds or strains with Turkoman roots also include the Yomud, Goklan and the Nokhorli.[15] Some historians believe that the two are different strains of the same breed. It is a disputed "chicken or egg" question whether the influential Arabian was either the ancestor of the breed or was developed out of this breed. But a substantial number of Arabian mares have reportedly been used to improve the breed in the 14th and 19th century.[16] It is also possible that the so-called "hot blooded" breeds, the Arabian, Turkoman, Akhal-Teke, and the Barb all developed from a single "oriental horse" predecessor.[17]

Akhal-Teke stallion Mele Koush, foaled 1909

Tribal people in what today is Turkmenistan first used the Akhal-Teke for raiding. The horses were their most treasured possession since they were crucial for income and survival. They selectively bred their horses, keeping records of the pedigrees via an oral tradition. Horses were managed and trained in very specific ways. Stallions were tethered next to the tent while mares and foals were free to seek forage. The stallions were covered from head to tail with up to seven layers of felt, which kept their coat short and shiny. Before raids they were put on a sparse diet to prepare them for the long ride through the desert with no water and hardly any feed.[18] The horses were called Argamaks (divine or Sacred Horses) by the Russians,[19] and were cherished by those who valued their speed and stamina in the desert and loyalty to their owner. Han emperors from China sacrificed armies to obtain just a few of the precious "Argamaks".[20]

In 1881, Turkmenistan became part of the Russian Empire. The tribes fought with the tsar, eventually losing. In the process, however, the Russian general Kuropatkin developed a fondness for horses he had seen while fighting the tribesmen, founded a breeding farm after the war and renamed the horses, "Akhal-Tekes", after the Teke Turkmen tribe that lived around the Akhal oasis (near Geok Tepe). The Russians closed the studbook in 1932 which included 287 stallions and 468 mares. Stallions are not gelded in Central Asia. The studbook was printed in 1941.

The Akhal-Teke has had influence on many breeds, possibly including the Thoroughbred; the Byerly Turk, which may have been Akhal-Teke, an Arabian, or a Turkoman Horse), was one of the three major foundation stallions of the breed. Three other stallions thought to be of Turkoman origin, known as the "Lister Turk", the "White Turk", and the "Yellow Turk" were among a number of minor stallions from the orient who contributed to the foundation bloodstock of the Thoroughbred breed.[21] The Trakehner has also been influenced by the Akhal-Teke, most notably by the stallion, Turkmen-Atti, as have the Russian breeds Don, Budyonny, Karabair, and Karabakh.

The breed suffered greatly when the Soviet Union required horses to be slaughtered for meat, even though local Turkmen refused to eat them.[22] At one point only 1,250 horses remained and export from the Soviet Union was banned. The government of Turkmenistan now uses the horses as diplomatic presents as well as auctioning a few to raise money for improved horse breeding programs.[23]

In the early twentieth century, crossbreeding between the Thoroughbred and the Akhal-Teke took place, aiming to create a faster long-distance racehorse.[24] The Anglo Akhal-Tekes were not so resilient however, as their Akhal-Teke ancestors, and many died due to the harsh conditions of Central Asia. After the 2,600 mile endurance race from Ashkabad to Moscow in 1935, when the purebreds finished in much better condition than the part-breds, the studbook management decided to consider all crossbred horses born after 1936, as not purebred. Horses with English Thoroughbred ancestors born prior to that date were allowed to remain inside the studbook (e.g. 044 Tillyakush, grandson of Thoroughbred Burlak, 831 Makh, granddaughter of Thoroughbred Blondelli and great-great-granddaughter of Thoroughbred Junak, and line founder 9 Ak Belek, a direct descendent in the male line of the Thoroughbred stallion Fortingbrass). Due to this fact there doesn't exist any Akhal-Teke today whose ancestry doesn't contain a Thoroughbred.[25] Since 1973, all foals must be blood typed to be accepted in the stud book in order to protect the integrity of the breed. From 2014 on, a DNA test based on hair follicles is sufficient if the DNA of the parents is on file.[26] A stallion not producing the right type of horse may be removed. Nowadays, artificial insemination is allowed as well as embryo transfer. The surrogate mother, however, needs to be a pureblood Akhal-Teke mare for the foal to be registered in the General Studbook as a pureblood Akhal-Teke.

Turkmenistan

From a race at the national horse-racing stadium in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. Normally all horses competing here are Akhal-Teke horses.

Turkmenistan has a separate agency, Turkmen Atlary, responsible for the breeding, training and maintenance of Akhal-Teke horses.[27] However, the agency's work has been the focus of criticism from the President of the country, who holds the agency responsible for decreasing numbers of horses and inadequate facilities for their breeding, training and management.[28] At present Akhal-Teke horses in Turkmenistan are not registered with any other studbook. The main reason for this are allegations of a heavy infusion of Thoroughbred blood into the breed to create faster horses for racing in Turkmenistan.[29] There are estimates that as many as 30% of the horses in the Ashgabat hippodrome were not purebred.[30] This may have also been a main reason for the fabricated charges against the first horse minister of Turkmenistan, Geldy Kyarizov, who tried to avoid and remedy the secretive outcrossing and found himself in severe opposition to fellow breeders.[29]

Turkmen Atlary, in its capacity as the administrative arm of the International Akhal-Teke Horse Association, hosts a meeting of the association once or twice a year upon invitation in Ashgabat. Most of the bigger breeding farms and national Akhal Teke associations as well as Akhal Teke owners and representatives of the horse industry from around the world attend.[31][32] There is a horse racing organization called "Galkinysh" .[33] In Ashgabat, the Ahalteke equestrian complex,[34] one of the largest in Central Asia, is a horse-breeding center. The former Akhal-Teke horse Holiday, celebrated on the last Sunday in April, has been renamed 'Turkmen Horse Day'[35][36]

Uses

Akhal-Teke under saddle
Free jumping Akhal-Teke

The Akhal-Teke, due to its natural athleticism, can be a sport horse, good at dressage, show jumping, eventing, racing, and endurance riding. A noted example was the Akhal-Teke stallion, Absent, who won the Grand Prix de Dressage at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, while being ridden by Sergei Filatov. He went again with Filatov to win the bronze individual medal in Tokyo in the 1964 Summer Olympics, and won the Soviet team gold medal under Ivan Kalita at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City.[37] However, by today's studbook standards he wouldn't be admitted as Akhal-Teke, owing to the Thoroughbred ancestry of his dam Bakkara.[38]

Breeders

The horse Yanardag[39] of the first president of Turkmenistan Saparmurat Niyazov on the arms of Turkmenistan

Akhal-Teke horses are bred all over the world. In addition to their motherland there are breeders in Russia and Central Asia, in Germany and other European countries and USA, Uruguay and Australia.[40]

Genetic diseases

There are several genetic diseases of concern to Akhal-Teke breeders. The genetic diversity of the breed is relatively low with an AVK (Ancestor Loss Coefficient [41]) of 30-50%, which raises concerns for dealing with an increase in carriers of these conditions, and even some risk of inbreeding depression.[42] To date, there are no DNA tests for these conditions.

Others

Akhal-Teke is presented in the official coat of arms and banknotes of Turkmenistan, as well as on stamps of both the Turkmenistan and other countries.

Monuments

In different cities of Turkmenistan are monuments to the Akhal-Teke.[52] The largest number of sculptures located in Ashgabat.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Permanent Mission of Turkmenistan to the United Nations, Country Facts". Un.cti.depaul.edu. Archived from the original on May 9, 2008. Retrieved June 12, 2007.
  2. ↑ Metallic Sheen as Observed in Individuals of the Akhal-Teke Breed; By Danielle Westfall, Zoology major, Ohio Wesleyan University Archived December 3, 2013, at the Wayback Machine.
  3. ↑ Cieslak, Michael, et al. "Origin and history of mitochondrial DNA lineages in domestic horses." PLoS One 5.12 (2010): e15311. "Eleven out of these 39 haplotypes were lineages that were confined to a single primitive breed (B/Arabian; D2d/Cheju; G1/Akhal Teke; H/Garrano; H1/Marismeno; H1a/Lusitano; K2b1/Sicilian Oriental Purebred; K3b/ Yakut; X1/Pottoka; X2a/Debao; X3c/Lusitano; X5/Fulani). " Archived April 5, 2014, at the Wayback Machine.
  4. ↑ 01.10.2012, 1st Report from WATO President Christoph Vogel, The breed of Akhal-Teke is facing a crisis: "In her world census for 2012, Jessica Eile-Keith estimated a world population of about 6’600 Akhal-Teke: Turkmenistan ± 3’000, Russia ± 1’600, Central Asia ± 300, USA ± 450, Western Europe ±1’300. With a total of 6’600 Akhal-Teke, one or two specialisation would be justifiable." Archived December 3, 2013, at the Wayback Machine.
  5. ↑ Auf den Spuren des Achal-Tekkiners Archived April 15, 2014, at the Wayback Machine.
  6. ↑ International Association of Akhal-Teke Breeding (MAAK); OPEN LETTER TO MAAK MEMBERS. Subject: Akhal-Teke studbook Archived August 2, 2013, at the Wayback Machine.
  7. ↑ "The Akhalteke Horse of Turkmenistan". Embassy of Turkmenistan. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved July 28, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Horse Color". Akhal-Teke Association of America. Archived from the original on December 15, 2013. Retrieved July 28, 2013.
  9. ↑ Breed Standard, Akhal-Teke Association of America Archived December 15, 2013, at the Wayback Machine.
  10. ↑ Leisson, K., et al. "Myosin heavy chain pattern in the Akhal-Teke horses." animal 5.5 (2010): 658.
  11. ↑ VIDEO: Amazing equine trek from Ashkhabad to Moscow in 84 days over 4,300km
  12. ↑ Grading Rules for Purebred Akhal-Teke Horses: http://www.maakcenter.org/ENG/BREED/grading.html Archived April 19, 2013, at the Wayback Machine.
  13. ↑ "History of Akhal-Teke horse breed. Official website of International Association of Akhal-Teke Breeding (MAAK)". Maakcenter.org. May 30, 2001. Archived from the original on May 19, 2013. Retrieved November 19, 2012.
  14. ↑ "Akhalteke.info". Akhalteke.info. Archived from the original on March 2, 2012. Retrieved November 19, 2012.
  15. ↑ A Look at the Turkoman Horse in Iran Archived January 10, 2014, at the Wayback Machine.
  16. ↑ Moser, Henri. À travers l'Asie Centrale. — Paris : E. Plon, Nourrit ..., 1886. — 463 p. incl. front. : ill., plates, ports., fold. map. page 320 http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/digital/collections/cul/texts/ldpd_6345164_000/pages/ldpd_6345164_000_00000360.html
  17. ↑ Firouz, L. "The original ancestors of the Turkoman, Caspian horses." Proc. 1st Int. Conference on Turkoman Horse, Ashgabad, Turkmenistan, May. 1998. http://www.endangeredequines.com/archivesdocuments/1998.pdf
  18. ↑ À travers l'Asie Centrale: la Steppe kirghize, le Turkestan russe, Boukhara, Khiva, le pays des Turcomans et la Perse, impressions de voyage; Author: Henri Moser; Publisher: Plon, 1885; pp. 321-322 in Original from Princeton University; Digitized June 2, 2009; Length 463 pages
  19. ↑ Khiva and Turkestan, translated from Russian by Captain Henry Spalding FRGS, London, Chapman and Hall, 1874, p. 216
  20. ↑ page 114 in Mirrors of the Unseen: Journeys in Iran By Jason Elliot, 2007: http://books.google.com/books?id=vnnxV3SHHx4C&pg=PA114&dq=china+turkoman+horse&hl=en&sa=X&ei=8NgHUrjuDabgyQG69oHoAQ&ved=0CD8Q6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=china%20turkoman%20horse&f=false and The Wars for Blood-Sweat Horses: http://www.ourorient.com/the-wars-for-blood-sweat-horses
  21. ↑ Summerhayes, RS, Horses and Ponies, Warne & Co, London & New York, 1948
  22. ↑ Filipov, David (April 5, 1998). "A Long Way to Go.". Boston Globe. Archived from the original on October 21, 2012. Retrieved June 12, 2007.
  23. ↑ Turkmenistan: Arkadag Rides Again! Archived October 4, 2013, at the Wayback Machine.
  24. ↑ Shimbo, Fara (1998). ""The Akhal-Teke under Soviet Rule." Friends of the Turanian Horse". Turanianhorse.org. Archived from the original on February 16, 2012. Retrieved June 12, 2007.
  25. ↑ The Akhalteke Studbook Online Archived September 18, 2013, at the Wayback Machine.
  26. ↑ To register horses in the General Studbook, parentage used to be verified by blood typing. Bloodtyping is becoming obsolete: http://www.akhal-teke.org/registration.html Archived December 15, 2013, at the Wayback Machine.
  27. ↑ official website of Turkmen Atlary, the State Department for horses in Turkmenistan Archived May 16, 2014, at the Wayback Machine.
  28. ↑ Turkmenistan’s President Rages at Poor Horse Industry Archived November 14, 2013, at the Wayback Machine.
  29. 1 2 Purity – fact or fiction? Archived from the original Aug 11, 2010. Retrieved on Feb 21, 2014
  30. ↑ The History of the Akhal-Teke Horses, Yesterday And Today, Retrieved on Feb 21, 2014 Archived August 22, 2012, at the Wayback Machine.
  31. ↑ http://thbcc.com/iatha/ IATHA http://thbcc.com/iatha/
  32. ↑ Turkmenistan: Arkadag’s Day at the Races Redux Archived April 8, 2014, at the Wayback Machine.
  33. ↑ Heavenly horses canter around ring
  34. ↑ Президент Туркменистана посетил Ахалтекинский конный комплекс
  35. ↑ Turkmenistan marks Fair and Conference marking Turkmen Horse Day opened in Ashgabat Archived November 8, 2013, at the Wayback Machine.
  36. ↑ Turkmenistan: Land Of The Akhal Teke
  37. ↑ Olympic Games Medals, Results, Sports, Athletes|Médailles, Résultats, Sports et Athlètes des Jeux Olympiques Archived April 8, 2014, at the Wayback Machine.
  38. ↑ All Breed Database
  39. ↑ Yanardag is visible in the video from ~30 sec onward: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REl9VDNgrs0
  40. ↑ Breeders from around the world: http://www.akhaltekehorse.org/links.htm Archived April 24, 2013, at the Wayback Machine.
  41. ↑ AVK is the loss of ancestors of possible ancestors in the pedigree due to some ancestors showing up more than once in the pedigree
  42. ↑ "Genetic Defects and Diseases Akhal-Teke: A Differentiated View". Archived from the original on July 21, 2011. Retrieved January 3, 2009.
  43. ↑ http://www.genetics.unibe.ch/research/horse/hairlessness___naked_foal_syndrome_nfs_in_the_akhal_teke/index_eng.html
  44. ↑ "Akhalteke.info". Akhalteke.info. Archived from the original on March 15, 2012. Retrieved November 19, 2012.
  45. ↑ "The Stavropol Sphinx", Akhal Teke Inform 2006
  46. ↑ e.g. "10th Studbook, tome II, page 160": 2860 Mriya, naked foal (dead) b.2000, by 1201 Kavkas, published in 2005 by VNIIK, Ryasan
  47. ↑ "Hairless Foal Photos". Ultimatehorsesite.com. Archived from the original on June 10, 2011. Retrieved May 8, 2010.
  48. ↑ "Citation: Stallion Garaiusup, black, "Young World Champion 2002" , was granted a Special Prize for the most expressed breed type, but the jury had to move him to the 8th place because of unilateral cryptorchidism and spavin.". Maakcenter.org. Archived from the original on July 19, 2013. Retrieved May 8, 2009.
  49. ↑ Smith Thomas, Heather (July 1, 2004). "Stallion or Gelding?". The Horse. Archived from the original on March 9, 2014.
  50. 1 2 ""Wobbler Syndrome" Akhal-Teke: A Differentiated View". Archived from the original on March 2, 2012. Retrieved January 3, 2009.
  51. ↑ "Akhalteke.info". Akhalteke.info. Archived from the original on March 2, 2012. Retrieved November 19, 2012.
  52. ↑ Во славу ахалтекинского коня

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