Before the Arabian and the Thoroughbred, there was an ancient breed of horse known for its stamina, endurance, intelligence, and beauty. The Akhal-Teke has been a part of Middle Eastern legends and fairytales for centuries, but is still an unfamiliar breed to most of the world. The breed originated in Turkmenistan, a Middle-Eastern country that neighbors Afghanistan and Iran. Possibly the oldest living equine breed, the Akhal-Teke is the only pure strain of the ancient Turkmen horses. The Akhal-Teke was raised by Turkmen nomads (Teke) on an oasis (Akhal) in the Kopet Dag Mountains. Able to tolerate extreme heat, dry cold, and drought, the Akhal-Teke survived on small rations of high protein grains and mutton (sheep) fat. The Caspian Sea, the mountains, and the desert that kept the Akhal-Teke isolated from the rest of civilization and other breeds of horses, can be credited with preserving the unusual traits of the Akhal-Teke. Their long head, slender neck, and narrow body structure remain the same as their ancestors: the Massaget, Parthian, Nisean, Persian and Turkmen horses. Their most unusual trait, an iridescent coat, can’t be found in any other breed. Though mostly dun, Akhal-Tekes can also be black, bay, chestnut, gray or palomino.
In 1935, several Akhal-Tekes and their riders completed a 2,600 mile race across the desert to Moscow. The horses endured 84 days of scorching sun, burning sand, storms, and rough footing to complete the race unscathed.
Absent, who descended from those horses that raced across the desert, was dubbed the “Horse of the World” by international journalists after winning the individual gold medal in dressage at the 1960 Rome Olympics. In the 1964 Olympics, Absent won an individual bronze medal, and in 1968 helped the Soviets win a team gold medal in Mexico.
Though Akhal-Teke numbers are small, breed organizations around the world like the Akhal-Teke Association of America (ATAA), established in 1983, serve to preserve and promote this magnificent animal.
A 2007 limited edition, this Breyer® model of an Akhal-Teke replicates the characteristics that enabled the breed to survive for centuries including shimmer of his iridescent coat.
Article courtesy of Breyer horses
