Akhal-Teke

Did You Know?

• The Akhal-Teke is represented on the official emblem and banknotes of Turkmenistan.
• Art of Akhal-Teke horse breeding and traditions of horses' decoration were recognized as part of UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2023.
• The breed's studbook was closed in 1932, and the first breed registry was printed in 1941, including over 700 horses.

History

The ancestors of the Akhal-Teke may date back 3,000 years, but precise ancestry is difficult to trace because horse breeds in the modern sense did not exist before about 1600 AD. The breed is very similar to, and possibly the direct descendant of, the Turkoman horse, which is believed extinct though a related strain may be bred in Iran. Other strains with Turkoman roots include the Yomud, Goklan, and Nokhorli; some historians consider these different strains of the same breed. Ancient strains such as the Massaget and Parthian may have contributed, and some claim the Akhal-Teke descends from the Fergana horse bred in the Fergana valley in 104 BC. It remains disputed whether the Arabian was the ancestor of the Turkoman or developed from it, but DNA evidence points to a possible common ancestor. A substantial number of Arabian mares were reportedly used to improve the breed in the 14th and 19th centuries. Tribal people in what is now Turkmenistan first used the Akhal-Teke for raiding, treasuring the horses for income and survival. They selectively bred them, keeping pedigrees orally. Stallions were tethered near tents while mares and foals foraged freely; stallions were covered with up to seven layers of felt to keep their coat short and shiny. Before raids, horses were put on a sparse diet to prepare for long desert rides with little water or feed. The horses were called Argamaks by Russians and heavenly horses by ancient China. Han emperors waged two expeditions to secure these horses, which fueled China's success against nomadic neighbors. In 1881, Turkmenistan became part of the Russian Empire.

Characteristics

The Akhal-Teke is a medium-sized horse, standing between 144 and 160 centimeters at the withers and weighing 430 to 500 kilograms. Its coat comes in many colors, with bays making up about 40 percent of the population, followed by duns at 22 percent, blacks at 12 percent, and chestnuts at 11 percent; grey, cream, and yellow also occur. A metallic sheen often covers the coat, and in duns this can create a golden hue that some believe helped the horse blend into desert surroundings. The head is refined, with a straight or slightly convex profile, long ears, and almond-shaped or hooded eyes. The mane and tail are typically thin. The back is long and lightly muscled, connecting to a flat croup and a long, upright neck. Sloping shoulders and thin skin complete the build. This breed is tough and resilient, having adapted to the harsh, arid conditions of Turkmenistan where food and water are scarce. In 1935, Turkmen riders covered 2,500 miles from Ashgabat to Moscow in 84 days, including a 235-mile desert stretch crossed in three days without water. The Akhal-Teke also excels in show jumping, known for its elegance and form. Horses are classified as Elite, Class I, or Class II based on type, conformation, pedigree, offspring quality, and sport performance. Annual grading events in Moscow include the International Sport Meeting and World Championship, Heavenly Argamak, and Golden Akhal-Teke Cup Shael.

Uses

The Akhal-Teke excels in dressage, show jumping, eventing, racing, and endurance riding. The stallion Absinthe won the Grand Prix de Dressage at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome ridden by Sergei Filatov, later winning bronze in 1964 and team gold in 1968 under Ivan Kalita, though by today's studbook standards he would not be admitted due to Thoroughbred ancestry. In 2009, an Akhal-Teke named Almila carried the poet Laurence Bougault on a solo trek from Isfahan in Iran to Paris, covering 6,500 kilometers in less than six months.

Genetic diseases

Genetic diversity in the Akhal-Teke is relatively low, with an Ancestor Loss Coefficient of 30–50%, raising concerns about increased carriers of genetic conditions and risk of inbreeding depression. No DNA tests exist for these conditions. Naked Foal Syndrome (NFS), or Hairless Foal Syndrome, is believed to be a monogenic autosomal lethal recessive gene, reported since 1938. Research at the University of Bern is ongoing to develop a DNA test. Affected foals are born without hair coat, mane, or tail; some have front teeth at birth or abnormal molars. Symptoms include persistent diarrhea, digestive disorders, and laminitis-like rotation of coffin bones. Secondary symptoms include scaly, dry, inflamed skin, severe sunburn, and pulmonary infections. NFS is always fatal; most foals die within weeks, though some survive up to two years. Early death usually results from digestive problems; older horses require euthanasia due to laminitis pain. Identified carriers include 943 Arslan, 736 Keymir, 2001 Mariula, and 1054 Gilkuyruk, but unknown cases are likely higher as breeders often report NFS foals as stillborn or aborted.