Akhal-Teke horse: breed characteristics, maintenance rules and cost

The Akhal-Teke or Akhal-Teke horse is an ancient breed bred on the territory of modern Turkmenistan. They not only did not change their original appearance over the years of existence, but also influenced the creation of other breeds, for example, the Arabian or thoroughbred horse. Their population in the world is very limited, as breeders carefully try to maintain the purity of the blood. They are distinguished by excellent exterior and working qualities. From the article you will learn the characteristics of this breed and the requirements for home maintenance. It is also worth paying attention to what a Percheron horse looks like and why it is bred.

Description of the Akhal-Teke horse

Horses of this breed, once seen, cannot be confused with others. The purity of the blood, preserved over thousands of years, was expressed in the characteristic features of the exterior. An Akhal-Teke stallion reaches 160-170 centimeters at the withers, a mare – 150-160 centimeters. If you compare it with animals of other species, it resembles a cheetah: just as light, fast, and beautiful. Akhal-Teke horses are playful and jumping, and can go without water or food for a long time.

Exterior

Characteristic features of the Akhal-Teke horse’s exterior:

Dry head with a small hump in the bridge of the nose. The ears are widely spaced, thin, mobile. The eyes are large, with an “Asian” slant. Wide nostrils.
The neck is long. The mane and bangs are made of soft, short hair.
The chest is narrow and muscular.
The stomach is retracted, the ribs are straight.
The back is straight and long.
The croup is sloping.
The tail is set low and thin.
The legs are slender and long.
The hooves are small and hard.
The skin is thin, with translucent blood vessels.

The absence of a mane is found only in the Akhal-Teke breed.

Varieties and suits

There are three varieties within the breed:

Tall, with ideal body proportions.
Medium height, with average proportional indicators.
Short, strong in build.

Among the Akhal-Teke horses there are horses of various colors (in proportions of the total number of livestock):

bay (2/5);
dunka (1/5);
black (1/8);
red (1/8);
sulfur (1/25);
nightingale (1/20);
isabella (1/50).

All colors are characterized by a short undercoat of golden or silver color. It gives the main color a shine that changes depending on the brightness of the lighting.

Temperament and learning ability

Akhal-Teke horses are not known for being trusting of strangers. The peculiarities of the formation of the breed developed pride and independence in them. The Akhal-Teke dog only recognizes its owner and does not make contact with other people. Such affection has been artificially cultivated in animals for thousands of years.

Among the Akhal-Teke there are excitable, nervous and hot individuals. Coercion by force is met by stubbornness and refusal to carry out orders. But the horse does not show aggression towards humans.

Before you begin training, you need to build trust. This will require time and an understanding of the psychology of the Akhal-Teke horse. If the horse recognizes the trainer, then training will not require effort. Akhal-Teke horses, having a good memory, learn easily and willingly.

Why is it worth getting Akhal-Teke horses?

Every animal has a specific purpose. Some horses are bred to work in the fields, some horses are excellent drivers, and some horses can be considered as athletes. The Akhal-Teke horse has great potential as an athlete. The horse is able to perform successfully at the races, showing amazing results. Endurance allows horses of this breed to compete for prizes over long distances. At the same time, horses quickly recover after competitions. There are several hippodromes in Russia where you can admire the sporting achievements of the Akhal-Teke horses.

Horse racing is not the only type of competition where representatives of the oldest breed can show themselves. Due to the fact that they are highly trainable, Akhal-Teke horses take part in dressage and eventing. These disciplines require the horse to be able to make beautiful gaits, pirouettes, passages, etc. But training representatives of this breed is not an easy task. The mentor must have considerable patience and truly love horses. The Akhal-Teke does not like monotony and will not obey unconditionally, so the training process needs to be carefully thought out. But if a common language with the horse is found, then he will be ready to do anything to get the desired reward.

What are the characteristics of Isabella horses?

Isabella color resembles the color of baked milk. Akhal-Teke dogs of this color have pink skin and cream-colored hair. In the sun, Akhal-Teke horses of Isabella color seem cast from gold. In addition to their rare coloration, they have bright blue or green eyes.

