PART 2
These are light riding horses possessing outstanding traits that even a novice is able to pick out. They are spectacular and unique individuals, which display special features and discriminating characteristics particular only to them. They may have a distinctive coat or coat color. Some have certain head properties or a tail carriage that is exclusively theirs. Others have a flashy presence, displaying their own kind of animated glitz and glamour.
They project a special flare and pizzazz that is all their own. Belonging in the spotlight, they create that “Hey, look at me!” impression. Some sparkle in the show ring, some prance in parades, but all have noticeably visual attributes that allow them to stand out from other light breeds. Their very appearance draws attention and sets them apart from other equines. No other horses are quite like them.
They are horses of distinction.
The Akhal-Teke’s lithe athleticism can be compared to a greyhound’s. Shah’Zadeh Akhal-Tekes
The Akhal-Teke Society of America, Inc.
P.O. Box 207
Sanford, North Carolina 27331
www.akhaltekesocietyofamerica.com
The magnificent Akhal-Teke (pronounced ah call tek ee) comes to us intact in all its glory after 10,000 generations of breeding on the central Asian steppes. Since the earliest time of horse domestication, this “Golden Horse” of central Asia has been prized before all other breeds. Bejeweled and decorated in gold and silk, it was ridden into battle by nomads and emperors and buried with honor in the tombs of kings, shamans, and warriors. In Chinese legends, it was known as the “Heavenly Horse” because of the unusually distinctive radiance in its coat. The Han Chinese felt it well worth 80,000 soldiers to obtain just twenty of these brilliant horses, such was its reputation.
The Akhal-Teke retains every quality of endurance, speed, economy, intelligence, and beauty that has been so prized throughout the centuries by so many different societies. Being of such an ancient lineage and due to its geographical isolation (precluding any infusions of pony or draft blood), the Akhal-Teke retains the features of its earliest ancestors.
In a fast-paced world where a horse is often thought to be little more than a living vehicle or a piece of sports equipment, the Akhal-Teke offers a refreshing change.
History
Akhal-Tekes originated in southern Turkmenistan as the chief mounts of Turkmen warriors. At the Akhal oasis, a distance from the main trade routes, the Teke tribe first bred them. Living in the desert, Akhal-Teke horses developed endless stamina and the ability to withstand extremes in temperature and deprivation.
Five successive empires—the Scythians, Parthians, Ywati, Huns, and Turkmen—invaded the area, laying waste to everything before them, yet they carefully preserved these magnificent horses and trained them with the utmost care. In time, the beautiful Akhal-Teke became the central figure in every culture into whose hands it came.
There were excellent reasons for the horse’s many stewards to carefully preserve it. No other horse could run faster or travel greater distances on such little, or even total lack of, food and water for days on end, nor was there a horse more intelligent or more devoted to its rider. It was also the only horse that had the glittering colors that helped earn it the nickname “Heavenly Horse.”
For three millennia, the Turkmen bred their horses to be more than transportation and included them as a part of their families. Their horses lived tied to their tents and were ridden often in search of a living. The reactions of Akhal-Tekes were used for testing would-be suitors for the daughters of a family. They were hand-fed by the entire family and were included in the count of the family’s wealth.
Thus, the Akhal-Teke became sensitive, sensible, and intelligent, learning quickly and with much enthusiasm. It is a horse that seeks to bond with a person of its own, forming a lasting partnership. While most Tekes are friendly to everyone, they tend to respond best to their regular rider, often performing better for “their” person than for a casual rider, even one with better skills. One may start out owning an Akhal-Teke, but in the end, this horse will own the owner. Memories of a first experience with them remain for a lifetime.
Akhal-Tekes glide along effortlessly in the breed’s characteristic movement. Shah’Zadeh Akhal-Tekes
Today, the role of a Teke has changed from war horse to sport horse, and its unique character suits it well for a variety of disciplines. Akhal-Tekes have won Olympic gold and silver medals in dressage and have been jumping champions throughout Europe.
In Germany, Akhal-Tekes are used for fox hunting and compete in reining. In Russia they are used in youth rodeos. Akhal-Tekes of Canada are making their mark in the sport of Competitive Trail where their legendary fearlessness and trust in the rider makes them the perfect team player. In the United States they are used for eventing, jumping, ranch work and endurance riding.
All over the world, Akhal-Tekes show their ancient prepotency through their purebred and part-bred foals with their exceptional ability, strength, soundness, and beauty. The United States is fortunate to have an ever-increasing number of breeders dedicated to preserving the best of this ancient and valuable horse. Nowadays, it is possible to see examples of the marvelous Teke all across the country in competitions and on breeding farms. Best of all, with a wide choice of superior stallions available at reasonable fees, Teke blood is now available to everyone.
Registry
The Akhal-Teke Society of America oversees two registries: the Akhal-Teke Purebred Registry and the Akhal-Teke Sport Horse Registry for crosses with one half or more Akhal-Teke blood. The Akhal-Teke Sport Horse Registry is not for the creation of a new breed, but to record sport horses whose breeders have utilized the Akhal-Teke gene pool in their bloodlines. Akhal-Tekes are registered on the basis of parentage only.
Characteristics
The Akhal-Teke is a true desert-bred horse with a light, elegant build and distinctive conformation. Its body is long, lean, and typically narrow through the chest, making for an extremely comfortable ride. A characteristic feature is the sparse, short mane and forelock and the absence of feather on the legs.
Perhaps the most amazing feature of the Akhal-Teke is that its coat literally glows like shining metal. Its hair has a unique structure that refracts light, providing a dazzling display of colors from blazing palomino to electric black with glittering gold as the prevailing color.
If the Akhal-Teke was bred over the centuries for any particular purpose, it was to get riders between waterholes quickly and comfortably. Typically these waterholes were 80 miles or farther apart from each other. This use resulted in a comfortable, swift, sleek horse quite different from the more-fashionable breeds common today.
The Akhal-Teke is an intelligent, hot-blooded horse that develops a dog-like devotion to its rider. It has a quiet temperament, but is easily aroused. It is bold, tenacious, tough, resilient, and genetically conditioned to endure extreme heat and cold. The Akhal-Teke can withstand great privation and comes back into form readily when conditions improve. Its exceptionally efficient heart and lungs help with the “equine radiator” effect; it has some of the quickest cardiac recovery scores of any breed at vet checks on endurance rides.
The overall impression is one of an exotic animal exuding grace, power, and athleticism. The comparison in appearance to a cheetah or fine greyhound is not inaccurate.
While degrees in type are allowed and even encouraged, all examples of the breed should carry the distinct characteristics that differentiate the Akhal-Teke from other horses. In judging or grading, basic soundness is of primary importance, followed by the presence of type. Severe faults in conformation are heavily penalized even in the presence of outstanding type. Brilliance in type, conformation, and/or movement—even accompanied by minor faults or shortcomings—are recognized and highly rewarded.
General Conformation
The Akhal-Teke is meant to be a medium-sized horse, ranging from 14.3 to 16 hands. Extremes in either direction are not desirable. In general, the Akhal-Teke gives the impression of length without showing weakness or frailty. The horse should be longer than it is tall, with a rectangular silhouette.
The shimmering metallic glow of the Akhal-Teke coat is a striking feature. Shah’Zadeh Akhal-Tekes
The back is long but strong, with a level topline. Withers are high and prominent and attached to a well set-in shoulder. Shoulders should be long, nicely sloped, and exceptionally free-moving. The wither height, combined with the relative narrowness of the chest at the shoulders, makes for an enormous range of motion at the shoulder, giving the Akhal-Teke even greater scope and power.
Although the chest is narrow when viewed from the front, the heart girth is deep. The barrel widens smoothly out to the hips with little curvature of the ribs, and the hip angle is wide, giving the appearance of strength. Tailset is low.
Faults: Extreme heaviness or reediness; excessively long back, especially when coupled with weak loin connection; extreme downhill conformation; monorchidism or cryptorchidism; thick, coarse, or overly muscular appearance; a square outline, the horse being taller than it is long.
Head and Neck
The Akhal-Teke’s head is long and narrow, with most of the length being between the eyes and the muzzle, and the profile is straight or slightly dished. Overall, the head is dry (finely made and without excess flesh), with large nostrils and thin lips. Eyes are large, expressive, and often hooded, or oriental, in appearance. Ears are long, slim, mobile, set forward, and alert. The throatlatch is refined, the poll is flexible, and the long, slim neck is set high out of the shoulder.
Akhal-Tekes have a lean, elegant build. Shah’Zadeh Akhal-Tekes
Faults: Severe overshot or undershot jaw, common or coarse head, thick throatlatch, thick neck, low neck set.
Legs and Feet
The Akhal-Teke is a true desert horse, and thus should possess extreme stamina and hardiness. The presence of adequately dense bone is one such indicator of these traits. Akhal-Tekes have short cannon bones and low-set hocks, while the forearm and gaskins are long and smoothly muscled. Legs are dry with well defined tendons. Joints are large, yet the knees should be flat. Pasterns should be long and display an identical angle to the hoof and shoulder. Hooves are small, round, and extremely hard.
Faults: Any and all limb formations that could contribute to future unsoundness include, but are not limited to, bench knees, calf knees, off-set cannon bones, sickle hocks, wide at the hocks, lack of bone, small joints, pigeon-toes or toed-in stance, and dished hooves. Horses are penalized according to the severity of the fault.
Movement
While not truly gaited, the Akhal-Teke has a highly distinctive fashion of moving. Because it is today what it always was—a horse bred to go very long distances—it does not have the spectacular movement that seems to be currently popular in many other horses. Yet its gaits are one of the most unique and desirable characteristics of the breed. It has magnificent action, liberal and flexible with soft, gliding, fluid strides, utilizing a sweeping motion without the unnecessary elevation of knees and hocks. The action is quite forward in all three gaits, displaying long, energetic strides that float just above the ground at the trot and sweep flat to the ground at the canter with little swing or knee action. The low moving trot and sweeping canter provide for an extremely comfortable ride. All movement is free-flowing and elastic as if the horse is sliding or skimming just above the ground.
The Akhal-Teke should give the impression of lithe athleticism without excessive musculature. Overall, the effect is that of a fine greyhound.
Due to the Teke’s characteristically high head carriage, it is naturally more balanced toward its hindquarters. Impulsion is not something to strive for in a Teke, but comes naturally in the breed.
The Akhal-Teke has a different style of jumping than other breeds of horses. It jumps more like a deer, with head and knees up rather than out. Thus its center of balance is over the heart rather than the withers or shoulders. The Akhal-Teke is a naturally careful jumper, keen to leave a good deal of daylight between itself and any rail. It is talented and agile when jumping, and its fearlessness and endurance is unmatched in any other breed.
Faults: Winging, paddling, excessive knee action, heavy or ponderous gaits, lack of forward drive.
Coat
The Akhal-Teke typically has a marvelous metallic gleam to its coat, a feature that is a desirable characteristic and mostly noticed on buckskins, palominos, and duns. This glowing shine in the coat is created by the structure of the hair; its opaque core is greatly reduced in size and may, in areas, be altogether absent. The transparent part of the hair (the medulla) takes up this space and acts like a light-pipe, bending light through one side of the hair and refracting it out the other side, often with a golden cast. This effect produces a bright glitter that is a definitive coat characteristic of the breed.
The skin of the Akhal-Teke is very thin, with its coat and hair being quite fine and silky. In summer the skin around the eyes and nostrils may be bare. It often has a sparse mane and tail, little or no forelock, and no feathering on the fetlocks.
