The Akhal-Teke World Championships in the Netherlands Have Generated Widespread International Attention
Almost 10 days remain until the event in the Netherlands, which has already been hailed as a milestone in the modern history of horse breeding. The prestigious Peelbergen International Equestrian Center in Cronenberg will become an important venue for the popularization of the Akhal-Teke breed, hosting for the first time such a large-scale World Championships in dressage, show jumping, and the International Beauty Contest for "paradise horses" from September 4 to 6, 2026.
The announcement of the event is being widely broadcast by Turkmenistan's diplomatic missions abroad—from Europe and America to Korea and India—prompting the attention of the international sports and scientific elite to the upcoming event in Cronenberg.
The event will bring together breeders, scientists, experts, and connoisseurs from Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and America. The main organizers of the championship are the Turkmen Atlary State Association in partnership with the European Akhal-Teke Horse Association (ATHA) and the All-Russian Research Institute of Horse Breeding (VNIIK). This unprecedented alliance symbolizes the unity of the international community around the task of preserving and developing the planet's oldest purebred breed.
For three days, the Peelbergen complex will become a magnet for professionals and the public. The opening ceremony and the start of the qualifying rings will take place on September 4. An international panel of judges will begin evaluating young horses based on their conformation, grace, and purity of breed characteristics. Dressage competitions will begin in the sports section.
September 5th is a day of high-level expertise and culture. A show ring for adult stallions and mares will be held, and the key event will be the Open Conference of the International Akhal-Teke Horse Breeding Association, dedicated to the genetic purity and preservation of the breed. The final athletic trials and the final chord—the summing up of the Akhal-Teke World Champion titles—will take place on September 6th.
Along with the athletic and show programs, a large-scale exhibition of Turkmenistan's cultural heritage will unfold at the center. Guests will be able to see unique Turkmen carpets, jewelry, and horse harnesses, as well as works of art dedicated to the "heavenly horses."
A special treat for European audiences will be the participation of the legendary Galkynysh National Equestrian Games Group. Having won acclaim at numerous international circus festivals, the team will demonstrate the intricate techniques of trick riding and traditional Turkmen horsemanship in the Netherlands.