Origin story

What they look like, photo:

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 family members: they fed them by hand, decorated them with precious stones, took them home in bad weather, and played with them like children. The hot climate of Central Asia left its 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.

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.

Use of Akhal-Teke horses

Akhal-Teke horses were bred for riding. They show excellent results in show jumping competitions and long races. In terms of length and height jumping, Akhal-Teke horses have no equal among other breeds. World records in height (2.20 meters) and length (9 meters) were set by Akhal-Teke horses.

Obedient and trained Akhal-Teke horses amaze judges and spectators at dressage competitions with their grace and precision of movements. For the same reason, Akhal-Teke horses are used for circus performances.

Character

This Turkmen horse is unusually hardy. Maybe such endurance is inherent in the genotype, or maybe it was formed during life. The Akhal-Teke horse has long been involved in horse racing. At the same time, he overcame both short and long distances equally well. Today, the Akhal-Teke horse breed is used primarily for riding.

The Akhal-Teke horse is very difficult to tolerate changing riders. Having studied the history of the origin of this breed, this fact can be easily explained. Turkmen tribes, as is known, lived on the edge of the desert. Accordingly, it was difficult to obtain food for animals. In this regard, one family bred no more than 2 stallions. But for the sake of fairness, it is worth noting that in almost all families there was only one foal. Accordingly, from early childhood he was spoiled by the love and attention of his owners, and was considered practically a member of the family. Of course, no one gave their horse into the wrong hands. From time immemorial, animals have become accustomed to belong to only one person.

On the neck of the Turkmen Akhal-Teke horse one could often find decorations in the manufacture of which semi-precious stones were used. The tradition of decorating a horse’s neck with similar accessories continues today. They do this so that strangers do not jinx the horse.

It is also worth taking into account that the character of the Akhal-Teke horse is quite capricious. But these whims are determined by the history of origin. The Akhal-Teke horse demands attention. If the owner does not spend a lot of time with the horse and communicate with him, then it will be almost impossible to achieve mutual understanding. And in the absence of mutual understanding, you should not expect the animal to be obedient. This is the reason why, before purchasing a pet (and the price of the Akhal-Teke horse is quite high), you need to think about whether it is possible to provide such care for the animal. One should also take into account the fact that the horse does not tolerate long-term separation from its owner.

But if you manage to make friends with an Akhal-Teke stallion, he will become a devoted friend for life. He will never harm the owner and his family members. But just a friend, not a ward. You cannot dominate this animal.

Basic content rules

To maintain the health of Akhal-Teke horses, it is necessary to fulfill the requirements for their maintenance.

The list of necessary conditions includes:

Feeding in accordance with the animal's physical activity.
Daily cleaning.
Water procedures 3 times a week.
Check the hooves once a month.
Dental examination twice a year.
Daily walk in the fresh air with physical activity.

To clean horses use:

natural hair brushes (hard and soft);
wooden comb;
sponges (for the muzzle and buttocks);
velvet/cloth;
rags for washing hooves;
hook for cleaning hooves.

The cleaning procedure begins from the head, moving to the shoulders, withers, back and legs. For wool, use a stiff brush. In places where the bones are not protected by muscles, clean with a soft brush. Then moisten the tail and mane with water and comb it with a comb. Use a hook to clean the hooves and wipe with a wet rag. Wipe the muzzle near the eyes and nostrils with a damp sponge. The skin under the tail is treated with another sponge. Rub the entire horse with a slightly damp velvet mitten.

Arrangement of the stables

The stable is located outside the city, away from the highway. Animals are kept in wooden structures with good ventilation and lighting (natural + artificial). A heated floor is installed in the stalls: a straw bedding with a thickness of at least 10 centimeters is laid on a concrete-clay base. Feeders are placed across the entire width of the stall with a tray depth of 40 centimeters.

Feeding and watering

It is recommended to feed the horse at certain hours, which stimulates the secretion of gastric juice and better absorption of feed. The drinking regime is similar to other horse breeds: water is given before feeding. Daily fluid volume varies depending on the time of year. In hot weather, a horse needs 60-70 liters of water, in cold weather - 35-40 liters. The water should be fresh, clean, with a temperature of +10...+15 degrees.

Physical activity is not allowed half an hour before and after feeding. A sweaty horse is given water after it has cooled down. The diet is determined based on physical activity. In the old days, the Turkmen supported their horses with camel milk, flatbreads with lamb fat, and eggs.

Basic diet

The basis of nutrition for Akhal-Teke horses is:

roughage;
green food;
concentrates.

Roughage:

hay;
straw;
chaff of spring wheat, barley.

Green food - fresh grass. Concentrated feed includes cereals and silage.

Grain crops in the diet of Akhal-Teke horses:

wheat;
barley;
oats;
corn.

Silage is made from green mass of corn or sunflower. The daily diet takes into account the energy expenditure of the animal. On days when the horse is walked with light jogging, he is given forage (roughage and green feed) without concentrates. During long, slow riding, the percentage of forage is reduced to 70%, replacing it with concentrate. During training in show jumping, dressage, and harness riding, the percentage of concentrates is increased to 40%.

In show jumping and dressage competitions, forage and grain constitute equal amounts. In eventing, the horse needs more energy and receives 60% grain and 40% forage. Akhal-Teke horses participating in racing are fed mainly with concentrated feed (70%).

During feeding, the animal is first fed roughage, then green. The daily intake of roughage is divided into 4 parts: one in the morning and afternoon, two at night.

Nutritional supplements

Horses are given succulent feed (vegetables, fruits) last. Vitamins are introduced into complementary foods as needed.

Bathing

The Akhal-Teke, with its mobile nervous system, benefits from water procedures. Water invigorates the animal, affects mood and appetite. Washing is carried out once every 2 days. In summer, the horse is bathed in a pond (natural/artificial). The rest of the year, douse with a hose or bucket. The reservoir must have a sandy or gravel bottom without silting.

Water temperature is within +20 degrees. The water procedure lasts 20 minutes. At the end of it, excess water is removed with the palm of your hand or a scraper. Drying of the skin and hair occurs in the air. The animal is walked at a slow pace for 20 minutes until it dries in the sun. The horse is gradually accustomed to washing with a hose and bucket so that the water under pressure does not frighten him.

Dental care

With age, the Akhal-Teke's chewing teeth begin to deteriorate, causing pain when chewing. The older the animal, the more often its teeth should be examined. If toothache is suspected, the horse is taken to a specialist.

Signs of problems with teeth are constant tension in the back muscles, poor appetite, and causeless restlessness of the animal: the horse often rears.

Grazing

The fenced paddock should be located next to the stable. Akhal-Teke horses are walked twice a day, if there is no training - for at least half an hour.

Horseshoe

Horses participating in horse racing and show jumping are shod with special horseshoes that have an orthopedic effect. This protects the animal from injury to its legs. In other cases, universal horseshoes are used.

Habitats

The Akhal-Teke horse is native to the Kara-Kum desert in Turkmenistan, but their numbers declined after some of the best horses were exported to Russia under Soviet rule.

The Turkmens would never have survived without Akhal-Teke horses, and vice versa. The Turkmen were the first people in the desert to create a horse that was perfect for the environment. Today the goal is to try to breed more of these horses.

The modern Akhal-Teke horse is the perfect result of the “survival of the fittest” theory that has worked for thousands of years. They were subjected to unprecedented harshness of the environment and the trials of their owners.

To keep your Akhal-Teke horse's beautiful iridescent coat looking spectacular, you will need to bathe and groom your horse regularly. Each grooming session will also give these animals the attention they require and will help strengthen your bond with your horse.

Basic horse grooming tools, including horse shampoo, hoof picker, brush, comb, casting blade, mane comb, tail brush and body brush, can be used to thoroughly remove dirt, excess hair and other debris from the entire body horses.

Breeding

Puberty in Akhal-Teke horses ends by 2 years. But for breeding animals are attracted at the age of 4-5 years. Insemination of mares in heat is carried out artificially. The stallion is selected in advance so that the foal is born of the desired color.