Any color is acceptable in the breed, as is any combination of white markings, which are common, and some sport a great deal of chrome. Sabino pinto markings are not at all unusual. Although all colors occur, golden buckskins and duns are the most prominent.
Few breeds of horse can claim the diversity of coloration to be found in the Akhal-Teke. While some breeders prefer certain colors over others, there are no disallowed colors or markings in the Akhal-Teke breed.
Color Variations
Dominant black, also called “electric black” and “raven black,” is quite common for the breed. Combined with the famous Akhal-Teke glow, these horses literally glitter with a blue or purple sheen. This color is so special that it has its own name, voronaya, in Russian. This is the color of five-time Olympic medalist (two gold, two silver, one bronze), Absent, and is found in many of his descendants.
Palomino Tekes are truly stunning and usually display plenty of “chrome” (white markings.)
Light palomino in Akhal-Tekes is strikingly brilliant and is a color often seen in the United States. A famous light palomino is Kambar, the world record holder for racing distances of 4,000 to 8,000 meters. He generated interest and the start of Teke-love for many an American.
Akhal-Tekes have long heads, oriental eyes, and long ears. Kelly Anderson
Mahogany bay has the “sooty” factor, as the hairs have a black tip producing many lovely variations in horse color. Astrachan is a gorgeous mahogany bay and the number one–rated elite Akhal-Teke stallion in North America.
Golden, called bulanaya in Russian, is an archetypical color of the Akhal-Teke horse. These horses are sometimes purely buckskin (without a spinal stripe), or dunskin (with a spinal stripe a few shades lighter than the mane and tail, but darker than the coat and plainly visible). Due to the unique structure of the hairs, these horses may be quite dark in color and may even be confused with bay; however, when bred together they can produce perlinos and cremellos.
Dark golden dun (along with similar colors of golden bay, golden buckskin, and golden dun) is another of the archetypical Akhal-Teke colors. In sunlight, the coat glitters with gold in a way that a camera simply cannot capture. This color (actually a form of olive grulla) is so dark that it is often mistaken for a non-red bay, but the stripe down the spine and zebra striping on the legs show that this is a dun.
Bay can be quite spectacular with coats that glitter with red and golden highlights.
Dunskin on the Akhal-Teke can combine dun and cream factors in some striking ways. Usually these horses have black manes and tails, but they can also have bi-colored manes and tails.
Liver chestnut, while not as common in the Teke as it is in other breeds like the Morgan, is still found quite often. In fact, this is the color of the line-founding stallion, 828 Fakirpelvan, sire of the famous European jumper, Penteli.
Chestnut tends to be more golden than red, but there are a fair share of lovely red chestnuts.
Cremello (also known as isabella in Europe) and perlino are found quite commonly in Akhal-Tekes. The glow of the coat on these blue-eyed wonders is so strong that it is visible even in a darkened barn.
Perlino differs from cremello when there is some reddish or brownish color to the tail and often in the hocks, knees, and legs as well. As with the cremello, the eyes are blue.
Claybank or red dun is a rarity among Tekes. Cream grulla is a combination of grullo or dark golden dun and perlino. In this color, the eyes may be blue, gray, or hazel.
Grays are actually fairly common in Tekes. Those with this color are often beautifully dappled and many turn completely white.
Grullo among Tekes are of the olive variety and are usually called dark golden dun. Grullo can be distinguished from gray by the head being dark and the fact that the color does not change with age.
Rabicano is also seen in the breed. It is a form of roan that shows white only where the skin is thin or particularly stretchy: on the flanks, over the ribs, or on the throatlatch. When it is on the ribs, it is usually in the form of vertical stripes, but generally it is seen only on the flanks, sometimes only on the little flap of skin just over the stifle.
Older stud books list roan as an Akhal-Teke color, although this line seems to have died out.
Credit: The Akhal-Teke Society of America