For Turkmen horse breeding, 2026 began on a high note: the motto for the year, "Independent Neutral Turkmenistan – the Homeland of Purposeful Winged Horses," was announced, and the national equestrian group "Galkynysh" was awarded certificates from the World Circus Federation and the European Circus Association for its outstanding contribution to world circus arts.

On Wednesday, National Leader of the Turkmen People, Head of the Khalk Maslakhaty (People's Council), Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, arrived in the town of Arkadag, home to a unique equestrian cluster where the traditions of ancestral horse breeders are not simply preserved but translated into the language of academic science. He visited the Aba Annayev International Horse Breeding Academy and the Gorogly State Equestrian Circus.

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov met with students at the "At-Myrat" training center, part of the Horse Breeding Academy. Training here includes not only horseback riding but also chemistry and mathematics (necessary for veterinary science and breeding), Russian and English (for international communication), and IT literacy.

The National Leader of the Turkmen People announced that 1.5 million manats have been allocated to the "At-Myrat" center on behalf of the Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov Charitable Foundation for Assistance to Children in Need of Care. These funds will be used to develop a digital training system and strengthen the center's facilities. This is a clear signal: horse breeding in Turkmenistan is a modern career for young people.

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov then met with members of the "Galkynyş" group at the Gorogly State Equestrian Circus. This group is more than just an equestrian troupe; it is a cultural ambassador for Turkmenistan. Their list of trophies over the past decade is impressive: The Golden Cup at the 47th International Festival in Monte Carlo, top awards at international festivals in Zhuhai and Latina, the Grand Prix in St. Petersburg, and more.

Having conveyed congratulations and gratitude on behalf of the President of Turkmenistan to the group's members for their contribution to the country's global image, the National Leader of the Turkmen people announced the head of state's decision to award the group a prize of 3 million manats.

Having presented the award to the group's leader, the National Leader also presented the riders with magnificent riding saddles. Another important gift was a beautiful stallion named Garashsyz, which the National Leader of the Turkmen People presented to the performers after saddling the horse and riding it around the arena.

Further, at a working meeting attended by the relevant leaders, plans for the near future were discussed. Among other things, the feasibility of creating feature films to document the modern process of training horse trainers and riders, making Turkmen horse breeding part of global media content, was noted.

Arkadag today is more than just a city; it is a living laboratory of continuity. The donation of 1.5 million manats to the center's trainees, who are learning to understand the language of horses, and the awarding of world-class masters are two links in the same chain. Turkmenistan is investing in something "timeless" – living art, which today brings the country triumph in the most prestigious arenas of the world.