GLORY OF THE TURKMEN AKHAL-TEKE HORSES IN THE HEART OF EUROPE.
The year 2026 has begun under the proud slogan “Independent Neutral Turkmenistan – the Homeland of Purposeful Winged Horses,” This slogan proclaims to the world that the country’s development is confidently advancing along the white path with the swiftness of a galloping horse during the Epoch of the Revival of the New Era of the Powerful State.
In the Epoch of the Revival of the New Era of the Powerful State, the significance and status of the legendary Turkmen Akhal-Teke horses have risen remarkably. The Turkmen horse, carpet, dutar, white wheat, jewelry, and Alabay dog-all of these are material values created by our people, and they have no equal in the world. The horses bred by our ancestors with great devotion, desire, and talent have gained fame globally, revealing the name, beauty, and dignity of the Akhal-Teke horse to the world. Our Turkmen people are a nation that has developed horse breeding since ancient times, bringing it to a high material value and perfection.
Turkmen horses are ancient. Even before our era (356–320 BC), the work “Isgenderiň bedewnamasy” ( “The Book of Alexander’s Steeds” or Iskender's Horsemanship), written by Alexander the Great, as well as Parthian chronicles and Oguz Orkhon inscriptions, contained fascinating stories about Turkmen horses and their history. In the work “Nowruznama” by the famous scholar and poet Omar Khayyam, the prominent hero of the Oguz epic Alp Ar Tunda, who lived in the 7th century BC, stated: “Just as the moon is necessary for the sky, a horse is needed to the same degree for a brave hero.” This shows that the praise of the horse has found its expression across all periods of the Turkmen people. Oguz Khan and Gorkut Ata also expressed valuable thoughts about the horse. Our ancestor Oguz Khan praised it, saying: “I did not call you a horse, I called you a brother”, demonstrating the Turkmen people’s historically fraternal devotion to the horse. The words of praise spoken in honor of the Akhal-Teke horse are a precious heritage left to us by the past, and this profound love for our horses remains one of the proudest pages of Turkmen culture.
The beauty of the Akhal-Teke horses lies not only in their appearance, but also in the way they move. When they walk, they do not seem to shake the earth; rather, they lift their feet so lightly and gracefully that they appear to float above the ground, as if they were moving through the air. That’s why they are known as “heavenly horses” in the world of horse breeding. The traditional proverb,“At – mürze, ýöreýşi – taryp” perfectly describes the unique qualities of these magnificent horses. Every leap and every gallop reveals a beautiful combination of rhythm, strength, and grace.
Their remarkable speed, endurance, noble character, and unwavering loyalty have made them one of humankind’s closest and most trusted companions. Rooted deeply in this glorious history and rich cultural heritage, the noble traditions of Turkmen horse breeding continue to flourish on the international stage today. This timeless connection between the Turkmen people and their legendary horses was vividly demonstrated during recent international celebrations.
The work to raise the international prestige of Akhalteke horses continues at a modern level. On September 4-6, 2026, the Akhalteke Horse Beauty Contest and the World Equestrian Championship were held in Kronenberg, the Kingdom of the Netherlands. This prestigious international event hosted at the “De Peelbergen” equestrian center and the “Maya Delorez” arena once again glorify the beauty and skills of Turkmen Akhal-Teke horses in Europe. This world championship was held in the framework of the celebrations taking place in our country in 2026 under the motto “Independent Neutral Turkmenistan – the Homeland of Purposeful Winged Horses” . During the event, equestrian sports competitions, a beauty contest, a scientific conference, and a large-scale exhibition-fair showcasing Turkmen culture were held.
It should be noted that an international scientific and practical conference dedicated to Akhal-Teke horses and Turkmen equestrian art was held in the conference hall of the Asteria Hotel in the city of Venray, the Netherlands. The event was organized within the framework of the program of the World Championship among Akhal-Teke horses, and was attended by scientists, horse breeders, cultural workers, art historians and representatives of international organizations from different countries. Participants exchanged views on the history of horses, their development path, breeding traditions, and international cooperation in this field. The conference emphasized the importance of including the art of breeding Akhal-Teke horses and the traditions of their decoration on the UNESCO List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
One of the main events of the forum was the presentation of a new Dutch-language edition of the book “The Horse: A Symbol of Faithfulness and Happiness” by our Hero Arkadag, the National Leader of the Turkmen people. Consisting of eight chapters, the publication provides extensive information on the history and development of Turkmen equestrian traditions.
Speaking at the forum, the President of the Turkmen-Austrian Society, Dr. Neda Berger, highly appreciated the role of Akhal-Teke horses in strengthening friendship and cultural cooperation between nations. According to her, the Turkmen Akhal-Teke horses serve as a symbol of peace, friendship and goodwill in modern cultural diplomacy. So, the forum featured a speech by Chinar Rustemova, Hero of Turkmenistan, Executive Secretary of the National Commission of Turkmenistan for UNESCO. In her address, she drew attention to the historical place of Akhal-Teke horses as a universal heritage.
In conclusion, events of this magnitude demonstrate that the legendary Akhal-Teke horse remains a powerful ambassador of peace and cultural unity. By successfully bridging ancient heritage with modern global diplomacy, these magnificent horses continue to captivate the world, ensuring that the glorious equestrian traditions of the Turkmen nation shine brighter in the new era. This world championship became an event of international significance and provided an opportunity to get to know Turkmenistan's rich cultural heritage better. The event once again showcases the unique beauty, rich cultural heritage, and global value of Akhal-Teke horses.
Chemen BAYRIYEVA,
Senior lecturer of the Institute of International Relations
of the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan