Dear friends!This book is dedicated to the Turkmen racehorse – the celebrated Akhalteke.

The world has been ringing with its fame as long as the world exists. Being put on a par with the history of the human civilization, this steed hasn’t lost its outstanding breed traits in its lifetime – strength, speed, beauty and intelligence. Taken together, they have merged in that very type of the horse, the only in the world, which fate has been closely interwoven with the human’s destiny, and the aforesaid has foreor-dained their friendship, affection and staunch service to each other.

The Akhalteke, which was born by the nature of the ancient Turkmen land and the gift of industrious Turkmen people, makes the running in the cultural horse-breeding of the world by ennobling all breeds of riding horses with its blood. It has become a terrestrial embodiment of a unity of the cultural space of the world and left fond memories of itself throughout historical epochs.

Our national pride and glory, the adornment of the State emblem of Turk-menistan, the Akhalteke is a real symbol of our independent neutral Fatherland, a living picture of its aspiration for peace and friendship with all nations. At the begin-ning of the XXI century, the Turkmen state has entered into a new era of its develop-ment – the era of the great Revival, and declared the policy of active peaceableness, genuine openness and initiative participation in forming of a new humane model of the world.

We are self-confident and firmly convinced in our forces, and such confi-dence originates in the primary sources of generosity and openness of the Turkmen land, genius of our forefathers who gave birth to a unique in the world phenomenon – a friendship between the steed and a human, and the friendship is to be evaluated as the rarest phenomenon of our national culture and the world culture as a whole.

Dear readers, I wish you to be imbued with the comprehension of ineradi-cable love of the Turkmen nation to its wonderful racehorse.

President Gurbanguly of Turkmenistan Berdymukhamedov

AkhAlteke - our pride and glory

Ashkhabad 2008

Gurbanguly BerdymukhAmedov

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10Oguzkhan monument in the capital of Turkmenistan

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A Symbol of Great Revival

“He who has a steed, has wings”Turkmen proverb

thousands of years a steed has been prancing over the earth spaces, being the object of fights between kings, nations and states in their striving to take possession of it. Thousands of legends and stories resuscitate a divine origin of a golden coat steed like a wind. This steed with immutable noble points has become a symbol of every new era, but every time under a new name – Hittite,

Nisai, Parthian, Persian, Arab… Later an argamak will emerge in the Rus, and this name will be forever attached to the steed, known only for its Oriental origin…

The Turkmen steed, or the Akhalteke - this breed name would be soundly entered into the world practice only in the XIX century, having fairly amended the genealogy of the oriental agramak. At the very end of the XX century, the Akhalteke will become a symbol of independent neutral Turkmenistan by decorating the State Emblem of the country with its graceful portrayal.

With the epoch of a new great Revival, which the XXI century has brought to the ancient Turkmen land, this steed will have ascended the pedestal of honour corresponding to the weight and authority of Turkmenistan in the world arena. A policy of openness and grandiose changes will open new horizons for self-expression of the nation’s spirit, hence, for its racehorse as these notions are indivisible – always, at all times.

After getting over the path of formation of our independent state that was dif-ficult and full of labour and inspiration, we have embarked on the qualitatively new course of development that requires the mobilization of all tangible and spiritual resources of the society. This task will entail the further return to the national soil of creative spirit of the Turk-men nation, that very spirit which permits it not merely withstand in the historical fight with the time, but to create imperishable masterpieces of material culture inferior to none in the world history. Both the Turkmen carpet and Turkmen racehorses are not only the evidence of antiquity and talent of our nation, not only symbols of our today’s independence, but they present a great mystery of our land, which has generated a unique human ability to live and create in harmony with nature and in accord with self.

Today we have learnt much about ourselves, about our great history and its mighty and twisting way in different epochs; we have learnt the price our nation has paid to preserve all through the ages the thing it values most of all – the freedom of its spirit and the independence of its land. We have also learnt about that greatest patience and high dignity with which our nation has endured the historical oblivion of things it exclusively possessed – the peacefulness of thoughts and perfection of deeds.

We have called our new epoch the epoch of great Revival as following the revival of the national self-consciousness the time is ripe for the revival of the primordial national

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character bearing such features as diligence, assiduity, vitality and spirit of enterprise along with the openness and kind-heartedness – the aforesaid has been the pivot of the nation, and provided it with a spiritual and material basis of historical longevity and firmness of the lifestyle.

Formerly foreign travellers who had watched the Turkmens’ mode of life during hard times of the tribal separation and struggle for survival witnessed that “one can observe such spiritual rise among these nomads and such absolute understanding and openness as nowhere in the world”. They also confirmed with amazement “the Turkmens’ great desire to study and to read books, which fell into their hands by chance”. “They take their chess-game even when they set out to fight,” observers wondered.

But our people’s attitude towards their racehorses astounded them most of all. When describing the Turkmens as very nimble, courageous and strong defenders of their lands, witnesses never wearied of being astonished by the steed-and-human intercourse brought to full perfection, what made them all-in-one-piece both in the everyday life and in the battle.

“Being reared under a shelter side by side with children and caressed by women’s hands, the Turkmen horses are notable for their especial tenderness and extraordinary in-telligence,” some of them noticed. Others echoed, “A Turkmen is sure in his racehorse to such extent that he always holds a bridle in his hands with ease and absolutely relies on an exclusive instinct and reliability of his steed.” Some other underscored, “The Turkmens have never overstrained their horses. On horseback they keep the corpus obliquely, i.e. they retract their right shoulder. During rapid gaits, they move almost all their weight on stirrups. They never beat their racehorses and a whip in their hands is just an adorn-ment”...

It is an invaluable observation indeed! Which of us isn’t familiar with this famous seat of the Turkmen horseman who has gone down in the history of his nation as its most typical and brightest representative? But to attain the aforesaid an indefatigable and labori-ous work of many generations of the nation required, that very nation which had created, raised and preserved for centuries the most famous in the world breed of the Akhalteke racehorses.

Apparently, we haven’t completely perceived yet what invaluable wealth is in our possession. Our natural treasures are added with a creative centuries-old energy of the na-tion, which is multiplied manifold by the allegiance to its land and capability to transform this land. Today, one has only to look around to see with one’s own eyes and believe forever in our nation’s ineradicable craving for labour and creative work, knowledge and self-perfec-tion, and its need to live in harmony of body and spirit, to develop and impart the harmony to their children – the future of the country.

Nowadays, the Turkmen history experiences a particular period associated with the transformation of stupendous plans and designs, aimed at the reconstruction of life and conferring world quality standards upon it, in real and concrete deeds. The cultural dominant, which is present in the policy of our country, appreciably determines the whole vector of its development, where health and sports have grown into constitutive attributes of the social order of the society. In corroboration of the aforesaid – dozens of projects, which have been already introduced today and which realization will help Turkmenistan to rank

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high among the advanced countries owing to the development of infrastructure of tourism and sports.

The country has done and is doing much for the construction of up-to-the-minute sport facilities – stadiums, special complexes for water and equestrian sports, hockey and figure skating. A project of a new “Olympic ground” has been approved; it is the largest in Central Asia complex consisting of a series of facilities furnished according to the world standards – stadiums, outdoor and indoor sports grounds and halls, swimming pools, a cycle track, a tennis court, a medical-and-rehabilitation centre, hotels, etc., in a word, a complex, which envisages all conditions for holding different sporting events, including at the international level.

Our duty and our task are to give the utmost encouragement to physical training and the Olympic movement. Olympic competitors have been formed since childhood, and gyms, basketball and volleyball courts, tennis courts and swimming pools, furnished with up-to-date simulators, are obligatory included in projects of new kindergartens and edu-cational institutions of Turkmenistan. All sorts of conditions for the recreation and physi-cal development are foreseen in children’s health-improving centres in Gekdere in the environs of Ashkhabad and in the National tourist zone of “Avaza” under construction on

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the Caspian littoral, where various sport complexes and facilities will be at holidaymakers’ service.

And, undoubtedly, we pay a particular attention to a primordially national sport associated with the further development of horse-breeding and betterment of the elite Akhalteke breed. The National Programme of the “Main trend of the economic, political and cultural development of Turkmenistan for the period up to the year 2020” has envisaged a widespread introduction of science-based advanced methods of selection of pure Akhalteke breeds in the horse-breeding branch, dressage of stallions, training of racers and race-horses for international equestrian competitions. In addition to the functioning supermodern Akhalteke horse complex the aforementioned goals will be attained by the Ashkhabad hip-podrome, which has been completely reconstructed and will be put into operation on the eve of the 17th anniversary of Turkmenistan independence. All conditions are created there to organize traditional races rather popular with the people. Similar hippodromes furnished with state-of-the-art equipment will appear in all velayats of the country.

Not a jot of our attention to our racehorses will have been reduced in the future as they are our pride and glory, our inspiration. Who but the Akhalteke, born on the Turkmen land, should become an exponent of strength, health and beauty reproducible in nature by dint of human’s labour and talent? That is why the history of human-steed affection and friendship is so cognitive, the history that commenced 5 thousand years ago and continues up to the present time.

This history has been recorded in numerous testimonies and chronicles of dif-ferent epochs, in mythological creativity of the Turkmen people, their epics and legends. Various monographs and present-day studies are dedicated to the Akhalteke. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all authors and compilers, whose affection and profes-sionalism help to collect invaluable information about the pride and glory of the Turkmen nation – the Akhalteke racehorse.

This book generalizes and systematizes facts based on the scientific, historical and literary biography of our racehorse. Undoubtedly, this biography will be continued as mysteries our land has disclosed to us are far from being full, and they include ancient horse-breeding traditions, peculiarities of the selection gift of the nation and peculiarities of the Akhalteke itself, its powerful blood as if forever injected in veins of the wonderful race-horse as a reward to a person who hasn’t searched for another land, another sky and sun.

The Akhalteke is with us as before. Therefore, our duty is to preserve, add and hand over its renowned biography to our descendants, the biography that reflects the whole heroic history of the Turkmen people like in the mirror.

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Akhalteke horse centre of President of Turkmenistan

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‘Turkmen atlary’ public association office is located in a high-rise building in the center of Ashgabat

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26A fragment of Parthian ivory rhyton. II century A. D.Serakhs oasis

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History witnesses

“Nothing in the world can outdo them in quickness, doves and cranes hardly keep pace with them.”

Ancient Greek historian Xenophont

S o, the Akhalteke… What is it and wherefrom is it? Whom is the mankind obliged for the creation of a legendary steed, which origin goes back to the time of initia-tion of the world civilization? And why was our swift-footed racehorse’s way to its actual name, inalienable from the name of the nation-creator, so long? Undoubt-edly, the world knew a great deal of horse breeds, which type was formed first

of all by natural and climatic conditions of their habitat. But the question is about the steed commemorated in the art and mythology of different nations. As the scholars themselves confessed, like cities of Asia Minor debated for the honour to be the native land of Homer, different scholars and countries argued to be the homeland of the steed.

“In the Orient there is a spacious territory called Nisaya, where majestic horses abound,” this evidence was left by the father of history Herodotus in the V century B.C.

“Steeds of Nisei surpass the others in their beauty. These steeds are worthy of mighty kings, with wonderful exterior and light tread, when mounted, they easily obey bits; they bear high their proud hook-nosed head and their golden manes soar gloriously in the air.” And the aforesaid inspired lines belong to the Greek author of “Roman history” Appian, living in the II century B.C.

At the dawn of the new era an ancient Greek geographer and historian Stra-bon would corroborate: “Nisayan horses are the biggest and the best, Persian kings keep them.”

With the Parthian conquest the grand steed would grow into a chivalrous sym-bol of a powerful state that had subordinated an extensive area from Mesopotamia to India.

During excavations in New Nisa - the residence of the Parthian kings - a knight’s steed was found among the disclosed figurines of horses, it wore light armour with a helmet. First knights of the world, so as knighthood itself, arose there, in Parthia, and afterwards spread all over the world, having inherited principles of selflessness and nobility, that the concept of knighthood and chivalrous virtues was based on, side by side with the “iron” ap-pearance of a steed and a horseman.

And the founder of the Parthian kingdom Arsac I was the first knight. A Turk-men by birth, he headed the rebellion of local tribes against Greek-Macedonian domin-ion and after liberating the area of the Kopetdagh foothills from the Greek governors, there, in the district named Parthiena, he laid the core of the future power. A classical author narrated: “The Parthians revered his memory to such extent that since then all Parthian kings had been named Arsac”. Most probably, it was not the name but a sobriquet, which etymology derives from the ancient Turkmen word “ar”, “er” (“male”, “manly”).

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Plutarch wrote about the Parthians: “A Parthian, being taught to charge and re-treat with similar speed, disintegrates his horse units to make possible unimpeded hitting of the enemy with arrows”.

A “winged steed”, a “divine steed”, a “steed inhabiting the mountain tops” – this list of epithets that were conferred on the wonderful racer in ancient myths and legends of India and Mesopotamia, Egypt and Babylon, Greece and Rome is far from being full. Those steeds were a desirable booty and a sumptuous donation for many nations, Chinese emperors and Russian tsars dreamt of them. China would call those steeds as “blood per-spiring” and in the II century B.C. would wage war with Central Asia twice in attempt to take possession of those divine racers.

What were scholars embarrassed with when defining the steed’s homeland? Ob-viously, with the fact that this horse type was reproduced by archaeological finds, dated both to different centuries and millennia and attributed to lands and territories that were separated by thousands of kilometres. Thereat, a large number of proofs pointed at one and the same horse type, whether they were remains of a warhorse with entire harness, well preserved in the permafrost of Altai burial mounds, or portrayals of chariots of Egyp-tian pharaohs that had impressed a typical exterior of the Akhalteke: a lean harmonious build, a long back with high withers, a swan-like neck bend, thin legs, and mane thoroughly trimmed.

In the XIV century B.C. in the Hittite kingdom a famous treatise about the horse training appeared, being deciphered only at the beginning of the XX century, which by general admission of ippologists exactly followed the technique of training of the Akhalteke, widely applied by the Turkmens. By the way, when paying attention to a complete identity in horse training with the Hittites and later Turkmens, many researchers noticed a wonderful

A Parthian equestrian. 1 century A.D. terracotta relief

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coincidence of types of garments of the Hittite queens and traditional holiday attire of the Turkmen women, preserved till nowadays, in ancient reliefs.

Quite a lot similar coincidences are known, very likely the most typical one is a sophisticated set of massive silver adornments for the female clothes, which elements - worn on the head, shoulders, breast, hands - presume their formerly defensive application with the legendary Amazons of the antiquity, renowned for their masterly riding the horse and shooting arrows in flight.

The researchers discerned a male lambskin papakha “telpek”, which is still worn by shepherds in the desert, to get rid of the heat in the images of horsemen, imprinted in eminent Orkhon-Yenisei stony characters. Their horses reproduce the shape of Akhalteke steeds: the same swan-like neck and nice head, the same long straight legs. As research-ers suppose, in the 500’s B.C. thereto, on the banks of the Yenisei, Sakkis tribes migrated, escaping raids of Darius.

And here is the description of the steed that had managed “to reach” the Altai at the dawn of the new era and was disclosed in one of the burial mounds two thousand years later, “Owing to the permafrost, researchers were lucky to excavate a mummy of a large golden-chestnut, well-proportioned, well-trained steed with a graceful head and beautiful neck – neither a scratch, nor a trace of whip was available thereon.”

This historical digression will be incomplete without mentioning the latest discov-eries of outstanding archaeologist Victor Sarianidi, who had unearthed a centre of one of

A fragment of glazed tile from Kunyaurgench. XIV century

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the oldest civilizations of the planet – the country of Margush in the Karakum desert, which the modern science acknowledges to be on an equal footing with the ancient civilizations of China, India, Mesopotamia, and Egypt. It took thirty seasons of archaeological excava-tions, videlicet, thirty years for the heroic scientist not only to disclose in quicksand of the Karakum desert a site of ancient kingdom but to produce convincing proofs to the research community pertaining to the origination of the first world religion there – Zoroastrism.

All but majestic ruins, stretching for kilometres, of the capital town of Gonur-depe that has staggered archaeologists by its subtly designed architecture and well thought-out lifestyle of people have remained today of once prosperous Margush or Margiana. Turk-mens’ forefathers, those people that began developing a formerly fertile expanse in the old delta of the Murghab river still in the third millennium B.C., were skilful architects, builders, smiths, potters and jewellers, and were aware of the secrets of smelting metal and bronze, treatment of gold and silver.

It is no mere chance that still in the Bronze Age, elite steeds were reared, tamed, trained and, on special occasions, sacrificed there. The foal buried with especial respects, a series of bronze trumpets – special musical instruments intended exclusively for training horses, a diminutive bronze sculpture in the form of a horse head with a long neck and large, like the Akhalteke’s, eyes. V.I. Sarianidi asserts that all these finds testify that at the turn of the III-II millennia B.C. ancient Turkmen tribes laid the foundation for the selection of elite species, resulted in the creation of the Akhalteke genealogy.

Certainly, the aforesaid are only fragments reflecting the epic picture created by the labour of artists, historians and archaeologists in different periods of time. Both rock images of a thoroughbred horse, sculptures, frescos and bás-reliefs, depicting the same external appearance in the later epoch, and patterns of osteological collections reconstitute a holistic look of the ancient steed identical to the modern Akhalteke. Meanwhile, someone sees the lack of the most important link in the chain of proofs of such direct tie – the DNA examination. To realize this method, which is quite feasible from the point of view of the present-day science, one should find the remains of an ancient horse in a good state of preservation somewhere in permafrost strata. In this regard, the Altai horse was unlucky: the science was immature at that moment. And so far as one can wait for the next fortunate find of this kind for a long time, let’s try to prove things evident for us by dint of a logic path available.

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Bronze ware from Gonur-depe: hand signal horn for horse training and walking-stick handle

A foal remains in Gonur necropolis

Gonur-depe excavations panorama

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In the sun of the Turkmen land

“Falcon is your blood-brother, light-winged dove is your brother”

From the poem “Steed” by Myataji

d isputes on the exact period of the horse’s domestication for the first time have been arguing for a long time and are seemed endless: indeed, beyond five million years of the horse evolution it presents difficult to discern the moment of transformation of a wild tarpan into a kind, fast, almost judicious creature. But by dint of what evolution has a horse gained an intellect, without which it

would have never become a steed – a messenger and a motive power of civilization?A well-known proverb says, “No one has even made a dent in their work”, stating

the impossibility of proving things with the lapse of time. In the etymology of the proverb is the key to the question regarding the steed’s origin. Not a horse, but exactly a steed. As another proverb says: “a jade bears water, a horse ploughs, a steed is under a saddle”. “No one has even made a dent in their work” in the location, where there were not any steeds and they couldn’t be there: outside the areal of its natural spreading and human taming. The Turkmens have happened to be on this land at proper time and in proper place. Quite obvi-ously, a horse had been already waiting for them there, being fostered by a peculiar climate and nature of this blessed land. As for people, they took a hand and soul – and a steed had come into being of a horse.

As we have already known, and the foal from Margush “witnesses” thereof: a pure-strain steed, being buried with royal, indeed, honours, was a pride of this land already five thousand years ago. Then, the history should be “twirled” back to those testimonies of the past, accessible for us, that resurrect much older cultures, flourishing in the homeland of the Akhalteke.

And Akhal is the homeland, which narrow fecund strip stretches along the Kopet-dagh spurs. Valleys protected from the cold winter winds, grasses of mountainous meadows unfading in summer, watering in springs and rivulets everywhere - the aforesaid is an integral part of the landscape of Kesearkach (the former name of Akhal).

From time immemorial the land of Akhal, rich in pastures and water resources, has become a cradle of the earliest in Central Asia culture of ancient agriculturists. This culture aged, at the minimum, 8 thousand years. Its traces can be observed there in all parts: in the desert and at foothills, along the beds of dried out rivers and in caves. Traces of human activ-ity have preserved in the form of implements, utensils and real works of art made of stone and bone, ceramics and metal, including bronze, silver and gold. The architecture - from clay huts, sanctuaries and unassailable fortresses to luxuriant palaces and temples, reminds of the distant ancestors of the Turkmens. Certainly, few things that local towns were renowned for in old days have escaped destruction till nowadays. But long before large human settle-

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ments emerged, centres of primeval economy had been formed there, after their study ar-chaeologists arrived at a conclusion that the present Akhal served as a north-eastern frontier of the formerly fore-Asian world that stretched therefrom to the Mediterranean littorals.

Jeitun - very likely, it is the first link in the interminable chain of settlements re-placing each other. Today it is a scarcely noticeable mound on the very brink of sands, 28 kilometres north-westward of Ashkhabad city. And at the turn of the VII-VI millennia B.C., one of numerous settlements of early agriculturists and cattle-breeders located there. But it was Jeitun that, owing to its being thoroughly investigated in the XX century, had happened to be the standard monument of its epoch and soundly introduced a notion of a “Jeitun culture” into the science. Still in those days people learned to cultivate wheat, reared goats and sheep, and dogs were turned into loyal companions in chase and guarded livestock and dwellings. The climate was much milder then, and the lowland strip was considerably broader. Gradu-ally the picture had changed, desertification processes started in the north and life expanses had been displacing towards the Kopetdagh.

Anau is the next link in the chain. Not far from the modern village, an administra-tive centre of the Akhal velayat today, two mounds aged 7 thousand years have preserved. The American expedition, headed by Raphael Pampelli, commenced excavations there in 1904 and discovered gramineous residues of the famous white wheat ak bugdai - the first evidence of the selection gift of the ancient Turkmens.

The Anau culture existed in the V - early III millennia B.C. It was mostly higher in principle level of the society development. Numerous clay vessels with an ornamental paint-ing, beads made of various stones, including turquoise and cornelian, verified the appear-ance of the applied art. At last, it was in Anau where in 2000 the archaeologists had man-aged to disclose a stone seal, the object of archaeologists’ cheerful agitation, as notches thereon so resembled characters!

Though, finds of peculiar interest to us were available as well. More than twenty five years ago a terracotta model of a horse head with a thoroughly trimmed mane was disclosed in Altyn-depe settlement. A proud bearing of a lean, carefully fashioned head of

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the horse with pricked up ears cogently proves its elite rather than household type. And earlier, in the course of archaeological excavations carried out immediately after the World War II researchers discovered terracotta models of light, uniaxial chariots on the surface of Namazga-depe site of ancient settlement close to Kaakhka, hardly bulls or camels were harnessed in them (in this case biaxial four-wheeled carriages were used). Both finds dated to the V millennium B.C.

Thousands of years later that land was called Parthia, and its famous steeds – the Parthian. Light iron chariots would turn into a menace of Parthia, where tactics of a chariot battle would have been developed to an unprecedented perfection...

So, a steed-warrior, a steed-knight, a steed-winner... But where are their forefa-thers, where have their tracks lost this time?

As some scientists suppose, no grounds are available to doubt that wild species of horses in Central Asian areas should differ from the steppe ones. Uneasy life, full of sud-denness, elapsing in the warm climate and auspicious fodder conditions, stimulated the evo-lution of those horses towards an exclusive swift-gait and mobility, acute organs of sense, higher excitation and, hence, high perfection of the nervous system.

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Subsequently, these valuable traits were maintained and developed by a human. According to this theory, the progress in the horses’ improvement was considerably pro-moted by their feeding with grain rather than solely with alfalfa and hay, but it was possible owing to the development of agriculture in those areas.

So, everything tallies. There were the people, and the fodder, and the climate, and the landscape – everything required to tame a wild horse. But, as we have already known, its evolution has been lasting for five million years. And we have a period of 3-4 thousand years – from Jeitun to Margush. Presuming it to be the final stage of our horse evolution, then it was within this period when a high organization of its nervous system had been formed. However, the science asserts that only latent traits display themselves under the landscape influence on the organism, no new genes are formed. Under this theory,

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natural selection and the landscape just distribute species on the earth surface, not creat-ing them.

The Akhal oasis of plenty was one of the earth’s spots where, according to the “nature’s distribution”, an ancient Turkmen horse found itself. And the potentialities it con-cealed were revealed by the ancient Turkmen people that had inculcated in it those qualities, which made that horse a steed, and not merely a steed but the Akhalteke.

The whole subsequent millennial selection of the Akhalteke is an obligatory inter-breeding of eminent lines inside one race without any deviations. Year by year, century by century, millennium by millennium! In the solidity of the blood, its capability to be reproduced in the millennial selection and gain victory in any interbreeding is the main virtue of this race, ensuring it almost a physical immortality on the earth.

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In harmony with nature

“The best steed is a swiftly running steed”Turkmen proverb

the awareness of the hoary antiquity whereto roots of the nation traced back suggests an idea: but who taught the Turkmens themselves the keen compre-hension of nature, and to respond with the wealth of their souls to its riches, forming an organic, phenomenal indeed confluence of a human and the sur-rounding world?

The Turkmens are breeders by nature, as their selection skills have emanated from it, deriving inspiration, intellect, and expediency therein. Possessing intuition and ef-ficiency, endowed by God and their lavish land, these children of nature have grown into its academicians, having mastered the principle of evolution as an expedient rather than casual selection effected in the interiors of the nature itself. Certainly, they were unaware either of the concept of “evolution”, or especially “heredity”, not to mention “genotype” in those days. Only today we become familiar that any living organism is a sustainable sys-tem, wherein the tendency to alteration is restrained within certain limits of heredity. The new appears through the selection of the breeders, capable to reveal the required trait.

By the way, one of arguments in favour of the ancient origin of the Akhalteke indicates not only the fact of constancy of its type exactly in this point of the planet, but a rare quality of radical and quick ennobling of the type of other breeds, the quality so charac-teristic of the present-day Akhalteke, as we know. So, historical records say that medieval China had improved its horse-breeding through usage of rare mares and stallions – sires and studs of the divine breed, as ameliorators of local breeds. For a long time numerous troops of Chinghizkhan and his descendants failed to profit by their numeric advantage until horses produced by intermixture with the Turkmen horses appeared in the Mongolian troops.

Today, it has been substantiated that all outstanding species of saddle-horses, including Arab and English, have descended from the Akhalteke. At one time this subject was heavily argued, in particular, someone opined that a racehorse was created by English livestock specialists themselves. Yes, they have created new specimens, but from such a splendid material at hand as the Akhalteke. To tell the truth, for a long time an opinion ex-isted that precisely the Arab horse had been such a material, moreover, the Akhalteke itself was deemed to originate from it. Subsequently, such opinion was debunked by scientists-ippologists, who rejected the very presumption that a tall, bony, crooked-nose Tekke could originate out of a small, solid, roundish Arab with a small head.

Not a man but the nature produces new species, and their ennobling is the hu-man’s concern. At least, the science states the aforesaid. The ancient Turkmen horse was that very donation of the nature, which was perceived by the Turkmens as its finished material adapted to the environment. Hence, light-golden coat, and sound combination of long lines - thin legs, a long neck, an oblong body, and easy breath - signs of strength and

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energy, and graceful free movements, facilitating horse’s sliding along sandy soils - easily altering gaits while running.

“The best steed is a swiftly running steed”, this folk proverb is an illustration of not so much the steed’s role as the human’s part in its training, i.e. in modern phraseology, the ippological grounds of its training. The speed is an indispensable target to be attained in the modern training as well. Thereat, in most opinions the speed and endurance are two different factors: fast steed is not always of great endurance and vice versa.

The Turkmens - innate ippologists – have never considered it right. A fast steed couldn’t but be of great endurance; otherwise it wouldn’t have become a herald and express messenger of civilization from Mesopotamia to China.

“If even you have ridden on its back throughout the world, it would not have got fatigued either”, a Turkmen destan says. Another folk saying states, “Pedigree steeds have a feature, the longer they gallop the stronger they are.”

Mittanian Kikkuli who served as a senior groom (one of the highest positions at the court of Hittite kings) based mainly on a speed factor in his training practice. And he borrowed it from the places, where it had been already formed, where strictly speaking the training itself had been elaborated, thereat long before kingdoms of Mittani and Hittite emerged. It was actually a system of techniques, consolidating the rapidity of gaits altera-tion - from pace and trot to the gallop, being the basic condition of horses’ speed and endur-ance during multi-kilometre passages. Historical documents attested that still five centuries ago a harnessed horse was able to cover 150 kilometres in a daytime passage to the Hittite kingdom - a record index for today.

Then, still in the extreme antiquity such system had been perfected for a training cycle lasting several days, being alternated by loads and relaxation, intensive feeding and starvation, “perspiration” and “drying” of horses that as a result of such training attained not only the required physical form, but developed the innate speed and stamina within limits set by a human. And as regards limits, they were high - the steed was prepared for military campaigns, lasting for several days, and had to be able: to bear untiringly a horseman and heavy harness, to manage without fodder and drinking for days and nights, to fight on an equal footing with a man, to manouevre on the battle-field with the incredible, appalling quickness and to escape from the enemy at the fuller speed.

“Until a connoisseur gets down to business, an ambler will never come of a horse,” one more Turkmen saying states. By the way, an amble is an innate though unnatural gait of a horse, it should be specially fixed: it is faster than a trot, but more convenient for a rider first of all. Thereat, the horse puts forward either two left legs or two right legs, whereas in trot – the left foreleg and the right hind leg and vice versa.

When studying the description of Kikkuli’s training, the scientist resorted to the fact that steeds were standing still, pacing or galloping in ancient images. It means that horses were ambling, now slackening, now quickening paces. Such inborn ability to alter-nate paces while running was taken into consideration by ancient seises-trainers, and long-term trainings expressed themselves in an exclusive quickness of gaits’ alteration. These trainings, aimed at fostering horse’s endurance, developed the innate speed in it, the two inseparable traits.

Beyond doubt, such training was mostly stipulated by virtues of the Turkmen steed itself, possessing a gentle and resilient pace. Ippologists stress that if another thoroughbred

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saddle-horse runs raising legs high and swinging its body, the Akhalteke, irrespective of its rather steep pasterns, runs easily, as if sliding on the earth, and its body doesn’t swing. It lowly takes out the leg from the wrist joint. With a sliding movement it leans on the soil and resiliently pushes off. You see, for millennia the Akhalteke has been reared in the desert on the sandy soil what inevitably affects the nature of its gaits. Ancient Turkmen seises had not merely disclosed horse’s capacities but fitted a key to its well-behaved soul, responding to the human’s will.

Authentic information concerning the way of round of Akhaltekes, conducted later by the Turkmen seises, was obtained in the course of special expeditions of the Russian scientists-horse-breeders to Turkmenistan in the twenties-thirties of the XX century. In gen-eral, such training was characterized as follows:

…The Turkmens weaned the foals from dams not earlier than they were five-six months. However, quite often a foal remained in the daikhan’s homestead and followed

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its mother till it was one. It was accustomed to halter before the weaning, after that it was driven by a bridle-rein. Perhaps, a horse, grown up nearby a human’s dwelling and be-ing fed from his hands, was more easily trained from the very first days. When a foal got accustomed to bits and a bridle-rein, a small pack of two sheaves of alfalfa were put on its back, thereby inuring it to a sense of burden on the back. Afterwards a boy mounted a horse under one and the preparation to the autumn races of one and a half years old foals commenced.

The preparation consisted of three periods and lasted for five-six months. The first 2-2,5 months the horse was put on a leash and fattened up by giving it daily 6 kilo-grammes of barley and alfalfa in plenty. If it poorly put on weight, then a mixture of melted suet, eggs and flat cakes was added to the barley.

3-3,5 months before an “endurance” was started: i.e. yearlings were withered a little while pacing under a koshma and covering a 15-20-kilometre distance per day (in four intervals).

Then they went over to a more serious operation: up to five ridings at a pace were made per day, by the end of the month - fast gallop daily at a distance up to 1500 metres, gradually making it longer.

Five days before the races three ridings at a pace and in trot were made daily. On the race day a fast running till heavy perspiration (sweat should pour on the soil) in the morning. After perspiration the foal was fed with green alfalfa and handled to the races, where prior the contest the horse was led and fed a brig of alfalfa one by one, and just before the start - a handful of barley.

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The horse was deemed to be ready for contests if its ribs and back-bones were clearly protruded, and its hair on the crupper remained dishevelled after stroking. After the races, horses had been driving for a long time.

There existed another training system as well, when on the contrary less fodder was given in the first period to make the horse thin, and as the race season approached they were fattened by dint of adding corn meal and fat of sheep’s tail to barley; seises be-lieved the aforesaid developed an unusual strength in racehorses...

A long swan-like neck of the Akhaltekes the Turkmens have been developing from of old, making them reach out for the fodder, placed in a hollow specially dug in the earth. Since infancy foals, burdened with a cargo, had been trained the fast run. Being combined with a scanty fodder, such training formed a thorax, squeezed on both sides with a deep but flat rib. Such shape of the chest enhanced fighting capabilities of a steed, as it succoured to oust the enemy, to strike him by a vigorous blow from the front. A blow from the rear was struck by hooves, which great Italian traveller Marco Polo amazingly described to be “so firm that they need no forging”. A natural defensive caper of a horse (in scientific language “capriole”), when prior its culmination a horse kicks by hind legs, the Turkmens have also adapted to serve military goals and taught a steed to kick by its powerful hooves only on the battle-field. It is well-known that the Akhalteke will never kick or hurt an infant, not to mention a human, fostering it days and nights.

Since ancient times the Turkmens, skillful hunters, had trained their steeds for hunting as well. Horse battue allowed replenishing food reserves of the whole tribe or army prior a military campaign. Thereat, not a single animal was killed in excess.

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In the battue hunting a famous Turkmen greyhound (tazy) was used that was trained to sit on the horse crupper behind the owner. The Turkmens observed clear-cut pedigree lines of the tazy and were aware of peculiar secrets that maintained the greyhound in a perfect form for hunting. In autumn, on the hunting eve, they were dressed in small horse-clothes of felt fabric or koshma that were took off just before the chasing.

Hunting birds were especially popular. Their taming and training required much skill. Professional falconers were managed to prepare a wild bird for hunting within 10-15 days after its catch. Three types of birds of prey were mainly tamed: a golden eagle, a falcon and a hawk. During the first days special small caps were put on the birds’ heads or their eyelids were carefully sewed together with a horse hair. When a hunting bird was used to respond calmly on the owner’s voice or his touch, to sit firmly on his hand, and to be not afraid of the surrounding noises, the thread was cut to release the eyelids. A well-trained bird of prey was an essential helper for the hunting horseman and was highly appreciated throughout Asia.

The Turkmens are congenital breeders as, for centuries dealing with systematic refinement of their horses’ species, they have been interbreeding only the necessary, extracting only useful things from the increase. In the process of sound selection three specimens of horses, being generated in abundance by the landscape of the Turkmen land, were transformed in a steed of “blue blood”, adapted to needs of those who intended to develop the life expanses thor-oughly and capably. In those distant times a war-horse was in great demand - the Turkmens “moulded” it, but not just moulded but inhaled a soul in it, having completed a harmony of the natural landscape of their homeland.

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Steed is everything for the Turkmens

“I shan’t call you a steed, I shall call you a brother, you are closer than a brother to me”

From “Oguznama” epic

A few people can be found on the Earth whose ancient history is materialized in the cultural monuments that have reached the present in their primordial beauty and imperishable significance. Every thing that hands of the skilful nation had touched has been permanently registered in the global civilization for the greatness of conception, perfection of implementation and practical

reproduction in centuries. You see, till nowadays the best horse between heaven and earth is the Akhalteke, the best carpet in the world is the Turkmen carpet, Saraja sheep and sheep-dog “alabai” are unsurpassed sui generis, as well as vaharman melon, and the na-tional garments of the Turkmen women, and silver jewelry, having become the embodiment of musical and poetical spirit of our nation. So the main monument to the nation is the nation itself, which has preserved its primordial essence of a nation-creator during five thousand years of its history, irrespective of incredible leaps and zigzags of this very history. And now a proud side-view of the Akhalteke afresh arises as a symbol of history of the nation itself, which primary name was concealed under the names of territories, epochs, civilizations, where the Turkmens found themselves and where they were and had remained loyal to their God and themselves.

Such long-term historical migration that had absorbed an external, nominal belonging of the nation at some stages could never undermine its foundation. And nevertheless what ethnic group, state, territory absorbed or enslaved this nation in various periods of history, it had invariably maintained the core of the nation, which sooner or later made itself known by a powerful state formation. Ruhnama says, “The achievements of the Oguzs between the 1st and the 13th centuries cannot be denied. It is an undeniable truth that the Parfiya State, the Gaznalys, the Seljuks, and the Ko-neurgencs affected the historical and political development of the world and reached a high level of accomplishment in the cultural and economic realms.”

Having moved on vast expanses of the world, the Turkmens couldn’t be a nation small in numbers and vigour, otherwise no vivid evidence of their unique and flourishing culture would have emerged on every crossroads of the world culture, namely, a warhorse facilitating the victory in the conquering campaigns of the mankind. The Turkmen cavalry was reputed to be the best in the world throughout all periods of the Turkmen history, and Turkmen steeds brought fame to all Turkmen states and rulers. The Turkmens’ military scholarship, being improved from century to century, gave birth not only to great com-manders but to the unknown heroes, the heroes that were described in ancient chronicles as “they are raging like storm and lightning, and know no retreating battle formation”.

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Principal tactics of the horse battle was in such “no retreating”, which the Turkmens used both in ancient times and later on, especially when they invented a rigid saddle and stirrups. The Huns, Parthians and Seljuks had a perfect command of loose order, skillfully (after utterly wearing down of the enemy) decoyed him into an ambush and, having instantly broken their elements, vacated a space for the heavy cavalry. “A steed – that is a super-weapon of the nomads, which has laid down whole countries to their feet”, later historians asserted when keeping in mind the heroic Seljuk epoch.

And how many true stories about a “human” behaviour of a steed people’s memory keeps, thus resurrecting unforgettable pages of the liberation struggle of the Turkmens. Lots of glorious victories they have gained and often found themselves in the utmost dramatic situations, defending honour and freedom of their land in unequal fights. There was an episode in the Merv war (1860-1861) when sixty-thousand-strong enemy cavalry could do nothing against fifty Turkmen horsemen.

