The Akhal-Teke Horses–the Golden Heritage of Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan is a country with a centuries-old history, ancient traditions and
heritage. It is a treasure trove of cultural wealth. One of them is the breeding of
Akhal-Teke horses, which dates back thousands of years. The cult of the horse is
considered one of the most ancient art. The image of a horse in the minds of many
Eastern peoples was considered a heavenly deity, associated primarily with the
sun, the God of light and warmth. The Parthians worshiped it, and the ancient
Turks endowed it with the gift of speech and flight.
The Akhal-Teke horses are characterized by their large size, intelligence,
agility, strength and shiny coat. They are hardy and can manage without food and
water for long stretches of time.
Preserved as a status symbol among the Turkmen people, the Akhal-Teke
horse embodies a deep and enduring love and respect for horses that continues to
be a part of their cultural identity, even after two centuries of living in established
communities. Traditionally, the Akhal-Teke horses have lived a long life and often
accompanied their master on his last journey. To raise such dedicated horses,
careful stable maintenance and care are necessary.
The Akhal-Teke horses amaze everyone with their greatness and noble
beauty. Graceful, thin-legged and beautiful Akhal-Teke horses look like statuettes.
They have very thin skin and shiny fur with a silver or gold sheen. Horse breeders
describe the Akhal-Teke horses as strong, agile, temperamental, curious and
efficient creature. Indeed, this horse commands respect for its intelligence,
endurance and speed, demonstrating with every fiber of its soul to its owner that it
should be treated with honor and dignity. The Turkmens, for their part, have long
mastered the art of taming the proud temper of the Akhal-Teke horse.
The incredible endurance of this desert horse breed was demonstrated at a
horse race from Ashgabat to Moscow in 1935 in which 17 riders from
Turkmenistan covered more than 4,000 kilometers in just 84 days. For more than
300 kilometers of the race, they passed through the Karakum Desert without
stopping at any oases. Exactly 10 years later, Marshal of Soviet Union Georgy
Zhukov took part in the Victory Parade on Moscow’s Red Square, riding a
majestic Akhal-Teke Turkmen horse.
The Akhal-Teke horse breed is famous for its beauty and endurance, which
also reflects the inner connection between humans and nature. An entire culture of
breeding was shaped around this horse, as artisans and communities committed to
enhance its important significance. Starting from this solid symbolism behind the
Akhal-Teke breeding tradition, horse decoration became a loyal portrayal of
identity and a powerful representation of the harmony between craftsmanship and
culture.
In the 20th century, the Akhal-Teke horses from Turkmenistan began to
participate in international equestrian exhibitions in Europe and Russia, evoking
special admiration from the jury. According to an oft-told story, in the 1960s
Nikita Khrushchev gifted to Queen Elizabeth II an Akhal-Teke horse. The Queen’s
chief equerry thought that the horse had been painted with gold, and he ordered it
to be washed. One can imagine his surprise when after bathing, the stallion shone
with renewed vigor!
Turkmen Akhal-Teke horses began to increase in popularity around the world
only after Turkmenistan gained its independence in 1991. Today, it is one of the
rarest and most highly prized breeds in the world. Considered a cultural treasure,
its image has even been placed on Turkmenistan’s national emblem as a symbol of
freedom. When visiting Turkmenistan, you can visit the stables near Ashgabat to
take horse riding lessons and admire these luxurious animals. Or, consider
participating in the National Day of the Turkmen Horse celebrated every year on
the last Sunday of April with fairs, exhibitions, beauty contests for the horses and,
of course, speed races.
Moreover, on October 11-12, 2024, the President of the 42nd session of the
General Conference of UNESCO, Amb. Simona-Mirela Miculescu, made an
official trip to Turkmenistan to present the UNESCO Certificate confirming the
inclusion of the “ART OF AKHAL-TEKE HORSE BREEDING AND
TRADITIONS OF HORSE DECORATION” in the Representative List of the
Intangible Cultural Heritage of Mankind to the high-ranking authorities of the
country and the city of Arkadag.
Today, the gene pool of Turkmen Akhal-Teke horses is being cultivated and
carefully preserved for future generations of the Turkmen people, who will
hopefully inherit the love for this proud and competent steed.
Batyr ESENOV,
IV year student of the Faculty of International
Relations
of the Institute of International Relations
of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan.