Ahal-Tekes: fighters at the racetrack, artists in the arena
April 21, 2018 | 02:41 |299
In Turkmenistan, the work on preserving and multiplying the outstanding qualities of Ahal-Teke horses is perceived as an exceptionally noble cause. The fruit of the labor of many generations of breeders-seyis, these horses are considered a national treasure. Experts say that the Ahal-Teke has made a special contribution to the formation of other horse breeds, including Arabian. Today in Turkmenistan there are about 4 thousand Ahal-Teke horses. Their number has increased significantly in recent years, largely due to large investments in the infrastructure of the industry. So, just the International equestrian complex of the State Association "Turkmen Atlary", erected in the Ahal province in 2011 and expanded in 2016, can contain up to a thousand horses, for which ideal conditions have been created. Large complexes were built in other regions of the country, too. Competitions in jumping at the 5th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games held in Ashgabat in September brought the Turkmen team a gold medal, which was taken by the rider Nikolai Beglaryan and his horse in the "Akhal Teke Cup" discipline. This victory is destined to begin the expansion of the "heavenly horses" to the world's leading competitions. The sports potential of the breed is very high, it shows the achievements of the best representatives of the breed, like Absinthe in the XX century.Oleg Vinokurov
Specialties related to horse breeding are taught at the Turkmen Agricultural University, and the National Institute of Sport and Tourism, the Turkmen State Institute of Culture prepares circus dzhigits. The Scientific Center for the Study of Akhalteke horses, which in its research program is called upon to combine the centuries-old breeding experience of the Turkmen seyises and the best world practices, has been established at the leading agricultural university of the country. The project is aimed at the creation of a specialized horse breeding university.
It is obvious that with the invariable preservation of the Ahal-Teke gene pool, horse breeding in Turkmenistan is seen as a promising and profitable industry, the number of private horse breeders is not for nothing. The necessary legal basis for this has been created. According to the Law of Turkmenistan "On horse breeding and equestrian sport" adopted two years ago, owners of horses are required to preserve the purity of the breed. Also this document specifies the possibility of selling horses under the condition of fulfilling a number of restrictions ensuring the safety of their gene pool in Turkmenistan.
Consistent work goes on at the creation of the State breeding book, the very fact of entering into which confirms the high quality of the horse's value as a representative of the breed. The establishment in 2010 of the International Association of Ahal-Teke Horse Breeders with headquarters in Ashgabat contributed to ensuring broad recognition of the thoroughbredness of the "heavenly horses".
This organization is designed to monitor the keeping of records of thoroughbred horses, no matter where in the world they are located. It united breeders of different countries specializing in breeding purebred Ahal-Teke horses, representatives of horse business and scientists-hippologists. The meetings of the Association are traditionally held in the Turkmen capital on the eve of the Turkmen Horse Day, under the chairmanship of the president of this organization - the head of Turkmenistan G. Berdimuhamedov.