The mare's pregnancy lasts 11 months. One, rarely two foals are born. After 5 hours, newborns stand on their feet and can follow their mother. For the first six months, the foal is fed by a mare. Then he is gradually transferred to plant foods. Until the middle of the last century, stud farms for breeding Akhal-Teke horses were located in Turkmenistan. Currently, breeding work is carried out in the Russian Federation and Kazakhstan.

Social structure and reproduction

Around 10,000 years ago, as desertification swept through Central Asia, the stocky horses of the steppe grasslands began to evolve into the lean and graceful yet hardy horses that inhabit Turkmenistan today. As food and water became scarcer, the heavy figure of the horse was replaced by a lighter one.

Longer necks, taller heads, larger eyes, and longer ears evolved to improve the horse's ability to see, smell, and hear predators across increasingly open plains.

The golden coloring, predominant among Akhal-Teke horses, provided the necessary camouflage against the background of the desert landscape. Thanks to natural selection, a breed was created that will become the pride of Turkmenistan.

Akhal-Teke horses are bred quite closely and therefore lack genetic diversity. This fact makes the breed susceptible to some genetically determined health problems.

For example:

problems with the development of the cervical spine, also known as wobbler syndrome;
cryptorchidism - the absence of one or two testicles in the scrotum, which makes sterilization difficult and can cause other behavioral and health problems;
Naked foal syndrome, which causes babies to be born hairless, with defects in the teeth and jaws and a tendency to develop a variety of digestive problems, pain and more.

Interesting facts about the breed

There are 3,000 purebred Akhal-Teke horses in the world. Half of them are located in Turkmenistan. Turkmens consider Akhal-Teke horses to be their national treasure, the brand of the country. The horse is depicted on the coat of arms, the banknote of the national currency. A national holiday is held in her honor - an annual race, in which only Akhal-Teke horses can take part.

In past centuries, the rulers of the country could afford to keep Akhal-Teke horses in herds. Turkmen nomads kept 1-2 horses, which were constantly near their homes on a long lasso. Foals were taken into a tent during the cold season. Stall housing has formed the relationship between man and horse as equal partners with complete trust in each other.

In the old days, among the Turkmens, the first place in importance was the father, then the guest. The horse took third place, he was more important than his wife, children and other relatives. Akhal-Teke horses lived to a ripe old age without learning what a whip was. Due to the illiteracy of the population, the pedigree of each horse was transmitted orally. Information for the stud book was accumulated by the middle of the 20th century.

Akhal-Teke Absinthe at the Olympic Games in Rome (1960) became a world sensation. With his dressage performance, he captivated the audience with the beauty of his appearance, impeccable execution of commands, demonstrating the fusion of rider and horse.

Price - how much does an Akhal-Teke horse cost?

The cost of an Akhal-Teke stallion starts from 200 thousand rubles. The price depends on the pedigree, body type and appearance of the horse. The most expensive horses are the Isabella color; their cost varies from 500 thousand rubles to 1-2 million rubles. But what is the cost of a large heavy breed horse and which of them are the best is indicated here.

The Akhal-Teke breed is an ancient animal with an interesting history. The peculiarities of their content and use influenced their appearance as well as their character. Today they belong to an elite breed; breeders try to maintain the purity of the blood without resorting to inbreeding during breeding. Horses become attached to one person and require proper treatment. If reciprocated with affection and care, they exhibit incredible intelligence and physical characteristics.

Famous representatives

Outstanding representatives of purebred “Turkmens” distinguished themselves in horse riding and racing, at horse beauty exhibitions:

The “founder” of the line, stallion Boynow, laid the foundation for more than 2/3 of the production lines of purebred Akhal-Teke horses.
His son Mele Kush was presented to the Queen of England in 1956 by Nikita Sergeevich Khrushchev. The grooms, amazed by the golden shine of the fur, tried to wash the horse, suspecting the artificial origin of the low tide.
The stallion Arab, who laid the foundation for one of the breeding lines, came second in the long journey of 1935 from Ashgabat to Moscow.
Olympic champion Absinthe, bred in Kazakhstan, remains the only representative of a non-European breed to win a show jumping event. A monument was erected to the champion at the Lugovsky stud farm.
The Victory Parade in 2010 was led by a rider on the stallion Ghirat, a direct descendant of Arab.