At the end of XIX century, the Turkmens gave the last in their history battle for their soil and freedom. Fortitude and heroism they revealed therein stunned foes themselves, and the Geok-Tepe fortress, being heroically defended for forty days and surrendered only under the onrush of tsar’s guns, went down to the history of the Turkmens’ war of liberation as an unfading page of the people’s valour and fame. One

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of eyewitnesses of that battle wrote with amazement, “... the Akhalteke stallion, taking away three Turkmens (!) from the Cossacks’ pursuit, wearing two rather heavy cloths and being wounded with a sabre, took away its horsemen to Merv (distance about 500 versts)”.

A horseman’s centuries-old training has never betrayed a Turkmen - neither in days of victory nor in days of defeat, neither on the own land nor on the foreign soil, whereto he was called for help, for aid, or where he found himself owing to circum-stances beyond his control. It occurred like this when the Turkmen cavalry was sent to the World War I. Its good name resounded throughout the front and was registered in lots of military chronicles of those days. Hereinafter we quote just an extract there-from, “... In colossal papakhas and robes, well-proportioned, dark-complexioned on slim, nervous and withered horses, they create a furore everywhere. They are keeping an uneven formation, acts as friends, as comrades-in-arms, possessing equal rights, equal strength, acknowledging only their own preceptorial horse and sabre techniques. While mounting the steeds, with wonderful movements they take flaps of their robes underneath and sharp clamours of the headmost announce about setting out. They re-pudiate a trot - only a gallop and a full gallop or a fine pitch, even, during which they sit on horses as if rooted to their backs - evenly, slimly, marvellously, making everybody admire them. Having sized the foe up, these wonderful horsemen have so impetuously and furiously charged the infantry as only these true warriors-poets are capable... Troops, watching the dashing charge of Teke horsemen, shouted “Hurrah!” in delight and couldn’t tear themselves away from this brilliant, fascinating battle scene. The enemy army was utterly smashed - it was undoubted. The Tekke, having contributed much thereto, were made a fuss. But the horsemen kept modest silence, as usual, and only in the evening, in low voices they shared with each other, recollecting some episodes of the fight, and showing how their faithful friends-steeds flew with them...”

An intricate military training of the Turkmen steed included many things: when a horseman fell down it stopped nearby the owner and let nobody approach him, he continued dragging a horseman at the moment when the warrior initiated the death, lay down next to the wounded and helped him to back, took its owner away from the battle field, performed all sorts of manoeuvres - feint retreat, encirclement of enemies, etc. Historians pay attention, inter alia, to a wonderful succession of the military art of nations inhabiting Turkmenistan in different epochs.

And still wars, waged on the earth, wherein a steed was the most threaten-ing weapon, were probably the secondary characteristic of the history. The first one was a human factor, as they say today, that had predetermined the world’s movement towards the development and progress. And the steed, being affectionately cherished by a human, had played the most outstanding part therein.

The Turkmens came in the world not to fight; they came to render it habitable - with a soundness dictated by the territory of their living and the depth of their spirit. And Ruhnama narrates thereof, stratum by stratum disclosing the deepest deposits of spirituality of the nation, which culture has found to be kneaded on this very spiritual-ity, that has imparted it unprecedented phenomenal long-standing. The steed, as a part of such culture and perhaps its founder, has grown into the vivid evidence of the aforementioned longevity, and such soundness.

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Someone of the ancients noticed: they were on the horseback longer than on the land surface. And the following testimony was left by the Parthians’ contemporary, “At any time they are on horseback: during the war, being guests, when solving state and private issues, when travelling, meeting, trading, deliberating”. “Every son of Al-lah is on horseback from childhood”, Russian travellers marvelled already in the XIX century.

A steed is the core of the Turkmens’ existence. It was a central figure in all folk festivities: wedding, son birth, circumcision (sunnet). The races were arranged (at chapyshygy), horse games were organized, such as “ovlan chapdy” (goat-tearing). All significant holidays and events were started by the races at a distance 250 to 1000 metres. One ought to watch the today’s horse races - both wind-like skimming steeds blended in entity with horsemen and eyes of spectators on stands – both young and old. They embrace everything capable to be expressed by human eyes at the moments of the utmost delight…

A steed is the core of the Turkmens’ existence. Always, throughout centuries. It is an object of thousands of proverbs and sayings; it is a hero of the whole verbal folklore. The name of the mythological steed Duldul, like Ghyrat - a hero of Gorogly epic, which flies over mountains and rivers rescuing its owners, preserves in minds of the Turkmens as an everlasting sacred symbol of the life power. Duldul’s “feeding-troughs”, “stakes”, “hoof prints” have in abundance remained intact in very different corners of Turkmenistan. The villagers of Baghir (a village in outskirts of Ashkhabad city) keep as the apple of their eye a stone with hoof prints of Duldul. Passing round it seven times with sick foals in hands is considered healing them of ailments.

As connoisseurs assert, the Akhalteke, which was fed from hands, enfolded in love and care of the entire Turkmen family, was in a continual close contact with a human, becoming humanized thereat. And a steed has always come to the rescue, manifesting not only its centuries-old abilities of a fast, resembling the wind racer but a peculiar nobleness of its nature that, brought together, was the essence of the Akhalteke as a rare holder of the “blue blood” amongst the like. A highly developed nervous system with extremely keen sense organs, an ardent, but controlled tempera-ment, subtle intellect and a devoted heart were hidden under a luxurious exterior.

Every Turkmen had a steed in the homestead, and when foals were born the news was widespread all over the environs as if a child was born. Only names rather than nicknames were given to steeds. Accordingly, posterity was called as children – a son, a daughter, a grandson, a great grandson... “In the morning visit your father, afterwards – your steed”, an ancient Turkmen proverb says.

Skillful jewellers, the Turkmens always adorned their steeds, manufacturing special outfit of silver bridles - “alagayysh” for them. Such was the custom still in an-tiquity when warhorses were put in a hauberk, consisting of hundreds of finest silver plates-scales. The harness was manufactured by zergers from Merv, where from time immemorial jewellers’ art thrived. Therefrom clothes’ sets for the “Amazons” were out-put, and henceforward, female adornments still valuable today.

And the following testimony was left by famous Hungarian traveller A. Vam-beri who visited Turkmenistan at the beginning of the XIX century, “Indisputably, the horse is the main instrument of the Turkmens, therefore a son of the desert loves it

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stronger than his wife, his children, himself. It is interesting to watch how solicitously he tends the horse, how he dresses it to protect against frost or sultriness, what luxuri-ous appointments decorate his saddle, when riding an adorned steed in rags he looks rather queer. But the Turkmen horses are really magnificent and worthy of such caring: every word about their quickness and endurance is not in the least exaggerated”.

When adapting to historical circumstances, the Turkmens led both nomadic and settled mode of life, promoted powerful states and receded to the uninhabited desert, conquered countries and were deprived of sway, however the aforesaid failed to shake their inner life routine, obeyed to stable laws of their spirit. True apprentices of their nature they have learnt the essentials: maximum adaptation to the conditions, wherein they had to live, and survive, and enjoy the life. Neither indigence nor wealth, neither heyday nor decline, neither years nor centuries has altered the main thing in this lifestyle - their attitude to the life as such, to those natural primary sources that have merged in a solid alloy of labour, inspiration and vital necessity. A Turkmen has united the aforesaid with a brilliant simplicity and ingenuous wisdom. A son of the des-ert, he created a universal world model for himself, equally capable to be and remain of full value, disregarding the socium forms - from a powerful state to a scattered nomad encampment, from the royal palace to the shepherd’s tent. On this very land the wealth as such couldn’t play the part it usually played in other geographical latitudes where life weal was more accessible, but spiritual - cheaper.

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A steed was the basic wealth criterion for a Turkmen, properly speaking, the steed laid the foundation for the life universality, when material and spiritual aspects blended in an indissoluble unity.

Perhaps, the first carpet, woven by a Turkmen woman, came into being thanks to the steed. For the woollen horse-cloth that covered the steed performed a training function in addition to a protective one – to maintain a withered and elegant shape. To make the steed perspire, a thick pure-wool mantle was required, - hence the manufacturing of fine-fleeced wool of Saraja sheep began - one more ancient selection product of the Turkmen land. Most likely, precisely in those days an eminent Turkmen carpet emerged that side by side with the steed preordained the people’s way of life for centuries. These two creatures of nature and human hands, equally useful and won-derful, also predetermined the world outlook and behaviour, and habits, and a physical form of a Turkmen-horseman and his faithful concomitant - a wife - “the Amazon”. In a minute such family was able to forsake the place and a swift-footed racer took them away from a danger to a place, where they just laid a carpet to continue the life...

No woman in the world takes a seat on the carpet and rises from it as gracefully as the Turkmen woman does till nowadays. Formerly, with the same easiness and graceful-ness she could saddle a steed, vigorously and skillfully wove a horsecloth-saddlecloth for it and adorned the latter with an unusually beautiful pattern and elegant tassels - an indis-pensable attribute of such horse attire. The carpet from the Pazyryk burial mound of Altai was decorated with the portrayal of such exactly saddlecloth with tassels!

Having sharpened and perfected natural traits of their racer and made it a family member and warrior-brother-in-arms, possessing equal rights, the Turkmens have acquired that unifying link the nation so needs in its formerly fragmented social and ancestral structure. Worshipping a steed with all might of their spiritual mould, perceiving it as a remedy for rehabilitation of a single lifestyle, owing to the “divine argamak”, they have developed such steadfast properties of their own as a fortitude, intrepidity and patriotism that covered their history with glory of the magnanimous, proud and invincible nation.

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A patch of tufted wool carpet from the fifth Pazyryk burial mound (the Mountainous Altai)

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The best from the best

“A camel has a big foot, a steed - glory”.Turkmen proverb

A lmost one hundred years will have to elapse until the Turkmens acquire their freedom and independence. A steed-warrior will become a history. But throughout these years much ordeals will fall both to the nation’s lot and the steed. Two World Wars, including the civil one, mass and unceasing export of Akhaltekes outside Turkmenistan, which hasn’t virtually been terminated

for a century, a blow that collectivization struck to the very heart of the folk selection – the aforesaid taken one with another has inflicted a damage comparable with nothing to the aboriginal horse-breeding of the Turkmens. In any event, in the early 80’s of the XX cen-tury scientists-ippologists wrote with great concern that a complete blood analysis of all Akhalteke sires ascertained that the number of thoroughbred racers didn’t exceed several tens. Several tens of the “divine argamaks”, keeping inward a genetic fund of all cultural horse breeds of the world! Nobody knows what the tragedy would turn out like if not the Turkmens’ affection to a steed!

Formerly the Turkmens had no written genealogy of their steeds, but they knew their male line origin and conveyed such knowledge from generation to genera-tion. The first pedigree book of the thoroughbred Akhalteke was issued in 1898, and the Turkmen horse-breeders rendered assistance in its compilation. It was the expedi-tion for the best from the better, being dictated by a profound people’s love. Steeds had been sought in daikhan homesteads, nomad encampments in the desert were attended, and occasionally inhabitants themselves brought steeds and reconstructed the genealogy of their favourites in details. The best from the best was Boinou - a steed that the people’s careful selection memory made the forefather of the modern lines of the horses. Boinou, born in 1885, was a son of Lelyaning Chepi, a grandson of Kar-amne, a great grandson of Kutly Sapar, it was a legendary steed that had never been the second in the races and left a great and fast posterity. Only an outstanding stallion could be a head of the whole clan, amounting to hundreds of children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Dams’ fate is quite opposite: they have scarcely succeeded to leave more than 10-12 foals. Therefore from time immemorial all lines are named after the line of the eminent stallions.

Boinou’s progenies have become the forefathers of five independent lines: sons Melekush and Melechek, grandsons Baba-Ahun and Dovlan-Iman, as well as great grand-son Bek-Nazar-Al that have laid the foundation for a considerable breed branching.

In 1927, the Commission of the People’s Land Management Commissariat car-ried out the first zootechnical examination of steeds under guidance of famous zootechni-cian K. Gorelov. He had rendered great services in the analysis of known genealogies and revelation of a genealogical structure of the breed. Further researches and elabora-tions assisted in the publication of the first State Pedigree book of Central Asian horse

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breeds in 1941. The book accumulated information about 287 stallions and 468 mares of the Akhalteke origin.

At present the structural type of the Akhalteke breed is represented by seventeen lines, being originated from the renowned stallions. Their names are as follows:

Aksakal ScackEverdy-TelekeKir-SackarDor-BairamPosman SerePerenYelGaplanFackir-PalvanSluchaiGarlavachArabSapar-KhanMelekushGelishikli

In the State Pedigree book they are registered under their own roll numbers as other sires and dams, so, one or another line is expressed by an intricate order of numerals, reproducing the whole genealogy of a racer.

The Akhalteke breed was notable for many racehorses, which names were not merely registered in the elite genealogy, but were forever commemorated in the people’s memory. Melekush line is one of the legendary lines. It is the most widespread and favourite name for the Akhalteke that has become almost a common name. Its origin is associated with a famous legend.

... Once during the contest one racehorse was without a rival. Old men deliber-ated and arrived at a decision to choose a falcon as the steed’s rival. The news about an unusual contest was spread all over Akhal; thousands of people came to have a look. So, the falcon’s owner came forward, and raised up the bait - a piece of fresh meat. The bay horse and the bird were released to the distance simultaneously. Like an arrow the steed darted past the amazed spectators and a second later the falcon sank on the owner’s hand. They say, since that time the Akhaltekes have been given birds’ names: Melekush (dun bird), Garlavach (swallow), Garagush (eagle), Lachyn (falcon), Durna (crane), Burgut (golden eagle). The Akhaltekes named Melekush have constituted a dynasty of racers with clearly pronounced golden-dun tints.

…Once Melekush was sent to the International Leipzig fair as the most striking representative of the breed. The public tightly encircled the steed, which golden gleams from the straight hair seemed incredible. The steed shone with true gold. And people didn’t believe and decided that the racehorse was dyed. Then Melekush was washed in the pres-

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ence of the audience. Melekush took a shower with great pleasure, shook itself, having raised a cloud of splashes, and remained, as it had been, golden-dun, only its well-pro-portioned and mighty body began twinkling with gold much brighter. Those present at the exhibition were astonished, everybody actually fell in love with the Turkmen racehorse and hadn’t broken up for long, admiring the unprecedented haughty points and gracefulness of the Akhalteke.

The same Melekush caused not less, if not the higher sensation at the Interna-tional exhibition in Delhi. The Indians, subtle connoisseurs of the steeds’ beauty, went into indescribable raptures at the stallion and fascinatingly looked at it, like at the divine being. On the final exhibition day they decorated the venerable Akhalteke with garlands of flowers, and placed musicians and women-dancers nearby. After that the country’s elders ceremoni-ally requested to leave Melekush in India in memory of the renowned poet and commander Bairam Khan the Turkmen who is revered in India equally with the national heroes. Thus Melekush was left in India.

But not for the world - it was an inviolable law throughout the times - the Turk-mens parted with the elite “blue blood” stud-horses. They were willing to die rather than to waive their age-old patrimonial law. But other times ensued, and the Akhalteke had other masters.

After a successful 1935 Ashkhabad-Moscow horse passage, having not dis-graced the honour of the Turkmen horseman and having lost not a single racer during that

The legendary Boinou. Late XX century photo

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hard days-long passage, already there, in Moscow, they bade farewell to the best of the best, including white-snow Arab. Ten years later marshal Zhukov would inspect the Victory Parade on its back, and that very case justified the parting of the elite racer with the home-land. The Akhalteke Arab, a breed symbol, the messenger of its sunny country, will become a Victory symbol, an envoy of peace! How proud the Turkmens would be with the fact, how they would retell back and forth the wonderful story about Arab, which was awarded such honour, to their grandchildren and great grandchildren.

And that’s the story. The claimant had been selected for a long time. A steed with a sense of rhythm, set by a brass band, was required. In view of the aforesaid ten best race-horses were chosen, and the English horse was preliminary nominated. The rehearsal was dragged out. Everybody was so worn out with the testing that horses were driven into the enclosure. The military orchestra desired to have a rest as well, and changed a march for a waltz. And all of a sudden, having jumped over the enclosure, a white stallion broke loose to the ground. After waiting for a while, as if becoming accustomed to the melody sounds, it began whirling in the waltz measure. Everybody stood still in delight. In the twinkling of an eye the choice was in favour of this wonderful and musical racehorse.

One can hardly imagine how passionately it was loved by those who had tended and cherished, fed and trained it, putting in it their whole soul and life, and ancestors’ mem-ory! What bitterness and heart pain seises felt while parting with their favourites! Who but they who shared their fate with a steed could endure with difficulty that the best, the most thoroughbred racehorses were exported from the native land. But it was owing to them, the Turkmen seises, that the Akhaltekes survived and continued their great genealogy during the most dramatic period for the Turkmen horse-breeding.

... If a Turkmen seis is requested to narrate how Turkmen steeds are trained, he will willingly expound about a steed itself, about uncommon capabilities of the Akhalteke, recollect cases preserved in the people’s memory in the form of legends-monuments to one or another racehorse. Well, as concerns the matter - he will say that a steed needs love, proper fodder, night rides - to permit lungs breathe dew freshness, and to ride on horseback, to ride as long as its mighty body, long muscles, swift legs and free soul require. For any seis a steed is almost a human being. Apart from the centuries-old rules of mainte-nance and training of a steed, a seis, alias a trainer, alias a groom, alias a rider, is invested with the gift to communicate with his nurseling that prompts only him, the seis, whether a steed needs anything or not, how it should be cheered up before the races – either with a kind word or an encouraging glance...

Seises are familiar with hundreds of prescriptions, healing a steed in case of any ailment, but they will never provide with them, like at the drugstore, as a blank prescrip-tion will not work: you should not merely see a steed, you should feel it, take its pain upon yourself. And if even a steed-rival falls ill before races, a seis with a risk to be defeated will without fail lend aid, when he is sure that a sole remedy known only for him can help this very steed. Such is the law of the heart that enjoins to raise a steed higher one’s self, higher one’s own passions and emotions.

This generation of seises-trainers, seises-jockeys has rendered great services continuing their fathers’ work and ascending the new rung of glory, having bred a brilliant pleiad of sporting racers and developed in the Akhaltekes their inborn calling to serve a hu-man selflessly, but in peacetime now.

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Babali Taimazov, the participant of 1935 Ashkhabad-Moscow horse passage, devoted all his life to the Akhaltekes and headed a dynasty of seises-trainers. During the Ashkhabad earthquake he lost all his family and rescued owing to steeds – that awful night he stayed in a stable...

Steeds completely captured his life, he gave himself up to them with all restrained, not showing off passion of a true horseman. Being a true personification of the Turkmen na-ture, he himself highly praised modesty and patience in people, denying any fuss. He said, “My fellow-countrymen are the kind of nation that dislikes showing off their achievements. Both joy and grief they keep in their interiors. Such restraint needs a heart, like steed’s.”

And that is how Babali Taimazov narrated how he accompanied Melekush’s brother – Melekush II to London in 1956, where it was donated to the Queen of England.

“I wore a Turkmen red home-spun robe with a white telpek on my head. The steed, scenting it was the object of attention, began playing. Well, I thought, it wouldn’t let down. The Queen smiled and slightly applauded. I handed over the bridle to the English groom. The latter proved to be a fine fellow. In a trice he mounted the steed. Suddenly, the Queen showed with gestures: she wanted the English to dismount the horse. As if she would like to say, “Dismount from the Turkmen steed, the Turkmen suits more to ride his native racehorse”. The Queen was a sensible woman. At first sight she defined that the Turkmen steed fitted only the Turkmen”.

Many world hippodromes applauded victories of Begmurad Muradov and his Kandikap. But people called Begmurad solely Yemschik - this nickname was stuck to him firmly. It was rumoured that Yemschik liked steeds more violently than his only son. Son Dovlet, when grew up and followed in his father’s footsteps, affirmed the fact bearing no

The Victory parade. 1945

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grudge against his father. “If I managed to accomplish only a hundredth of what my father had done, I should be self-satisfied,” Dovlet used to say. He also narrated how his father died, “One morning he went to see his favourite, then young, stallion Garlavach, he rode on horseback, and in the evening a heart attack occurred”.

However, Yemschik had to experience much during his lifetime, when observing feckless actions of those who caused the breed depreciation. With all his heart he resisted the Akhaltekes’ crossbreeding with any race, even with the English thoroughbred. At one time the aforesaid was a practice. “The races where half-breed steeds participate will never become a tradition, the Turkmens will have reverted to the steeds of their breed”, this ardent man said and was proved to be quite right.

... A steed stall implicated the whole world for Ata Ilev, whose name, unknown during his lifetime, became a legend after his death. Everybody testified him to be a jockey-nugget, a seis by God. When a boy, having only just mounted a horse, he had never dis-mounted it. During his lifetime Ata Ilev was employed as a trainer and a jockey at “Komso-mol” stud-farm. But so far as nothing national had been appreciated in those days, no worth presented the gifted seis-nugget who was knowledgeable of any racehorse and worked wonders with it and on it.

But on the other hand, Dmitry Terentyevich Klimenko highly appreciated and was immensely proud of his disciple. Both Maria Danilovna Cherkezova and he went down to the history of the Turkmen horse-breeding as true patriots of the Turkmen land, selflessly devoted to the Akhaltekes. Legends existed about their love to the Turkmen steeds, and the Akhaltekes reciprocated their feelings. These people, who had found the vocation of their life in Turkmenistan, preserved a tender attitude towards the soil that gave birth to the Akhalteke racehorse till their end. Being strong and resolute persons, these trainers-seises desperately struggled against the system ignorance and undertook much to maintain the breed, not to permit its complete degeneration.

All people we have told about in brief are undoubtedly heroic people, being en-dowed with a peculiar gift to sacrifice every moment of their life serving this noble creature of nature – a Turkmen racehorse. Of course, we can’t name all Turkmen seises whose names are rightfully the objects of pride of the Turkmen horse-breeding. Nowadays, the title “Honoured horse-breeder of Turkmenistan” is conferred on everybody who faithfully, candidly and honestly serves the great and imperishable donation of the Turkmen land - the Akhalteke steed.

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To new sports achievements

“A plane knows who plants it, a racehorse knows who saddles it.”

Turkmen proverb

o ne more glorious name is recorded in the history of Turkmen horse-breeding - Vladimir Petrovich Shamborant - a scion of the old French family, wherein cavalrymen succeeded continually. He saw an Akhalteke (it was famous Melekush) at one of the pre-war agricultural exhibitions and fell in love with it once and for all, consequently he devoted all his life to the Turkmen arga-

mak. For the steed he had moved to Turkmenistan and was employed at Ashkhabad stud-farm. In pursuit of the pedigree steeds Shamborant indefatigably travelled about the desert, and visited remote villages. Owing to the unbelievable flair, he saw valuable traits even in a manifestly unattractive horse and seldom erred - racehorses he had selected brought wonderful offspring afterwards. The founders of the renowned lines Fackir-Palvan and its half-brother Gelishikli, being awarded the title of the champion of the breed - present a selection heritage of Shamborant. Having changed several stud-farms, wherein Akhalteke departments were established due to his titanic efforts, he fought, struggled for them, like a lion, and till the end of his life regretted that he had to leave the homeland of argamaks.

For his lifetime he couldn’t cease but admire the Turkmen horse. “It is the old-est of the old, the most thoroughbred of the thoroughbred,” he said, abruptly repudiating any attempt to make the Akhalteke a universal steed, to recast it “both for water and for voivode”. He was obsessed by an idea to revive an ancient type of the Turkmen warhorse that had almost been lost; he saw in it the congenial capacity for dressage and caper. He was absolutely sure that a brilliant future lay before the Akhalteke and dreamt of some time when it would run on an equal footing with the English saddle-horse - a blood successor of the Turkmen argamak.

The English thoroughbred is thought to excel the Akhalteke in speed. It is not absolutely true. It has become the fastest breed in the world only owing to the Akhalteke blood, having been injected in its veins. How it happened is both a curious and preaching story.

...As is well-known, the Ottoman state that had been holding sway over the one third of the earth for more than 600 years was set up by the Turkmens. Therefrom, from Asia Minor, Akhaltekes were exported in abundance to Europe. That is how, as the “Turk-ish”, they had found themselves in England, wherein from time immemorial the population appreciated and was knowledgeable of horses. Having noticed a salutary influence of the Oriental newcomers on the local breed, the Englishmen caught time by the forelock. Being skillful selectors, they laid the foundation of a new breed out of three outstanding oriental stallions that, by the fate fancy, were quite differently brought to England. Black Barley Turk

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was taken from the Ottomans during a siege of Vienna and brought to England by Captain Barley in 1688. Bay horse Darley Arabian was bought by the English merchant Thomas Darley from Bedouins in 1709. Dark-bay Akhalteke Godolphin got to England from France in 1724. But, nevertheless, it were they - three pedigree racehorses who became the fore-fathers of the male lines of the new English breed, having preordained its entire evolution in strict observance of the blood purity.

For a long time English saddle-horse was deemed to have an Arabian origin. But it was, most likely, a semantic delusion caused by the name of one of the forefathers of the breed - Arabian.

You see, as concerns the aforesaid, the Akhalteke has had no luck in it. Dun stal-lion Turkmen-Atti, which was brought to Germany in the 90’s of the XVIII century and gave birth for the eminent saddle-horse of Trakenen breed, was registered in the pedigree books of Trakenen stud-farm as Arabic. Properly speaking, it was given such name when, being presented to the celebrities, it was recognized by one of the Turkish guests who exclaimed aloud, “Turkmen atti!” (Turkmen horse).

And as regards the Arabic racehorses themselves, then it was taken for granted long ago that the Arabs who also were experts in horses gained them through crossing with the Akhaltekes. But as that process commenced long ago, with an advent of Islam to Middle Asia, then the veritable origin of the “Arab” had vanished in time. You see, even “Gorogly” epic says that the legendary Gyrat originated from the Arabic racehorse. But it is the extra-neous insertion, being introduced into the epic under the impact of the Arabic culture.

However, whatsoever, the Akhalteke was and remained the Akhalteke. “And its skin tenderness is out of the common. Even when quiet all veins are depicted. Even a lay-man will inevitably arrive at a conclusion concerning a great blood of the Akhalteke horse”. In such words one of the Russian travellers conveyed his astonishment and amazement at the end of the XIX century. In Russia Turkmen horses, called argamaks, have been brought in great numbers since the XV century, and owing to them Don, Streletsk, and Orel-Ros-

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topchin breeds were created. And surely, all best breeds of the Near East and Middle East bear their blood: Karabair, Lokai, Naiman breeds in Central Asia, Karabah and Kabardin breeds in the Caucasus, many breeds in Turkey and Iran. In turn, almost all the rest saddle and light-draught breeds have originated from the Arabic and English racehorse, which is also called a thoroughbred saddle-horse. Therefore, the modern Akhalteke breed is a direct successor of the ancient Turkmen thoroughbred horse and according to professor V.Vitta presents, “... last drops of that source of pure blood, which has created the whole horse-breeding of the world”.

At the beginning of the XX century, two thousand and five hundred years later, the mankind will recall the Olympic Games - a great achievement of the ancient Greeks who have opened the world the beauty and entertainment of sporting events. The truth that the novel is the bygone soundly forgotten will be confirmed anew. This truth will be also cor-roborated, when alternating each other for several recent centuries the eminent European school of riding will revert to its initial natural principles of the horse dressage. It will turned out that no artificial training methods, made sterner by a whip and spurs, will arouse horse’s innate capabilities to capering, elegant and graceful movements.

“When music was playing in the East, Europe was dreaming under the ice...”. This wide-spread aphorism will be also proved by horse as an example, to be more exactly a steed, not unknown but quite real one with the name and glory. We mean the Akhalteke Absent, the son of our famous Arab. But it will not just augment its father’s fame but it will increase it tenfold, having gone down to the history of the world equestrianism. For twelve years he will have been holding the first place in three Olympic Games in succession - in Rome (1960), Tokyo (1964) and Mexico (1968). Under the saddle of an outstanding rider Sergey Filatov it will actually win the world and be awarded the title “the horse of the XX century”. Absent will be second to none in dressage, the most exquisite form of the eques-trian contests, and it will be trained to perform with such unsurpassed splendour the pas-sage - the hit in the highest school of riding, that exactly this motion will be commemorated in the monument to it.

In the passage a horse is moving in a rhythmic trot, keeping the measure and observing certain pauses when switching over to the diagonal (i.e. from the right foreleg to the left hind leg – left foreleg - right hind leg and vice versa).

In the manege - the element of triathlon, including field tests and show jumping (surmounting obstacles), a rider demonstrates an alteration of gaits - from a pace to a gal-lop or trot, etc.

The famous Viennese Spanish school of riding requires natural gaits, securing that a horse moves under a rider as if it is alone. When Sergey Filatov competed on the Akhalteke Absent with the strongest riders of the world – representatives of the best riding schools - English, Italian, German, he actually manifested a centuries-old school of training of the Turkmen steed. In his book titled “Rome applauds” he describes the appearance of the Akhalteke racer that at the first sight has subdued him and henceforth the whole world, “A shining black beauty, built with uncommon harmony stood in front of me. A splendid pedigree head with a white star in the forehead. A majestic swan-like neck. Straight legs in white stockings... While working Absent was obedient, like a child, it seemed to be trained quite easily. To tell the truth it was extremely nervous and very punctilious. It had never even crossed my mind to punish it with spurs. Absent responded to such punishment very en-

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ergetically and would bear it in mind for a long time. And have I never punished it severely while working with it.”

By the time, when Absent was winning the Olympic pedestals, the western-Eu-ropean school of dressage gained a foothold in equestrianism that waived artificial move-ments - effective but very difficult for a horse. The approach to the assessment of the sportsmen’s performance had been radically changed. As before, the performance should be beautiful. But then, the beauty was discerned not in the most complicated elements, like a trot or a gallop on three legs, but in horse’s gentle, natural, free movements under a saddle, in its subordination to a human - full and willing.

So, it was no accident that the Akhalteke Absent began twinkling on the world horse horizon, its movements were not simply whetted by the rider, but were polished by the centuries-old culture of the Turkmen horse-breeding - the oldest on the earth school of riding.

Formerly, Turkmen steeds, when hearing the trumpet sounds, could turn around at full tilt and carry horsemen back, it was one of the crafty war tricks. Coming back to the history of the English thoroughbred, let’s draw attention to its preaching aspect, accentu-ated by numerous ippologists. They assert that a striking resemblance between the mod-ern Akhalteke and the English thoroughbred substantiates the fact that Englishmen have reared and improved a steed, created by the Turkmens, but in a narrow hippodrome-prize direction.

Such inference can be rightfully applied to all other saddle-horse breeds of the world, which after being ennobled by the blood of the Turkmen argamak, have been devel-oped within recent centuries in the same direction. The aforesaid was especially typical to Europe, where the civilization had been vanquishing and a horse had been turned not just into its tool, but into its target - the target of pleasure, entertainment, sporting excitement.

As we know, in those days more doleful lot had befallen on the Akhalteke. Side by side with its unfortunate nation it fought for existence and survived, being supported solely by the strength of its blood and a Turkmen’s loyalty. But whatever side of the history of our racehorse is scrutinized, in every its period it was and remained the first, being at the head of all cultural horse-breeding of the world, of the whole world equestrianism. Not only Absent is meant. In the middle of the XX century, Arab set up a world record by sur-mounting an obstacle 2 metres 12 centimetres high, and the world record in the long jump (8 metres 78 centimetres) was established by the Akhalteke Perepel. High achievements were manifested by the Akhaltekes Pekteli, Gheren and Magara in show jumping, and by Propeller - in the triathlon.

In 1935 Ashkhabad-Moscow horse passage thirty horsemen had covered 4300 kilometres during 84 days, thereat, the length of daily passages reached up to120 kilome-tres - a record distance. A good Akhalteke covers a kilometre in average within a minute odd - this result is matchless either.

Jockeys narrate that during the races the most difficult thing is to remain sitting on the horseback at the start, some of them compare the Akhalteke’s start with a catapult in the aircraft.

At the same time riders-sportsmen emphasize that the Akhalteke has spacious productive movements: a resilient pace, a free trot, and a mighty gallop. It is extremely re-sponsive to the means of handling, possesses a congenial capacity to a caper, and boldly

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clears any obstacles. Finally, they say that it is a well-mannered horse with a highly orga-nized nervous system, with a heightened self-respect, and it can be handled only by an intelligent rider that is capable to evaluate the horse’s physical state and mood.

Sportsmen affirm that the Akhalteke is really in its element during endurance - a long-term horse marathon that has been growing into the most popular variety of equestri-anism in the world.

International requirements to the endurance participants prohibit the test of hors-es under six. The Turkmens have a proverb - “true stallion is seven years old”. The soviet period introduced a practice to return a six-year-old stallion to the stud-farm. Such practice hampered a complete test of a horse, made impossible the detecting of the Akhalteke’s congenial instincts to endurance that became apparent when it was older.

And how wonderful is the Akhalteke in a circus show! It brilliantly submits to circus trainings and brings breathtaking tricks of the national equestrian games - fancy riding, pas-sages, equestrian vaulting, and dance motions, in the arena. People’s Artist of Turkmeni-stan Dovlet Hojabayev, brothers Amandurdy and Batyr Annayev have brought fame to the ancient art of horse-riding through the world.

Today Turkmenistan horse-breeding reverts to its sources. It pursues the goal not only to rear typical and thoroughbred horses, but to strive for making a good sporting horse of it. Types and distances of tests have been revised to promote the revelation of the most typical racehorses. New prizes have been instituted in order to conform to the selection issues and facilitate the exposure of the best part of the thoroughbred Akhalteke steeds at

Sergei Filatov astride Absent

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various distances with regard for the marked breed type. Nowadays, this factor is essential when defining the pedigree value of a racehorse. In view of the aforesaid an exhibition-ex-ercising is held twice a year. “Altyn Asyr” exhibition-exercising is organized in spring on the Turkmen Racehorse Day in five nominations. This national holiday instituted at the dawn of independence is annually celebrated on the last Sunday of April. Another exhibition times to coincide with the Day of Independence and is held in thirteen nominations.

Since November 1990, the whole selection and pedigree activity has been man-aged by a State Association “Turkmen atlary”, which ensures a proper state and obser-vance of technologies of the horse nurture in specialized stud farms.

Today, the elite of the Akhalteke breed – 281 racehorses – are reared in the Presidential stable, a stud farm keeping the elite core of thoroughbred Akhalteke steeds. The Presidential stable functions not merely as the accumulator of the best heads, but as a reproducer of the future sires, dam networks, and all breeding lines in the Akhalteke race are represented there. Yanardag, Piyada, Bitaraplyk, Tebigat, Herekdag, Kervenbashi, Karfagen are bred in the Presidential stable. At present they represent a top of the selection work in the breed, for these horses have become successors or forefathers of new lines.

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So, Yanardag, the world breed champion, which portrayal unsurpassable in type and exte-rior was depicted in the State Emblem of the country, represents the line of the illustrious Fackir-Palvan - a tall stately stallion, the winner of numerous races and exhibitions-exercis-ings, born in 1951.

Piyada, holding the title of the model of beauty and gracefulness, belongs to the line of Peren - a stallion with a golden-dun coat, born in 1955. In the Peren line, Polotni is the most renowned; it has left an outstanding posterity, accounting for 76 thoroughbred foals. For such an eminent contribution to the breed development, as well as for the exterior and speed virtues, a monument was erected to Polotni during its lifetime by the entrance to the Ashkhabad hippodrome, where it had been winning races for many years and gave true pleasure to thousands and thousands of admirers of fast, incomparable running of the “divine argamaks”.

Nowadays, after experiencing tens of years of infinite equestrian rounds during its existence, the metropolitan hippodrome is being completely reconstructed. The building of the Ashkhabad circus is also under reconstruction; with its resurgence a famous Turk-men trick riding will be reverted.

Unveiling of Polotli monument

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The pride of the Turkmen horse breeding is a supermodern Akhalteke horse complex, which is situated in the picturesque valley at the Kopetdagh foothill and is named after the first President of Turkmenistan Saparmurat Turkmenbashi who has made an inestimable contribution to the revival of the Turkmen racehorse. Total area of the complex is 56 hect-ares whereon a hippodrome with three racecourses and spectators’ stands for 5 thousand seats and the arena for exhibition-exercising of the best representatives of the breed are located. A jockey-club is in the individual building where perfectly equipped training classes and halls are available. A vast pool was constructed with the automatic water filling-drain. And special ventilation is installed in six spacious stables where more than 300 steeds can be kept at the same time.

The complex is furnished with an immunogenetic laboratory, where a DNA-analysis can be performed under the genomic dactyloscopy method. In a specialized veterinary laboratory all conditions for racehorses’ curing are foreseen, operating and examining rooms, unique X-ray devices and ultrasonography are at their “services”.

Like in all other big international hippodromes the sweepstakes are foreseen there for the most venturesome races’ connoisseurs and a photo-finish is also envisaged there for an unerring recording of the race results. After all, one can simply come and relax there, enjoy the beauty of the Akhal nature - that very oasis of the Turkmen land wherefrom the best in the world racehorses originated.

And again it has returned here, to the bosom of the home nature, having proved the wonderful regularity of the Turkmen history: to resume its normal course, to come back to the sources and springs of the people’s soul. As an integral part of this history, the Akhalteke has revived with its nation, and today they conjointly continue a new revival – a revival to new heights of constructive endeavours and advancement.

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SupeRSTRAIn of THe AkHAlTeke

bReeD

This part illustrates the great na-tional heritage: the superstrain of the

Akhalteke breed – 132 Turkmen race-horses. All of them are fostered in the

President’s stable – the horse-breeding farm of Turkmenistan with the elite kernel

of thoroughbred Akhalteke horses.

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piyada

Golden-dun horse, born in 1990Father: 967 Pudock, bay stallion, born in1973. (914 Polotli— 1539 Caplyya).

Peren’s line.Mother: 2116 Bostan, bay mare, born in 1981 (955 Kemal — 728 Bamy). Ga-

plan’s line. Peren’s line.Piyada’s pedigree is composed of racehorses that were distinguished with beauty

and speed by father and mother’s lines. Its grandparent Polotli has been recognized as a champion among Akhalteke racehorses at the Agricultural exhibition in Moscow. Piyada is a champion among Akhalteke horses in 1993.

Measurements (2000): 159-160-172-19 cm.Breeds value: 9,5-9-9-9-8Class: superstrain (specimen)Piyada has a high starting speed. It covers quickly short distances. When during

the races a competition of Piyada and falcon was arranged in 1994, it left behind the hunting bird and finished the first.

At the age of 2-12 it participated in 32 races on Ashkhabad hippodrome and won prize-winning places 28 times. It was awarded «Beyik Serdaryn Buysanjy» prize 8 times. In 1998, it was recognized as a winner of «Soltanyn Gyuli» show-exercising among Akhalteke horses. In 1999-2000 — a winner of «Altyn Asyr» show-exercising among Akhalteke hors-es.

A stud-horse. More than 30 of its scions inherited remarkable breed’s qualities.

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Yanardag

Golden-dun stallion, born in 1991Farther: 1084 Yalkymly, bay stallion, 1987 (974 Aygytly, dark bay, 1981 — 1879

Yalanchy, bay, 1977). Fackir-Palvan’s line.Mother: 2158 Dobaraly, chestnut mare, 1981 (918 Senagat — 1760 Jakhan).

Scack’s line. Fackir-Palvan’s line. Such famous racehorses as Soltanguly, Everdy-Teleke, and Sluchay form Yanardag’s pedigree.

Measurements (2002): 159-163-173-19,5 sm.Breed’s value: 10-9-10-9 Class: superstrain (specimen)At the age of 2-9 Yanardag took part in 31 races on Ashkhabad hippodrome win-

ning first prize-places 26 times.Speed: 500 m — 0.29,9 sec, 1000 m — l min. 07,5 sec, 2000 m. — 2 min.

19secIt was awarded «Altyn Asyr» prize (2 times), the prize of the State Association

«Turkmen Atlary», «Gelishikli» prize, «Serdaryn buysanjy» prize in important prize-races.Yanardag has a unique golden-dun colour, characteristic for all Akhalteke hors-

es, a magnificent carriage and a graceful gait. Yanardag’s movements are swift and easy. When saddled it easily rushes ahead.

It was recognized to be a champion on show-exercising of Akhalteke horses in Ashkhabad city in 1998, 1999 and 2000.

In 1999, it was recognized to be a breed’s world champion at the World Akhalteke horses exhibition held in Moscow.

Yanardag’s majestic profile lies in the centre of the State emblem of independent neutral Turkmenistan as an embodiment of a classic image of the Akhalteke.

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Light dun shot with gold horse, born in 1990Father: 1082 Edenli, chestnut stallion, born in 1976 (890 Kemerli (Kemkhan)

— 1508 Yyldyrym). Kir-Sackar’s line.Mother: 2148 Gyulistan, dun mare, 1984 (1009 Serdar — 935 Gyulyaydy).

Scack’s line. Kir-Sackar’s line.Erekdag is related to such stallions as Serdar, Spesivy, fast mare Gyulsary and

other magnificent racehorses by mother’s line.Measurements: 162-162-178-19,5 cmBreed’s value: 8-9-8-5-8.Class: superstrain (specimen)In 1992-2000 Erekdag participated in 48 races on Ashkhabad hippodrome and

was awarded prize-winning places 24 times.Speed: 500 m — 30,5 sec, 1000 m — 1 min. 08,2 sec, 1800 m — 2 min. 06,8 sec,

2000 m — 2 min. 20,2 sec.In 1994, it was proclaimed a champion among Akhalteke horses. In 1996, in the

races dedicated to the Day of Independence it was awarded a honorary prize at a distance of 800 m. In 1996, it became a possessor of the Challenge Cup of the National equestrian-ism centre after completing a 120-km run. Erekdag is used as a stud horse and gives a wonderful posterity that has golden-dun color. Its descendants are distinguished with the brightest and most characteristic peculiarities inherent in the Akhalteke breed.

Golden-dun stallion, born in 1990Father: 1014 Telekush-2, bay stallion, born in 1978 (685 Telekush—1546 Gachak-

chy). Melekush’s line.Mother: 1717 Alasar, dun mare, born in 1975 (685 Angar—1546 Carlangach).

Scack’s line. Melekush’s line.Horse’s pedigree originates from illustrious racehorse Melekush, born in 1915,

moreover this pedigree includes such Akhalteke first rate horses as Garlavach, Peren and Erkus.

Measurements (2002): 160-163-179-19,5 cmBreed’s value: 7,8-8-8-8-6Class: superstrain (specimen) In 1994-2003 this stallion took part in 33 race competitions and won 38 prize-win-

ning places.Speed: 1400 m — l min. 34,8 sec, 1600 m — 1 min. 47,0 sec, 2000 m — 2 min.

18,2 sec, 2400 m — 2 min. 48,9 sec.It gained victory many times in important prize races: for Garashsyzlyk prize (first

place), for the prizes of the President of Turkmenistan, «Turkmen Bedevi», «Girish», and «Gelishikli». It was recognized as a champion of the breed on show exercising among Akhalteke horses in 1995. The stallion shows good results in breeding and, as a rule, its posterity is strong and dun in colour.

As this stallion is a unique stud-horse continuing Melekush’s line it is mainly used in the breeding work.

93

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Tebigat

erekdag

94

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Black stallion, born in 1992Father: 989 Garader, black stallion born in 1977 (894 Kerven — 1520 Elsona).

Kir-Sackar’s line.Mother: Garaly-2, black mare born in 1985 (914 Polotli — 1558 Kepele). Peren’s

line. Kir-Sackar’s line.Measurements (1995): 160-163-170-19,5 cm.Breed’s value: 9-9-8-8.Class: superstrain (specimen)At the age of2-7 Kursant-2 participated in the races on Ashkhabad hippodrome.

It was a prizewinner of major events for prizes of «Boynou», «Bolshoi Ashkhabad» (Derby), «Myataji» and «Melekush» where it showed a high racing speed.

Speed: 1000 m — l min. 7 sec, 2000 m — 2 min. 17 sec. A champion among Akhalteke horses in 1998.

Kursant-2’s pedigree includes such renowned fast horses as Keymir, Talant, An-gar, Enish, Polotli, Garaly, and Garader.

Dun stallion, born in 1992Father: 989 Garader, black stallion, born in 1977 (894 Kerven — 1520 Elsona).

Kir-Sackar’s line.Mother: 2334 Kichitay, bay mare, born in 1989 (885 Gammar — 1674 Tayar).

Garlavach’s line. Kir-Sackar’s line.Measurements (1995): 158-159-175-19,5 cm.Breed’s value: 8-8-8-8.Class: superstrain (specimen)

95

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

kursant

Garabek

96

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Bay stallion, born in 1993Father: Gistar-12, bay stallion, born in 1985 (Govkher-4 – Torgai-4), Gelishikli’s

line.Mother: Dyushyumli, dark bay, born in 1985(1014 Telegush – 1057 Dush), Me-

lekush’s line.Measurements: 161-164-178-19,5 (7,5-8,0-7,5).Breed’s value: 41 performances, 5-13-13-3: “Everdy-Teleke” – 2nd place, “Geok-

tepe fortress” - 2nd place, Melekush” – 3rd place, “Seidi” – 1st place, “Absent” - 1st place, President’s prize – 3rd place, “Bolshoi Ashkhabad” (Derby) – 2nd place, the Challenge Cup of State Association “Turkmen atlary” – 2nd place, “Elita” - – 2nd place.

Class: superstrain

Bay stallion, born in 2003Father: Goar -17, dun stallion, 1986 (944 Govkher – 2005 Menaka-15). Gelishi-

kli’s line. Mother: Tamaly, black mare, 1992 (Yelbek – 2477 Tomasha) Kir-Sakar’s line. Measurements: 162-160-172-19.5 (7.5-8.0-7.5). Breed value: 9-3-5.Class: elite 28 times participated in races. The winner of “Achylysh” (3d place, 2006), “Tan-

gryguly Gaty” (2d place, 2006), “Yapylysh” (1st place, 2006) prizes, the champion of 2007 show. In 2008 won the races for “Russkiy argamak” prize (Pyatigorsk city, the Russian Federation).

97

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Gokhan

Gadyr

98

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Bay stallion, born in 1994Father: Gadymy, dun stallion, born in 1988 (945 Gerden — 1855 Sugun). Ga-

plan’s line.Mother: Olympiada, dark bay mare, born in 1988 (1027 Melekush — 1829

Oyunchy). Ak-Beleck’s line. Gaplan’s line.Measurements (1997): 159-160-170-19 cm.Breed’s value: 8,5–8–8–5,5–8.Class: superstrainGerdenli comes from the world-known fast Akhlteke horses Gaplan, Enish, Ker-

ven. It shows high speed in the races on the hippodrome.

Black stallion, born in 1995Father: Keymir 2, black stallion, born in 1987 (894 Kerven — 1520 Elsona). Kir-

Sackar’s line. Mother: 2164 Vagyz, bay mare, born in 1983 (942 Alvan — 1444 Velayat). Everdy-

Teleke’s line. Kir-Sackar’s line.Measurements (2003): 156-156-180-19,5 cm.Breed’s value: 8-8-8-8.Class: superstrainVatan participates successfully in equestrianism.

99

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Gerdenli

Vatan

100

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Black stallion, born in 1995Father: 990 Garaman, black stallion, (895 Kermek— 1689 Fialka). Posman’s

line.Mother: 2296 Etilmez (885 Gammar— 1961 Elzada). Garlavach’s line. Posman’s

line.Pedigree is presented with such celebrated Akhalteke horses as Beck-Nazar-Dor

and Posman.Measurements (1997): 155-156-168-18,5 cmBreed’s value: 8-7,5-8-8Class: superstrain (specimen)In 1997-2002 Garaman took part in 28 races and won prize-places 24 times.Speed: 500 m — 0.31,3 sec, 1000 m — l min. 08,7 sec, 1200 m — l min.20,5 sec,

1600 m — l min.50.6 sec, 1800 m — 2 min. 07,7 sec, 2000 m — 2 min.l9,2 sec.

Bay stallion, born in 1995 Father: Gadyrly, black stallion, born in 1985 (981 Garazat— 1439 Atlas). Gaplan’s

line.Mother: Edigen, bay mare, born in 1990 (1109 Edenli — 2295 Etgir). Kir-Sackar’s

line. Gaplan’s line.Measurements: 157-159-175-19,5 cm.Breed’s value: 8-8-8.Class: superstrain (specimen)In 1997-1999, when participating in 20 dressages, it was awarded «Toporbay»,

«Melekush», «Great Akhal» prizes. It is descended from the adornment of the breed - Ga-plan, Gachakchy, Angar, Garlangach and Atlas . It is a stud horse in the future.

101

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Garaman-2

edigayya

102

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Black stallion, born in 1997Father: Erezgala, bay stallion, born in 1990 (1082 Edenli —2233 Mydar). Kir-

Sackar’s line.Mother: Ajaip, dark bay mare, born in 1989 (1077 Melekush — 2134 Armanly).

Ak-Beleck’s line. Kir-Sackar’s line.Gala’s pedigree includes such world famous Akhalteke horses as Kir-Sackar,

Ak-Beleck, Ovlack-Sackar. Gala’s relative - wonderful Melekush was gifted to the Queen of Great Britain Elizabeth II in 1956. Grey-bay horse Maksat was presented to the Prime Minister of Great Britain John Major. Both racehorses, each in its time, staggered eminent British stud farm owners with their beauty and gracefulness.

Measurements (2000): 156-161-175-19Breed’s value: 8-7-8-8Class: superstrain (specimen)In 1999, Gala showed high speed at a 2000-metre distance and took the first

place in competitions for «Khan Aylavy» prize. In 1999-2002 it participated in 12 races and won 7 times. Since 2003 it has been rated as a stud horse. Grey horse Ak-Beleck by mother’s line belongs to a rare line.

Bay stallion, born in 1997Father: Gumry, chestnut stallion, born in 1990 (983 Goklen —2274 Dushumli).

Kir-Sackar’s line.Mother: Orkhideya, black mare, born in 1992 (Kelleli black, born in 1981 — Al-

kata-6 black, born in 1986). Kir-Sackar’s line.Measurements (2002): 158-156-170-18,5 cmBreed’s value: 8-7,5-8-7Class: superstrain (specimen)Oyunchy is a descendant of Derby and Kerven notable for their beauty and

speed. In 2001, it is proclaimed a champion at the beauty contest of Akhalteke horses. It shows high speed in the races and has been awarded grand prizes. A winner of «Turkmen Bedevinin Gyuni» and Melekush prizes.

Speed: 1000 m — l min 05,9 sec, 2000 m — 2 min. 17 sec.Oyunchy descends maternally and paternally from Kir-Sackar but as a stud horse

it isn’t used in Kir-Sackar’s lines.

103

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Gala

oyunchy

104

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Dun stallion, born in 1998Father: Goar-17, dun stallion, born in 1986, (944 Govkher-4 — 2005 Menaca-15).

Gelishikli’s line. Mother: Gayshak, black mare, born in 1988 (987 Jigitay – 2130 Garakyakil),

Gelishikli’s line. Measurements: 162-164-182-19,5 (8,0-7,5-8,0).Breed’s value: 7 performances in the races, 2-1-4.Class: superstrain

Black stallion, born in 1998Father: Yantar, black stallion, born in 1991 (989 Garader — 1884 Yashar). Kir-

Sackar’s line.Mother: Pile, bay mare, born in 1993 (1024 Akpan-8 — Perigyul dun 1982). Arab’s

line. Kir-Sackar’s line.Measurements (2003): 160–158–176–19,5 cm.Breed’s value: 9–9–9–8.Class: superstrainYalta is a descendant of illustrious Akhalteke horses Yantar, Garader, Absent,

Peren.In 2002, it is conferred a title of a winner of «Altyn Asyr» beauty contest of

Akhalteke horses.

105

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Merdana

Yalta

106

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Dun stallion, born in 2004Father: Cosedag, dun stallion, born in 1991 (957 Copel — 2160 Beyni). Kir-Sack-

ar’s line. Mother: Gyulmira, bay mare, born in 1991 (Vezipe - Gyulsary). Aksackal’s line.Measurements: 157-159-178-19 (7,5-7,5-7,5).Breed’s value: 2 performances, 0-1-1.Class: superstrain

Bay stallion, born in 2000Father: Gapbar, bay stallion, born in 1991 (1084 Yakymly — 2195 Gerkezli).

Fackir-Palvan’s line.Mother: 2182 Garramaz, dun mare, born in 1985 (960 Mukhtar — 1243 Garry).

Arab’s line.Measurements (2003): 161-159-180-19,5 cm.Breed’s value: 9-9-9-8.5Class: superstrain

107

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

kopetdag

kipchak

108

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Dun stallion, born in 2000Father: Keymirkor, dun stallion, born in 1991 (Gandym — Pasyl), Yel’s lineMother: Sapaly, bay mare, born in 1986 (Dorsekel — Selbiniyaz). Garlavach’s

line.Measurements: 155-156-173-19 (7,5-7,5-7,5).Breed’s value: 8 performances, 3-2-3: the 2nd place for the “Keymirkor” prizeClass: superstrain

Light dun foal, born in 2001Father: Janaly, sorrel stallion (931 Phosphor – 1948 Janym), Dor-Bayram’s lineMother: Yelsaray, bay mare, 1996 (Goar 17 - Yenish). Gelishikli’s line. Dor-

Bayram’s line.Measurements (2003): 150-148-160-18 cm.Breed value: 8-8-8-8.Class: elite

109

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

kopetdag

Asmanbek

110

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Bay foal, born in 2003Father: Gozhagurt, bay stallion, born in 1994 (1052 Gubalak — 2306 Yylgyn).

Gelishikli’s line.Mother: Dayanch, dark dun amre, born in 1993 (Vezipe — Dorjeren). Aksackal’s

line. Gelishikli’s line.Measurements : 158–160–175–18,5 cm.Breed’s value: 7,5–7,5–7,5Class: superstrain

Dun mare, born in 1993Father: Vezipe, dark dun, born in 1993 (866 Vatanchi — 1939 Gyamik). Aksack-

al’s line.Mother: Dorjeren, bay mare, born in 1988 (945 Gerden, bay — 1768 Dorsanjar).

Gaplan’s line. Aksackal’s line.Measurements (1996): 156-155-172-18,5 cm.Breed’s value: 8–7,5–8–7,5.Class: superstrainDayanch has dark dun stallion Gushvan and black filly Dolonay that are trained

and appear on the hippodrome (their father is Gapbar).

111

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Galkynysh

Dayanch

112

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Bay mare, born in 1993Father: 983 Goklen, bay stallion, born in 1979 (876 Derby-2 — 1471 Gyulsary).

Kir-Sackar’s line. Mother: Jovkher-25, black mare, born in 1986 (945 Gerden— 1481Damja). Ga-

plan’s line. Kir-Sackar’s line.Measurements (1996): 156-159-166-19 cm.Breed’s value: 7,5-8-7,5-8.Class: superstrainThree Jennete’s stallions — Jan, Perman and Jemal successfully appear on the

hippodrome.

Dun mare, born in 1993Father: 1012 Telekush-2, bay stallion, born in 1978 (818 Telekush — 1243

Gachakchi). Melekush’s line. Mother: 1848 Servi, dun mare, born in 1976 (917 Sector — 1559 Kepderi).

Peren’s line. Measurements (1997): 158-159-175-19,5 cm. Breed’s value: 8,5-8,5-8,5-8–8.Class: superstrainFour Sabyrly’s nurslings — Gandym, Sarykush, Keymirkyor and Keremli take

part in the races on the hippodrome.

113

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Jennet

Sabyrly

114

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Dun mare, born in 1998Father: Piyada, dun stallion, born in 1990 (967 Pudock —2183 Bostan). Peren’s

line. Mother: Gatyakar, black mare, born in 1988 (990 Azdepel — 1915 Garagyr).

Everdy-Teleke’s line. Peren’s line.Measurements (2001): 157-159-168-18,5 cm. Breed’s value: 8,5–9,0–8,5–8,5.Class: superstrain. It has begun mating.

Dun mare, born in 1999Father: Elgush, bay stallion, born in 1990 (1008 Scack — 2275 Eckebent).

Scack’s line. Mother: Shemal, silver-dun mare, born in 1989 (987 Jigitay — 2504 Shovly).

Gelishikli’s line. Scack’s line.Measurements (2002): 156-156-168-18,5 cm.Breed’s value: 8-8-8.Class: superstrainThis mare is destined for breeding.

115

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Gyulbaydak

bagtly

116

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Bay mare, born in 1999Father: Gapbar, bay stallion, born in 1991 (1084 Yakymli — 2195 Gerkezli). Fack-

ir-Palvan’s line.Mother: Atgulak, bay mare, born in 1987 (945 Gerden— 1459 Alkeyik). Gaplan’s

line. Fackir-Palvan’s line.Measurements (2002): 158-158-170-19 cm.Breed’s value: 8-8-8-8.Class: superstrainKenar participates in the races on Ashkhabad hippodrome and shows high re-

sults. In 2001, it became a winner of show-exercising of young Akhalteke horses.

Bay mare, born in 1999Father: Garadashli-18, black stallion, born in 1986 (989 Garader — 2049 Saryy-

ag). Kir-Sackar’s line.Mother: Myakhen, grey mare, born in 1993 (942 Alvan —2387 Mengli, dun, 1983).

Everdy-Teleke’s line. Kir-Sackar’s line.Measurements (2002): 157-158-165-18.5 cm.Breed’s value: 7,5–7,5–8–7,5Class: superstrain

117

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

kenar

Maysa

118

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Dun mare, born in 1999Father: Akhal-2, dun stallion, born in 1992 (1084 Pick — 2101 Aygozel-2). Peren’s

line.Mother: Pasyl-2, bay mare, born in 1990 (980 Garagunon — 2037 Pugta). Ga-

plan’s line.Measurements (2001): 156-157-160-17,5 cm.Breed’s value: 8-8-8.Class: superstrainIt is destined for breeding.

Black mare, born in 2000 Father: Keymir-2, black stallion, born in 1987 (894 Kerven— 1520 Elsona). Kir-

Sackar’s line Mother: Dereck, dun mare, born in 1989 (940 Azdepel — 1955 Dyunyagush).

Everdy-Teleke’s line. Measurements : 152–156–160–17,5 cm. Breed’s value: 8–7,5–8–7,5Class: superstrain

119

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

perizat

Dabaraly

120

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Dun filly, born in 2000Father: Akyldar, chestnut stallion, born in 1993 (1027 Altiyap — 1243 Gyulkhana).

Scack’s line. Mother: Sechiler, dun mare, born in 1994 (1010 Sovkhoz-2 — Servi, dun mare,

1976). Yel’s line. Scack’s line.Measurements: 154-155-165-18 cm. Breed’s value: 8-8-8-8. Class: superstrain It is trained on the hippodrome.

Dun filly, born in 2000Father: Goshasakar, dun stallion, 1985 (885 Gammar – 1746 Gyulperi), Gar-

lavach’s lineMother: Maykhirli, bay mare, 1993 (Kerem -2, silver-dun, 1984 -2485 Povrize).

Garlavach’s line. Garlavach’s lineMeasurements (2002): 158-158-170-18.5 cm.Breed value: 8-8-8-7.5.Class: elite Trained for racing

121

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Myahirli 2

Sechekli

122

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Light dun filly, born in 2001Father: Gojagurt, bay stallion, born in 1994 (1052 Gubalack — 2306 Yylgyn).

Gelishikli’s line. Mother: Tumar, dun mare, born in 1989 (987 Jigitai — 2073 Torly). Gelishikli’s

line. Gelishikli’s line.Measurements (2003): 155-154-162-18 cm. Breed’s value: 8-8-8-8. Class: superstrain It is trained on the hippodrome.

Black filly, born in 2001Father: Gapbar, bay stallion, born in 1991 (1084 Yalkymly— 2195 Gerkezli).

Fackir-Palvan’s line.Mother: Dayanch, dun mare, born in 1993 (Vezipe, dark dun, born in 1985 — Dor-

jern, bay, born in 1988). Aksackal’s line.Measurements (2003): 153-153-162-18 cm.Breed’s value: 8-8-8.Class: superstrainIt is begun training on the hippodrome.

123

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Gaytma

Dolanay

124

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Dun filly, born in 2001Father: Piyada, dun stallion, born in 1990 (967 Pudock — Bostan). Peren’s line.

Mother: Kuvvatly, bay mare, born in 1995 (Vezipe, dark dun, 1995 — Covser-3, bay, 1987). Aksackal’s line. Peren’s line.

Measurements (2001): 154-153-163-17,5 cm. Breed’s value: 8-8-8-8. Class: superstrain Its training has begun on the hippodrome.

Bay filly, born in 2001Father: Goar -17, dun stallion, born in 1986 (944 Govkher -4 — 2005 Menaca-

15). Gelishikli’s line.Mother: Kesearckach, bay mare, born in 1987 (957 Copel — 1977 Kekene). Kir-

Sackar’s line. Gelishikli’s line.Measurements (2003): 155–156–166–18,5 cm.Breed’s value: 8,5-8,5-8.Class: superstrainIt is begun training on the hippodrome.

125

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Covumdash

Conegyuzer

126

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Dark bay filly, born in 2001Father: Ak-Beleck, bay stallion, born in 1988 (942 Alvan —1700 Chyolmaya).

Everdy-Teleke’s line. Mother: Olympia, dark bay mare, born in 1988 (1027 Melekush — 1829 Oyunchy).

Ak-Beleck’s line. Evedy-Teleke’s line. Measurements (2003): 154-154-162-18 cm. Breed’s value: 8,5–8,5–8Class: superstrain It is begun training on the hippodrome.

Bay mare, born in 2004Father: Garadem, black stallion, 1999 (989 Garader – Tapylar). Kir-Sakar’s line.Mother: Altynay, light bay mare, 1997 (Goar-17 – Aylar) Gelishikli’s line. Measurements: 159-159-174-19 (7.5-7.5-7.5). Breed value: 9-3-3-1.Class: elite 15 times participated in races. The winner of “Melechep” (4th place, 2006), “Pel”

(1st place, 2006), “Oks” (1st place, 2007), “Big Ashgabat” (1st place, 2007), “Turkmenistan President’s”(1st place, 2007), “Bedev” (1st place, 2008) prizes. In 2008 won 3d place in the races for “Russkiy argamak” prize (Pyatigorsk city, the Russian Federation).

127

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

ovadan

Maya 2

128

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Light dun filly, born in 2002Father: Erekdag, light dun stallion, born in 1990 (1082 Edenli - 2148 Gyulistan).

Kir-Sackar’s line.Mother: Gaytar, bay mare, born in 1993 (989 Garader — Mamagozel). Kir-Sack-

ar’s line. Measurements: 155-153-168-19 (7,5-7,5-7,5).Breed’s value: 8 performances, 2-1-3-2: 1st place for “Synat” prize, 1st place for

“Firuza” prize, 2nd place for “Melecher” prize, 4th place for “Toparbai” prize, 4th place for “Pel” prize.

Class: superstrain

Bay filly, born in 2003 Father: Edermen, chestnut stallion, born in 1994 (1082 Edinli - Megra), Kir-Sack-

ar’s line. Mother: Sabyrly, dun mare, born in 1993 (1012 Telegush-2 — 1848 Servi). Me-

lekush’s line.Measurements: 160-159-170-18 (7,5-7,5-7,5).Breed’s value: 3 performances, 0-0-2Class: superstrain

129

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Gyulnar

Sulgun

130

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Grey filly, born in 2003Father: Garashsyz, grey stallion, born in 1993 (983 Goklen—Sailav). Kir-Sackar’s

line. Mother: Mahatma, bay mare, born in 1997 (Meget-Arkalyk). Kir-Sackar’s line.Measurements: 156-155-171-19 (7,5-7,0-7,5).Breed’s value: 5 performances, 0-1-4.Class: superstrain

Dun stallion, born in 2003Father: Cosedag, dun stallion, born in 1991 (957 Copel — 2160 Beyni). Kir-Sack-

ar’s line. Mother: Covserli, bay mare, born in 1987 (1015 Toretai – 1990 Kyakil), Yel’s lineMeasurements: 156-155-168-18 (7,5-7,0-7,5).Breed’s value: 9 performances, 2-2-5, it took the 3rd place for the “Oks” prize and

the 4th place for the “Garaly” prize.Class: superstrain

131

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Gyulala

keramat

132

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Bay filly, born in 2004Father: Erekdag, light dun stallion, born in 1990 (1082 Edenli - 2148 Gyulistan).

Kir-Sackar’s line.Mother: Aydere, bay mare, born in 1994 (Ulcker – Savchy), Scack’s line.Measurements: 156-155-170-18,5 (7,5-7,0-7,5).Breed’s value: 8 performances, 3-1-4.Class: superstrain

Grey filly, born in 2004Father: Gyrgygush, grey stallion, born in 1990 (989 Garader - 1920 Gezerli), Kir-

Sackar’s line. Mother: Myakhirli, chestnut mare, born in 1998 (Gadyr — Makhym). Gaplan’s

line. Measurements: 153-155-159-18 (7,5-7,0-7,5).Breed’s value: 5 performances, 1-1-3.Class: superstrain

133

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Ayjemal

Garaaltyn

134

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Bay stallion, born in 2000Father: Goar-17, dun stallion, born in 1986, (944 Govkher-4 — 2005 Menaca-15),

Gelishikli’s line.Mother: Gaytar, bay mare, born in 1993 (989 Garader — Mamagozel), Kir-Sack-

ar’s line.Measurements: 160-158-180-19 (7,5-7,5-7,5).Breed’s value: 50 performances, 12-14-8.In 2005: “Hoshlashik” - 2nd place, “Garader” - 1st place, “Keymirkyor” - 2nd place,

“Bolshoy Akhal” - 2nd place, “Gelishikli” - 1st place, “Gyorogly” - 2nd place, “Turkmen be-devi” – 3rd place.

In 2007: “Garader” - 1st place, “Bolshoy Akhal” - 3rd place.Class: superstrain

Bay stallion, born in 2000Father: Goar-17, dun stallion, born in 1986, (944 Govkher-4 — 2005 Menaca-15),

Gelishikli’s line. Mother: Kesearkach, bay mare, born in 1987 (957 Copel — 1977 Kekene), Kir-

Sackar’s line. Scack’s line.Measurements: 161-161-180-19 (0,0-0,0-0,0).Breed’s value: 44 performances, 27-7-3-2.In 2002: “Sinag” prize - 4th place; “Peren” prize - 4th place; “Everdy-Teleke” prize

- 4th place. In 2003: “Baydak” - 4th place, “Novruz” - 2nd place, “Achylysh” opening of the

race season - 1st place, “Absent” - 1st place, “Bolshoy Ashkhabad” (Derbi) - 1st place, the prize of the President of Turkmenistan on the Day of Independence –1st place, the Chal-lenge Cup of State Association “Turkmen atlary” –1st place.

In 2004: “Turkmen bedevi” - 3rd place, “Elita” - 1st place, “Bolshoy Akhal” – 2nd place.

In 2005: “Piyada” – 1st place, “Bolshoy Akhal” – 1st place, “Hoshlashik” – 1st place.

In 2007: “Turkmen bedevi” - 1st place, “Keymirkyor” - 2nd place.Class: superstrain

135

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Gulistan

Gyunbatar

136

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Dun stallion, born in 2000Father: Keymir-2, black stallion, born in 1987 (894 Kerven— 1520 Elsona), Kir-

Sackar’s line Mother: Sabyrly, dun mare, born in 1993 (1012 Telegush-2 — 1848 Servi), Me-

lekush’s line.Measurements: 156-158-173-19 (0,0-0,0-0,0).Breed’s value: 27 performances, 7-5-1-2.In 2004: the 4th place for the “Keymirkyor” prizeIn 2005: the 4th place for the “Gyorogly” prizeClass: superstrain

Dun stallion, born in 2001Father: Keymir-2, black stallion, born in 1987 (894 Kerven— 1520 Elsona), Kir-

Sackar’s line. Mother: Sabyrly, dun mare, born in 1993 (1012 Telekush-2 - 1848 Servi), Me-

lekush’s line. Measurements: 159-157-178-19 (7,5-7,5-7,5).Breed’s value: 11 performances, 6-3-2.“Absent” - 1st place, “Bolshoy Ashkhabad” (Derbi) - 2nd place, “Peren” - 3rd

place.Class: superstrain

137

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

keymirkyor

keremli

138

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Dun stallion, born in 2002Father: Goar-17, dun stallion, born in 1986, (944 Govkher-4 — 2005 Menaca-15).

Gelishikli’s line. Mother: Mahatma, bay mare, born in 1997 (Meget-Arkalyk). Kir-Sackar’s line.Measurements: 161-160-173-19,5 (8,0-7,5-8,0).Breed’s value: 8 performances, 2-3-3: in 2005, it took the third place in the races

for the “Absent” prize, the 2nd place for the “Bolshoi Ashkhabad” (Derby) prize, the 2nd place for the prize of the President of Turkmenistan.

Class: superstrain

Bay stallion, born in 2002Father: Bitaraplyk, black stallion, born in 1995 (Galkan – 2192 Yylgyn), Gaplan’s

line.Mother: Tumar, dun mare, born in 1989 (987 Jigitay — 2073 Torly). Gelishikli’s

line. Measurements: 158-159-176-19 (7,5-7,5-7,5).Breed’s value: 4 performances, 1-0-3.Class: superstrain

139

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Gorogly

batyr

140

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Bay stallion, born in 2003Father: Erbent, dark bay, born in 1991 (1077 Serasger – 2179 Elken), Saparkha-

na’s line.Mother: Tumar, dun mare, born in 1989 (987 Jigitay — 2073 Torly). Gelishikli’s

line. Gelishikli’s line.Measurements: 157-158-163-18 (7,5-7,5-7,5).Breed’s value: 2 performances, 0-1-1.Class: superstrain

Dun stallion, born in 2003Father: Caynar, dun stallion, born in 1982 (885 Gambar – 1746 Gyulperi), Gar-

lavach’s line.Mother: Menekli, black mare, born in 1997 (Garadashly - Maral), Kir-Sackar’s

line. Measurements: 156-158-166-18,5 (7,5-7,5-7,5).Breed’s value: 6 performances in the races, 1-2-3.Class: superstrain

141

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

ellidag

kyardesh

142

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Dun stallion, born in 2004Father: Garaman-2, black stallion, born in 1995 ( 990 Garaman - 2296 Etilmez).

Posman’s line.Mother: Gerek, bay mare, born in 1999 (Garadashly-Gatyakar), Kir-Sackar’s

line.Measurements: 156-155-160-18 (7,5-7,0-7,5).Breed’s value: 6 performances, 0-1-5.Class: superstrain

Bay stallion, born in 2004Father: Erekdag, light dun stallion, born in 1990 (1082 Edenli - 2148 Gyulistan).

Kir-Sackar’s line.Mother: Yelin-2, dun mare, born in 1987 (955 Kemal – 1964 Etgir). Gaplan’s

line.Measurements: 158-158-175-19 (7,5-7,5-7,5).Breed’s value: 8 performances, 1-3-4.Class: superstrain

143

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Garatai

erezgala

144

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Black stallion, born in 2004Father: Akhal-2, black stallion, born in 1999 (Akylly — Gyulbakhar). Gelishikli’s

line.Mother: Cheshme, born in 1996 (Gandikap — Chemen). Garlavach’s line. Measurements: 157-156-173-19 (7,5-7,5-7,5).Breed’s value: 12 performances, 2-2-6-2: the 4th place for the “Synag” prize, the

4th place for the “Tangryguly Gaty” priz.Class: superstrain

Dun stallion, born in 2004 Отец: Tamaly, bay stallion, born in 1993 (1014 Telegush-2 - Dunya), Melekush’s

line.Mother: Gyulperi, dun mare, born in 1992 (92 Garash - Garagush), Kir-Sackar’s

line.Measurements: 158-158-167-19 (7,5-7,5-7,5).Breed’s value: ?Class: superstrain

145

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Ashkhabad

Galkynysh

146

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Dun filly, born in 2005Father: Erekdag, light dun stallion, born in 1990 (1082 Edenli - 2148 Gyulistan).

Kir-Sackar’s line.Mother: Pile, bay mare, born in 1993 (1024 Akpan-8 — Perigyul). Arab’s line.

Measurements: 156-154-170-18 (7,5-7,0-7,5).Breed’s value: 2 performances, 0-0-2.Class: superstrain

Dun stallion, born in 2005Father: Gala, black stallion, born in 1997 (Erezgala – Ajaip). Kir-Sackar’s line.Mother: Perizat, dun mare, born in 1990 (Akhal-2 - Pasyl-2), Peren’s line.Measurements: 158-156-171-19 (7,5-7,5-7,5).Breed’s value: 5 performances, 0-2-3.Class: superstrain

147

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

pyakize

Gaymele

148

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Grey stallion, born in 2005Father: Piyada, dun steed, born in 1990 (967 Pudock - 2116 Bostan), Peren’s

lineMother: Maysa, bay mare, born in 1999 (Garadashli-18 – Myakhen), Kir-Sackar’s

line.Measurements: 157-156-173-18,5 (7,5-7,0-7,5).Breed’s value: 4 performances, 0-1-3.Class: superstrain

Bay stallion, born in 2005Father: Oyunchy, bay stallion, born in 1997 ( Gumry - Orkhideya). Kir-Sackar’s

line.Mother:Yelin-2, dun mare, born in 1987 (955 Kemal – 1964 Etgir). Gaplan’s line.Measurements: 162-160-178-19 (7,5-7,5-7,5).Breed’s value: 2 performances in the races, 1-0-1.Class: superstrain

149

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

pena

osmanly

150

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Black filly, born in 2005Father: Merdana, dun stallion, born in 1998 (Goar-17 — Gayshak). Gelishikli’s

line.Mother: Goryukli, black mare, born in 2001 (Akbelek — Gatyacar). Everdy-

Teleke’s line. Measurements: 152-151-166-18 (7,5-7,0-7,5).Breed’s value: 6 performances, 2-1-2.Class: superstrain

Black filly, born in 2005Father: Garadil, black horse, 1993 (981 Garader – 2132 Garasar), Gyrsakar’s

lineMother: Jakhan, dun mare, 2001 (Pyyada-Jennet), Peren’s line. Measurements: 156-155-170-18.5 (7.5-7.0-7.5)Breed value: 2 races, 0-1-1.Class: elite

151

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Garagyz

Jahangyul

152

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Black stallion, born in 2005Father: Keymir 2, black stallion, born in 1987 (894 Kerven — 1520 Elsona). Kir-

Sackar’s line. Mother: Gyulbaidak, dun mare, born in 1998 (Piyada-Gatyacar), Peren’s line.Measurements : 156-154-168-19 (7,5-7,5-7,5).Breed’s value: 4 performances, 0-1-3.Class: superstrain

Light dun filly, born in 2005Father: Shyagirt, grey stallion (942 Alvan — 2288 Sheker). Everdy-Teleke’s line. Mother: Kuvvatly, bay mare, born in 1995 (Vezipe – Covser-3). Aksackal’s line.Measurements: 156-155-172-18,5 (7,5-7,0-7,5).Breed’s value: 2 performances, 1-0-1.Class: superstrain

153

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

kemerli

keyik

154

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Grey stallion, born in 2005Father: Yadygar, grey stallion, born in 1999 (1086 Yalta-2 – Mera), Garlavach’s

line.Mother: Akmaya, chestnut mare, born in 1998 (17 Goar –Aydere),Gelishikli’s

line.Measurements: 159-159-160-18,5 (7,5-7,5-7,5).Breed’s value: 5 performances. 0-1-4.Class: superstrain

Dun stallion, born in 2005 Father: Keymir-2, black stallion, born in 1987 (894 Kerven— 1520 Elsona). Kir-

Sackar’s line. Mother: Garauzyum, black mare, born in 1990 (1068 Muskat - 2124 Gamysh),

Saparkhana’s line. Measurements: 151-148-162-19 (7,5-7,0-7,5).Breed’s value: 2 performances, 0-0-2

155

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Galkynar

Denizkhan

156

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Black stallion, born in 2006Father: Keymir-2, black stallion, born in 1987 (894 Kerven — 1520 Elsona). Kir-

Sackar’s line. Mother: Mahatma, bay mare, born in 1997 (Meget-Arkalyk). Kir-Sackar’s line.Measurements: 156-157-167-18 (7,5-7,5-7,5).Breed’s value: 1 performance in the races, 0-0-1.Class: superstrain

Dark dun filly, born in 2006Father: Gala, black stallion, born in 1997 (Erezgala – Ajaip), Kir-Sackar’s line.Mother: Gaytar, bay mare, born in 1993 (989 Garader — Mamagozel), Kir-Sack-

ar’s line. Measurements: 155-156-172-18 (7,5-7,5-7,5).Breed’s value: 2 performances, 0-0-2.Class: superstrain

157

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Garader

Galpakly

158

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Bay stallion, born in 2006Father: Garadashayack, black stallion, born in 1990 (972 Shakhy — 2214 Gyule-

ndam). Yel’s line.Mother: Perizat, dun mare, born in 1999 (Akhal-2 - Pasyl-2), Peren’s line.Measurements: 155-157-165-18,5 (7,5-8,0-7,5).Breed’s value: 2 performances, 0-0-1.Class: superstrain

Dun filly, born in 2006Father: Garadashayack, black stallion, born in 1990 (972 Shakhy — 2214 Gyule-

ndam), Yel’s line.Mother: Sabyrly, dun mare, born in 1993 (1014 Telekush - 1848 Servi), Melekush’s

line. Measurements: 155-156-170-18 (7,5-7,0-7,5).Breed’s value: 3 performances, 0-1-2.Class: superstrain

159

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Gerkez

Suray

160

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Black filly, born in 2006Father: Gurply, grey stallion, born in 1993 (983 Goklen- Gupbaly). Kir-Sackar’s

line.Mother: Sarygyul, bay mare, born in 1999 (Garadashly-18 – Sabyrly). Kir-Sack-

ar’s line.Measurements : 155-154-162-18 (7,5-7,0-7,5).Breed’s value: 2 performances in the races, 0-0-1.Class: superstrain

Dun stallion, born in 2006Father: Oyunchy, bay stallion, born in 1997 (Gumry - Orkhideya). Kir-Sackar’s

line.Mother: Bagtly, dun mare, born in 1999 (Elgush - Shemal). Scack’s line.Measurements: 156-154-174-18,5 (7,5-7,0-7,5).Breed’s value: 2 performances, 0-0-2.Class: superstrain

161

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

begench

Saya

162

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Bay stallion, born in 2006Father: Gaiduvsyz, dark bay stallion, born in 1990 (989 Garader – 1917 Garatay),

Kir-Sackar’s line.Mother: Gyuleken, chestnut mare, born in 1998 (Erekdag - Gyuley), Kir-Sackar’s

line. Measurements: 157-158-167-18,5 (7,5-7,5-7,5).Breed’s value: 2 performances, 0-0-1Class: superstrain

Black stallion, born in 2006Father: Shakhyjuvan, black stallion, born in 2000 (Garadashayack – Alsackar).Mother: Guncha, dun mare, born in 2000 (Perhat-Gunon). Peren’s line.Measurements: 156-155-163-19 (7,5-7,5-7,0). Breed’s value: 3 performances, 0-0-0.Class: superstrain

163

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Gozgan

Shakhandaz

164

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Black stallion, born in 2006Father: Erekdag, light dun shot with gold horse, born in 1990 (1082 Edenli - 2148

Gyulistan). Kir-Sackar’s line.Mother: Gyulzada, bay filly, born in 2000 (Gelshikli - Orchideya). Kir-Sackar’s

line. Measurements : 155-156-168-18 (7,5-7,0-7,5).Breed’s value: 1 performance in the races, 0-0-1.Class: superstrain

Bay filly, born in 2006Father: Gayduvsyz, dark bay horse, 1990 (989 Garader – 1917 Garatay), Gyr-

sakar’s lineMother: Myakhek, grey mare, 1993 (942 Alvan-2387 Mengli), Eyeberdy Teleke’s

line. Measurements: 157-155-160-18.5 (7.0-7.5-7.5)Breed value: 2 races, 0-0-0.Class: elite

165

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Makhym

erkin

166

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Light dun filly, born in 2006Father: Oyunchy, bay stallion, born in 1997 (Gumry - Orkhideya), Kir-Sackar’s

line.Mother: Gaytma, dun mare, born in 2001 (Gojagurt - Tumar), Gelishikli’s line.Measurements: 156-155-170-18,5 (7,5-7,0-7,5).Breed’s value: 2 performances, 0-1-1.Class: superstrain

Bay filly, born in 2006Father: Garadem, black stallion, born in 1999 (989 Garader — Tapylar), Kir-Sack-

ar’s line.Mother: Jakhan, dun mare, born in 2001 (Piyada – Jennet), Peren’s line.Measurements: 155-156-160-18 (7,0-7,5-7,0).Breed’s value: 1 performance, 0-0-1.Class: superstrain

167

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

lachin

Guldjahan

168

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Bay filly, born in 2006Father: Keymir-2, black stallion, born in 1987 (894 Kerven— 1520 Elsona), Kir-

Sackar’s line Mother: Aydere, bay mare, born in 1994 (Ulcker – Savchy), Scack’s line.Measurements: 155-155-160-18 (7,0-7,5-7,0).Breed’s value: 1 performance, 0-0-1.Class: superstrain

Bay stallion, born in 2006Father: Tebigat, dun stallion, born in 1990 (1014 Telegush-2 - 1717 Alasar), Me-

lekush’s line.Mother: Myakhirli-2, dun mare, born in 2000 (Goshasackar - Myakhirli). Gar-

lavach’s line.Measurements: 155-157-168-18 (7,5-7,0-7,5). Breed’s value: 2 performances, 0-0-2.Class: superstrain

169

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Aynur

Tagsyr

170

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Dun filly, born in 2006Father: Erekdag, light dun stallion, born in 1990 (1082 Edenli - 2148 Gyulistan),

Kir-Sackar’s line.Mother: Gerek, bay mare, born in 1999 (Garadashly-Gatyakar), Kir-Sackar’s

line.Measurements: 153-156-161-18,5 (7,5-7,0-7,5).Breed’s value: 1 performance, 0-0-0.Class: superstrain

Dun stallion, born in 2006Father: Piyada, dun stallion, born in 1990 (967 Pudock — 2183 Bostan), Peren’s

line.Mother: Kenar, bay mare, born in 1999 (Gapbar - Atgulak), Fackir-Palvan’s line.Measurements: 156-157-175-18,5 (7,5-7,5-7,5).Breed’s value: 3 performances, 0-1-2.In 2008: a gold star of Turkestan and the champion among Akhalteke horses

(Tashkent city)Class: superstrain

171

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

polotly

Gerekgyul

172

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Bay stallion, born in 2006Father: Garadashayack, black stallion, born in 1990 (972 Shakhy — 2214 Gyule-

ndam). Yel’s line.Mother: Yelin-2, dun mare, born in 1987 (955 Kemal – 1964 Etgir). Gaplan’s

line.Measurements: 153-156-162-18 (7,0-7,0-7,5).Breed’s value: 1 performance, 0-0-0.Class: superstrain

Bay filly, born in 2006Father: Gala, black stallion, born in 1997 (Erezgala – Ajaip), Kir-Sackar’s line.Mother: Sechekli, dun mare, born in 2000 (Akyldar - Sechiler), Scack’s line.Measurements: 156-155-172-18 (7,5-7,5-7,0).Breed’s value: 1 performance, 0-0-1.Class: superstrain

173

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Garayel

Selbi

174

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Chestnut filly, born in 2006Father: Piyada, dun stallion, born in 1990 (967 Pudock — 2183 Bostan), Peren’s

line. Mother: Garash, black mare, born in 1999 (Garadashly – Gyuley), Kir-Sackar’s

line.Measurements: 155-157-168-18 (7,5-7,0-7,5).Breed’s value: 2 performances, 0-1-1.Class: superstrain

Dark dun filly, born in 2006Father: Garadashayack, black stallion, born in 1990 (972 Shakhy — 2214 Gyule-

ndam), Yel’s line.Mother: Covumdash, light dun mare, born in 2001 (Piyada - Kuvvatly), Peren’s

line.Measurements: 153-155-160-18 (7,0-7,0-7,5).Breed’s value: 1 performance, 0-0-0.Class: superstrain

175

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Gyulparcha

kaknus

176

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Dun filly, born in 2006Father: Yalta, black stallion, born in 1998 (Yantar - Pile), Kir-Sackar’s line.Mother: Dolanay, black mare, born in 2001 (Gapbar - Dayanch), Fackir-Palvan’s

line.Measurements: 155-156-168-18 (7,5-7,5-7,0).Breed’s value: 3 performances, 0-1-2.Class: superstrain

Bay stallion, born in 2006Father: Gurply, grey stallion, born in 1993 (983 Goklen - Gupbaly). Kir-Sackar’s

line.Mother: Gorkli, black mare, born in 2001 (Ak-Beleck - Gatyacar). Everdy-Teleke’s

line.Measurements: 157-156-163-18,5 (7,5-7,0-7,5).Breed’s value: 1 performance, 0-0-1.Class: superstrain

177

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Dunya

Gudrat

178

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Black stallion, born in 1991Father: 989 Garader, black stallion, born in 1977 (894 Kerven — 1520 Elsona).

Kir-Sackar’s line.Mother: 1917 Garatay, dun mare, born in 1980 (885 Gambar— 1457 Garachay).

Garlavach’s line. Kir-Sackar’s line.Measurements (1995): 163-162-173-20 cm.Breed’s value: 9-9-8,5-8.Class: superstrainGolchynar scores a success in equestrianism. It took a prize-winning place at a

120-kilometre distance. It is supposed to be used as a stud horse in the future.

Black filly, born in 2006Father: Garadashayack, black stallion, born in 1990 (972 Shakhy — 2214 Gyule-

ndam), Yel’s line.Father: Dabaraly, black mare, born in 2000 (Keymir-2 - Dereck), Kir-Sackar’s

line.Measurements: 155-155-161-18 (7,5-7,0-7,5).Breed’s value: 1 performance, 0-0-0.Class: superstrain

179

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Dunyagozel

Golchynar

180

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Chestnut stallion, born in 1993Father: 983 Goklen (876 Derby — 1417 Gulsary). Kir-Sackar’s line.Mother: Goshular, grey mare, born in 1998 (987 Jigitay — 1923 Govusbent).

Gelishikli’s line. Kir-Sackar’s line. Measurements (1997): 164-162-175-19,5 cm. Breed’s value: 8-9-8,5-8.Class: superstrainIn 1995-2000 Gamyshly showed high results in the races. It won 17 prize-win-

ning places in 42 races. A possessor of prizes of «Synag», «Everdy-Teleke», «Bolshoi Ashkhabad» and «Gelishikli».

Speed: 1000 m — l min.07,6 sec. It is notable for high speed at long distances. In 1997, Gamyshly ranked first in a 160-kilometre marathon race.

Dun stallion, born in 1993Father: Gerkez, bay stallion, born in 1987 (983 Goklen —2134 Amangul). Kir-

Sackar’s line.Mother: 2234 Mydar, bay mare, born in 1984 (1009 Serdar — 1624 Mysal).

Scack’s line. Kir-Sackar’s line.Measurements (1977): 162-164-183-19,5 cm.Breed’s value: 8-9-8-8.Class: superstrain (specimen)In 1995-2000 this stallion took part in the races on Ashkhabad hippodrome, took

prize-winning places 12 times. It is awarded grand prizes of «Bolshoi Ashkhabad » (Derby), «Absent», «Everdy-Teleke», «Great Akhal».

Melekush’s father Gerkez was one of the most fast-speed racehorses; in the 90’s it won numerous grand prizes. It descends from the famous racehorses Serdar and Fagi by mother’s line.

181

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Gamyshly

Melekush

182

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Bay stallion, born in 1994Father: Backy, bay stallion, born in 1983 (885 Gammar— 1728 Bamy). Gar-

lavach’s line. Mother: 2160 Zamana, bay mare, born in 1984 (1009 Serdar— 1766 Dorgyz).

Scack’s line. Garlavach’s line. Measurements (1997): 165-165-178-20 cm. Breed’s value: 8,5-9-8,5-8. Class: superstrainBuysanch shows excellent results when participating in the races on Ashkhabad

hippodrome. It has good results in showjumping.Speed: 1000 m — 1 min. 07,2 sec

Black stallion, born in 1994Father: Yomud stallion.Mother: Yomud mare.Measurements: 153-156-168-18,5 (6,5-6,5-6,5).Breed’s value: Yomud breed stallion.Class: superstrain

183

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

byori

Shagadam

184

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Black stallion, born in 1995Father: Akpan-9, black stallion, born in 1986 (869 Ararat-1 — 1800 Keramica).

Arab’s line.Mother: Aysha, bay mare, born in 1978 (879 Dorseckil — 1177 Alasar). Gar-

lavach’s line. Arab’s line.Measurements (1999): 158-158-168-19 cm.Breed’s value: 8-8-8-8.Class: superstrainAkylly belongs to the line of illustrious Arab. It comes from Absent, an Olympic

champion, and very swift Garlavach by mother’s line.In 1997-2000 Akylly participated 40 times on Ashkhabad hippodrome and won

prize-places 18 times. A winner of grand prizes of «Elita», «Synag», «Melekush», «Boy-nou», «Absent», «Keymirkyor», «Garader», and «Hoshlashyck». In the future it is assigned a significant part in selection for the Arab’s line continuation.

Black stallion, born in 1995Father: Komek 2, bay stallion (957 Kopel – 1680 Oda), Kir-Sakar’s lineMother: Mayya, grey mare, 1998 (940 Azdepel – 2195 Gerkezli) Eyeberdy

Teleke’s line. Kir-Sakar’s lineMeasurements (2000): 158-158-160-18.5 cm. Breed value: 8-8-8-7.Class: elite (representative)Kopeler is a stallion born through interbreeding of two old generic Kir-Sakar and

Eyeberdy lines. In his genealogy there are famous fast horses –Kopel, Kerven, mares –Gyz, Ovadan.

Kopeler is a champion of 2000 beauty show among Akhalteke horses. In 1997-2002 participated in Ashgabat hippodrome races 24 times, 10 times winning the first place. In 2000 won the first place in 100 km race.

185

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Akylly

kyopeler

186

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Chestnut horse, born in 1996Father: Toychi, chestnut stallion, born in 1987 (1065Maksat bay, 1980 — 1932

Gulruch). Yel’s line.Mother: Dumanly, black mare, born in 1985 (861 Akhal — 1951 Dorogaya-2).

Yel’s line. Yel’s line.Measurements (1998): 157-157-165-18,5 cm.Breed’s value: 8-8-8-8.Class: superstrainAmasha descends from speedy horses Toychi, Akhal, Dorogoy. It participates in

high-speed races and steadily shows high results. A possessor of «Synag», «Peren», «Po-lotli», «Seydi»,«Elita», and «Keymirkyor» prizes. In 2001, it ranked first at a 120-kilometre marathon distance. A possessor of the Challenge Cup of «Soltanyii Gyuli».

Black stallion, born in 1995Father: Garadashly-18, black stallion, born in 1986 (989 Garader — 2049 Saryy-

ag). Kir-Sackar’s line.Mother: Soltan (1013 Surkhan— 1663 Sulgun). Scack’s line. Kir-Sackar’s line.Measurements (1999): 158-160-175-19,5 cm.Breed’s value: 8,5-8,5-8,5-8. Class: superstrainIn 1998-2002 Gadam participated in 23 races and gained 8 victories. Its pedigree

includes such illustrious racehorses as Garader, Ikar. It is suppossed to be used as a stud horse.

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Amasha

Gadam

188

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Bay stallion, born in 1996Father: Caspy, dark dun stallion, born in 1990 (1068 Comeck-2 — 2093 Elzada).

Kir-Sackar’s line.Mother: 2166 8th of March (983 Goklen — 1829 Oyunchy). Kir-Sackar’s line.

Kir-Sackar’s line.Measurements (2000): 158-155-170-18,5 cm.Breed’s value: 7-7-7.Class: superstrain (specimen)Kesedag kindred to inner Kir-Sackar’s line, has in its pedigree famous Akhalteke

horses Copel, Gulsary and Kerven. In 1998-2002 it participated in 22 competitions on Ash-khabad hippodrome, and ranked first 5 times.

Dun stallion, born in 2005Father: Goar-17, dun stallion, born in 1986, (944 Govkher-4 — 2005 Menaca-15).

Gelishikli’s line. Mother: Peydaly, bay mare, born in 1990 (1023 Altynyap - 2021 Pasyl), Scack’s

lineMeasurements: 156-155-168-19 (7,5-7,5-7,5).Breed’s value: 2 performances, 0-1-1.Class: superstrain

189

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Gerchek

kesedag

190

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Black stallion, born in 1997Father: Garadashly 18, black stallion, born in 1986 (989 Garader — 2049 Saryy-

ag). Kir-Sackar’s line.Mother: Dursun, dun mare, born in 1993 (Peycam, bay, born in 1988 — Dyuvme,

dun, born in 1986). Peren’s line. Measurements (2000): 157–158–168–19 cm.Breed’s value: 8-8-8-8.Class: superstrainGaradashsyz is descended from the high-quality horses such as Garader, Dor-

Bayram, Phosphor. At the age of 2-5 it participated in 20 events on Ashkhabad hippodrome and was awarded prize-winning places5 times. In 2001, it was proclaimed a champion on «Altyn Asyr» show-exercising of Akhalteke horses. Nowadays, it participates in exercising and will be used as a stud horse in the future.

Grey stallion, born in 1997Father: Gajar, grey stallion, 1990 (942 Alvan-Ajap, dark bay, 1981), Eyeberdy

Teleke’s line. Mother: Novgul, bay mare, 1981 (Kerem, bay, 1982 – Garagum, black, 1993). Measurements (2000): 158-156-170-19.5 cmBreed value: 7.5-8-7.5- 7.Class: elite Peykam is the winner of 2001 show.In 1999-2002 participated in 22 races, 15 times was a prize-winner.

191

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Garadashsyz

peykam

192

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Dark bay stallion, born in 1998Father: Garashekil, black stallion, born in 1988 (989 Garader — 1928 Gulcamar).

Kir-Sackar’s line.Mother: Sabyrly (1014 Telegush-2 — 1848 Servi). Melekush’s line. Kir-Sackar’s

line.Measurements (2002): 157-162-170-18,5 cm.Breed’s value: 8-7,5-8-8.Class: superstrainGandymgush takes part in the races on Ashkhabad hippodrome showing high

results. It has been awarded traditional prizes five times. It topped the chart on show exer-cising of young stallions and was recognized to be its winner.

Black steed, born in 1998Father: Pasyl, bay stallion, born in 1992 (Peycam — Sayat ). Peren’s line.Mother: Dagarman, black mare, born in 1989 (1080 Fackel—1860 Terbash). Dor-

Bayram’s line. Measurements: 158-159-168-19 cm.Breed’s value: 8-8-8.Class: superstrain

193

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Gandymgush

Dagly

194

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Black stallion, born in 1998Father: Erezgala, bay stallion, born in 1990 (1082 Edenli —2233 Mydar). Kir-

Sackar’s line.Mother: Garagachak, black mare, born in 1991 (1067 Melekush — 2121 Gay-

mak). Melekush’s line.Measurements: 156-155-170-18,5 (7,5-7,0-7,5).Breed’s value: 5 performances in the races, 0-1-4.Class: superstrain

Dark bay stallion, born in 1999Father: 18 Garadashly, black stallion, born in 1986 (989 Garader — 2049 Saryy-

ag). Kir-Sackar’s line.Mother: Olympia, dark bay mare, born in 1988 (1067 Melekush — 1829 Oyunchy).

Melekush’s line. Measurements: 158-161-179-19,5 (8,0-7,5-8,0).Breed’s value: 6 performances, 3-2-1Class: superstrain

195

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Shirkhan

Garador

196

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Dun stallion, born in 1999Father: Tyllanur, bay stallion, born in 1990 (1014 Telegush – 2096 Aysuluv), Me-

lekush’s line.Mother: Aylar, bay mare, born in 1991(1085 Yalkymly-2 – 2105 Altynai), Gaplan’s

lineMeasurements: 165-166-180-19 (8,0-7,5-8,0).Breed’s value: 3 performances, 0-1-2.Class: superstrain

Grey stallion, born in 2005Father: Anshata SiriusMother: Lamiya ElkuveytBreed’s value: thoroughbred Arab stallion.

197

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

lakhab elkuveyt

Toychi

198

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Dark bay stallion, born in 2000Father: 1023 Altyyap, bay stallion, born in 1977 (685 Angar — 1546 Garlangach).

Scack’s line. Mother: Akmonjick, dun mare, born in 1991 (1096 Pick —Aygozel 20, bay, born

in 1986). Peren’s line. Scack’s line.Measurements (2002): 153–155–168–18,5 cm. Breed’s value: 8-8-8-8. Class: superstrain It is trained for the races.

Light dun stallion, born in 2000Father: Jomart, chestnut stallion, born in 1994 (Melekush - Dessegyul), Arab’s

line.Mother: Ayna, light dun mare, born in 1993 (Caral (Corall?) – 2236 Ovadan),

Garlavach’s line.Measurements: 161-159-170-19 (7,5-7,5-7,5).Breed’s value: 6 performances in the races, 2-1-2.Class: superstrain

199

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Adylkhan

Altyndamja

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SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Dun stallion, born in 2000Father: Erezgala, bay stallion, born in 1990 (1082 Edenli —2233 Mydar). Kir-

Sackar’s line.Mother: Erzhe, grey mare, born in 1990 (1015 Toretai – 2181Elyovser), Yel’s

line.Measurements: 160-158-175-19 (7,5-7,5-7,5).Breed’s value: 4 performances, 0-1-3.Class: superstrain

Bay stallion, born in 2000Father: Akyldar, chestnut stallion, born in 1993 (1023 Altyyap — 1743 Gyulhana).

Scack’s line.Mother: Inzhir, bay mare, born in 1993 (1071 Peykam — Intisar). Peren’s line. Measurements: 157-155-176-18 (7,5-7,0-7,5).Breed’s value: 3 performances, 0-1-2.Class: superstrain

201

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Yenish

Akylly

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SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Bay stallion, born in 2000Father: Vepaly, bay stallion, born in 1985 (886 Watanchy – 2049 Saryyag), Ak-

sakal’s lineMother: Sailan, black mare, born in 1994 (1072 Peykam – 2050 Syakhra), Peren’s

line.Measurements: 166-155-174-18 (7,5-7,0-7,5).Breed’s value: 4 performances, 0-2-2.Class: superstrain

Dun stallion, born in 2000Father: Meydan, dun stallion, born in 1990 (1027 Bakhyrkhan – 1997 Maica),

Garlavach’s line.Mother: Kyadi-2, bay mare, born in 1987 (989 Garader – 2209 Kichitai), Kir-Sack-

ar’s line.Measurements: 157-156-175-19 (7,5-7,0-7,5).Breed’s value: 22 performances, 3-8-6-1: “Bolshoi Akhal” – 2nd place, «Keymir-

kyor» - 4th place, “Hoshlashyk” - 2nd place.Class: superstrain

203

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Vadaly

Tejebegala

204

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Bay stallion, born in 2001Father: Gumry, chestnut stallion, born in 1990 (983 Goklen —2274 Dushumli).

Kir-Sackar’s line.Mother: Samara, bay mare, born in 1995 (Gaiduvsyz - Savchy), Kir-Sackar’s

line.Measurements: 157-156-170-19 (7,5-7,0-7,5).Breed’s value: 8 performances, 2-0-6.Class: superstrain

Black stallion, born in 2001Father: Meget, bay stallion, born in 1988 (904 Melekush — 1911 Gabrassa). Kir-

Sackar’s line.Mother: Gupbaly, dark bay mare, born in 1987 (987 Garader — 2141 Gozli). Kir-

Sackar’s line. Measurements: 162-165-180-19 (7,5-7,5-7,5).Breed’s value: 5 performances, 0-2-3.Class: superstrain

205

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Duldul

berkarar

206

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Dun stallion, born in 2001Father: Karfagen, grey-dun stallion, born in 1995 (Kerzi - Fortuna), Gaplan’s

line.Mother: Altyn, bay mare, born in 1987 (945 Gerden - 1721 Altyngash), Gaplan’s

lineMeasurements: 157-158-175-18,5 (7,5-7,5-7,5).Breed’s value: 7 performances, 1-1-5.Class: superstrain

Bay stallion, born in 2002Father: Goar-17, dun stallion, born in 1986, (944 Govkher-4 — 2005 Menaca-15).

Gelishikli’s line. Mother: Elsona, bay mare, born in 1988 (1011 Sultan - 2217 Kunji), Arab’s line.Measurements: 157-158-175-18,5 (7,5-7,0-7,0).Breed’s value: 2 performances, 0-1-1.Class: superstrain

207

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Rukhabatly

Serdarym

208

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Dun stallion, born in 2002Father: Sazanda, black stallion, born in 1993 (Kement - Sovgat), Kir-Sackar’s

line.Mother: Keykil, dark bay mare, born in 1993 (191 Saltyk - 1984 Kimbiler). Yel’s

line.Measurements: 162-158-169-19 (7,5-7,5-7,5).Breed’s value: 4 performances, 1-0-3.Class: superstrain

Father: Piyada, dun stallion, born in 1990 (967 Pudock —2116 Bostan). Peren’s line.

Mother: Perde, chestnut mare, born in 1990 (945 Gerden - 1836 Penjegyul), Gaplan’s line.

Measurements: 156-154-168-18 (7,0-7,5-7,0).Breed’s value: 1 performance, 0-0-1.Class: superstrain

209

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Synmaz

nurana

210

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Dark bay stallion, born in 2003Father: Aldan, black stallion, born in 1991 (Cadr - Alma), Garlavach’s line.Mother: Ayperi, dun mare, born in 1993 (973 Abdulrakhman – 1831 Pamyk),

Fackir-Palvan’s line.Measurements: 155-154-165-18 (7,5-7,0-7,5).Breed’s value: 3 performances, 0-1-2.Class: superstrain

Bay stallion, born in 2003Father: Garashsyz, grey stallion, born in 1993 (983 Goklen—Sailov). Kir-Sackar’s

line. Mother: Elsaray, bay mare, born in 1996 (Goar 17 —Enish). Gelishikli’s line.

Dorbayram’s line.Measurements: 155-154-160-18 (7,0-7,5-7,5).Breed’s value: 4 performances, 0-1-3.Class: superstrain

211

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Dordepel

Ganatly

212

SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

Bay stallion, born in 2004Father: Piyada, dun stallion, born in 1990 (967 Pudock —2116 Bostan). Peren’s

line. Mother: Elsaray, bay mare, born in 1996 (Goar 17 — 2232 Enish). Gelishikli’s

line. Measurements: 161-162-178=19,5 (7,5-8,0-7,5).Breed’s value: 10 performances, 4-1-4-1: in 2007 – the 4th place for the “Seidi”

prize, the 3rd place for the “Melekush” prize.Class: superstrain

Grey-dun stallion, born in 2004Father: Keymir-2, black horse, 1987 (894 Kerven – 1520 Yelsona), Gyrsakar’s

lineMother: Sabyrly, dun mare, 1993 (1012 Telegush – 1848 Servi), Melekush’s line. Measurements: 158-156-170-18.5 (7.5-7.0-7.5)Breed value: 7 races, 2-2-3.Class: elite

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SuperStrAin of the AkhAlteke Breed

baidak

kanun

To Help An equeSTRIAn

SpoRT DeVoTee

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to help An eQueStriAn Sport devotee

As is generally known, a horse is the only domestic animal that participates in sporting events, including the Olympic Games, alongside with a human. The eques-trian sport, horse riding and races are conducive to fostering valour, quick wit, dexterity and composure in a human. The equestrian tourism makes hardy an organism, aids in cultural leisure-time spending and cultivates a patriotic sentiment in young people.

P R I M A R Y H O R S E M O T I O N S

The horses’ important quality is their subjection to the will of a horseman they are saddled by, they are docile in hands of a trainer-seis, a horseman and a jockey.

A horse has a well-developed metabolism, respiratory apparatus, cardiovas-cular and nervous systems, a skeleton and musculature. This animal is notable for a good audition, sensitiveness, keen scent, and it perfectly knows its owner. The steed sees the road and its vicinity well, and it cautiously sets its foot on the ground choosing a place for a leg to be put.

An Akhalteke under saddle is very beautiful and graceful; it is comfortable for a horseman mounted and its gait is gentle. When it sets off at a gallop, it seems to fly above the ground; its caper is big and sweeping. When a steed is well-trained, it easily covers both short and long distances.

Steed’s motion is a physical action, when a steed, after tucking in the barrel, displaces its centre of gravity forward, but when it moves forward its centre of gravity restores, and movements are repeated in the similar way. Simply speaking, the steed moves, gallops in chase of its centre of gravity.

Movement’s tempos imply a moment when a steed gets its legs off the ground, either one by one or in pairs, and then returns them to the initial position. The steed makes different motions with a different velocity. Cruciform motions of all four legs of a steed enhance their rest on the ground and permit its moving smoothly and with confidence.

By regular steed’s training in different motions, one can refine them and at-tain a harmony. The aforesaid is the target of any steed’s training.

The horse moves in different gaits and with different velocity. There are three main gaits: a pace, a trot and a gallop. When pacing, horse’s hooves are alternately set on the ground, four strokes are heard. When trotting, 2 diagonal pairs of extremities are alternately set on the ground. Two strokes are heard.

When ambling, a steed alternately kicks the ground and raises lateral legs two by two, after that it hovers in the air without any support. When ambling, a steed slightly sways, nevertheless, a horseman feels comfortable on it.

When galloping, horse’s hooves make 3 strokes (3 tempos). If the right front hoof is the last to be set on the ground, then the fashion is to say that the horse is gal-loping from the right leg.

A steed achieves the best rate of motion when it raises legs at an average height, then throws out them forward, and makes frequent sazhen paces.

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A steeplechase and the highest school of riding – implementation of the most intricate figures, games, circus shows, etc. are attributed to the acquired habits of the steed’s motion. These motions are sophisticated and a steed is trained them in the course of special trainings.

H A R N E S S

Depending on the steed’s purpose, the following items of its harness are used: rishme, a bridle, a saddle, a saddle girth, a sweat cloth, a breast collar, a breast band, a lash and horseshoes.

A halter is used in case when a steed is to be led by a rein, tethered or shown to somebody.

A bridle is put on the steed’s head together with a rein, it is necessary for a horse to be handled by a horseman, turned in the direction required, directed and stopped.

A saddle is necessary for a horseman to sit comfortably on a horse, to help him bend forward and to handle a horse while leaning against a saddle.

The Turkmen saddle is the oldest and the most comfortable one. In con-tradistinction to others it has a pommel. The Turkmen saddle is hewn out of a purple willow; afterwards it is trimmed with thin raw leather.

A sporting saddle is put on a steed during equestrian contests. Racing and sporting saddles have an especially strong stirrup rope.

Horseshoes for racing horses are made of tensile metals (10-12 mm wire), they are required to protect horse’s hooves against injury, and in addition, they facili-tate the proper horse running. Two front legs of racing horses are shoed.

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S P O R T I N G H O R S E G R O O M I N G

Everybody who deals with steeds must know the procedure of keeping horses, their grooming, feeding and watering, and cleaning. The aforesaid works are performed in stables in compliance with a strict routine. Each horseman ought to look after a horse under his charge himself, and then a steed will reciprocate his feelings, in return for the human’s attention a steed will obey him during the races, sporting events, trainings and when doing exercises.

Sporting horses are kept in spacious and light stables partitioned in special compartments. It is welcomed when the area of each compartment is not less than 12 square metres. A feeding trough is installed in the corner of the compartment. Its floor is covered with wood chips or hay; the aforesaid is necessary to make the floor always dry, clean and soft for a steed. Stables and stalls shall be kept tidy; therefore they are scoured every day. During a day, a steed should be also rubbed down after riding and its legs should be washed.

A zoological and veterinary service schedules the daily routine, where the time of horses’ feeding and watering, their training, washing and rest is specified. Be-fore a steed is given fodder, it should drink its fill. The horse’s daily norms and fodder ration are fixed by a veterinarian and a seis himself; the rations are divided in three equal parts and given to a steed in the morning, afternoon and evening.

Thrice a day a steed is given vegetable forage. Depending on loads a steed has, it is given 5-6 kilogrammes of barley or oats, 1 kilogramme of bran, 6 kilogrammes of alfalfa hay. As a supplementary ration the steed is fed with carrots, fish, chalk and other vitamin and mineral additives. When a steed returns from hard works or the races, it can be fed with hay, but not earlier than two hours later, this time span is required for a steed to become cool. At first it should be watered in plenty and then given fodder.

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H A N D L I N G O F A S T E E D

It is recommended to mount racing and sporting horses inside the stable, and then ride outside. When saddling a disquieted steed, a horseman should lean on the left leg with the help of a groom and quickly fling himself into the saddle, owing to the aforesaid his safety will be ensured.

To mount the steed, one should stand on its left, while holding the bridle with one’s left hand, and fix one’s left leg into the stirrup, while the right leg is being thrown over a saddle on the steed’s right side. Legs should be perfectly placed in stirrups and reins should be winded on the hand.

To be able to ride a horse, one should train at least 30 hours, in order to learn how to handle any steed’s running – a trot, an amble, and a gallop. Three main conditions should be observed to learn to handle a steed: to stick straight on a steed, to learn to maintain a harmonious interrelation with a steed, to learn to handle a bridle, reins and a lash.

Steed-fanciers who crave for learning the horse riding, in the first place shall learn to stick on a steed, while keeping their balance. After one is able to stick on a steed, on no account one is allowed to grasp at the saddle or the mane, to strike the horse’s sides with legs in the stirrups and to squeeze them with a great force. Horses with light running and good temper are selected for trainees, they will be able to learn to stick on them and handle the horse very quickly.

The better way to learn to stick on a steed is to let it trotting or ambling. To form balance skills, it is considered to be useful to mount a steed without stirrups and a saddle.

If a horseman is sitting with confidence, keeps his balance and doesn’t im-pede steed’s natural motions, then the steed acts in congruence with its rider and tries to keep its balance as well. The steed aligns itself with its rider and obeys him.

T R A I N I N G S T E E D S F O R S P O R T I N G E V E N T S

For horse races steeds are begun training at the age of 1,5-2, for the eques-trian sport three-year-old steeds are selected. At the outset, they undergo common trainings irrespective of the kind of sport they are to be subsequently prepared. Young steeds are trained all kinds of pace and riding, what is required to make hardy their or-ganisms, to develop their muscles and to teach a steed in doing any exercises freely.

The first trainings of a steed in performing of all types of pacing and riding have not less than a 10-month or one-year duration and they include three periods.

The first period lasts for 3 months, during this time the steed has been trained on a special ground. It is trained in circular motions, while being held on a long rein. Young steeds are trained about 1 hour and 20 minutes per day, thereat, they have to pace, trot and gallop.

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The second period lasts for 3-3,5 months. 1 hour and 40 minutes are spent for daily trainings. Steeds are trained by holding them on a rein and sitting astride them. Thereat, figuring of eight is added to those trained in manege riding and steeple-chases; to this effect a steed is tapped on its left or right shoulder making it do half-turns and full turns and is trained to stop and stand still. While a steed is being held on a rein, it is made to jump over obstacles 50-60 cm high, ascend obstacles and jump from them with a horseman mounted.

The third period lasts for 4-5 months. Steeds are trained in the open field, on the rugged terrain and sandy soils. At first, simple exercises are performed – leaps over shallow ponds and pacing on bumpy roads. Then exercises are complicated by making a steed move on big bumps and pits. Such intricate exercises are done twice a week.

As regards big-time sports, steeds have been trained for 3-4 years, thereat, the training shall be regular in order to perfect continually skills and reinforce the ac-quirements.

H I G H E S T S C H O O L O F R I D I N G

When participating in the highest school of riding contests, horses shall have adjusted, light and free, beautiful and harmonious motions. A horseman shall sit on a steed free and straight, hold his own and handle the steed with no worry; the audi-ence shall not notice any movements he is executing to bring the racehorse under his control.

The following exercises are performed in the highest school of riding con-tests:

Pacing – mean, long, short spacing and unrestricted motions. With mean spacing the steed’s hind leg follows the track of the foreleg; a pace is executed in a steady speed. The steed’s neck is stretched-out and slightly curved. With long spacing the steed’s hind leg oversteps the track of the foreleg, it is set further on the ground, and the steed’s head and neck are slightly lowered. With short spacing the steed’s hind legs don’t reach the track of its forelegs. The neck is straight and slightly curved.

Short, long and mean trotting. When a steed figs out, a horseman sits with his corpus inclined slightly forward and leans his hands against his laps. With every beat of a hoof, a horseman raises himself a little in a saddle and sinks into it again, scilicet in time with the horse’s motions he moves up and down. With long trotting, a horseman is at his ease in the saddle.

A gallop is executed by dint of three types of motions – mean, quick and short. With a quick gallop, a steed makes a long pace, runs quickly and freely. To maintain a steed in this very type of motion, a special sport facility is available - a leg of rider.

To make a steed stop during any type of motion, one should carefully draw the bridle and the steed will gradually stop offering no resistance.

A steed shall stand quietly and motionlessly in the place required and rest on all four legs.

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A backward movement – a steed shall move straight backward with its neck and head slightly lowered and looking before it.

A lateral movement - holding its head upright, a steed must execute diagonal lateral movements pacing from corner to corner of the manege.

Intricate figures of the highest school of riding: Half-turn (half-pirouette). A turnover, while pacing and galloping, and a rota-

tion (pirouette) after which a steed completely turns back. Thereat, a steed stands on forelegs and performs turns with its corpus.

Passage – an ordered coordinated gallop, at low rate, a steed is collected and raises its legs high and sets them on the ground without exertion. It may be said it performs a splendid gallop, while standing still.

Piaffer – the same passage motions in a gallop, but a steed just stands still and demonstrates galloping movements. When piaffer motions are properly accom-plished, at 10-12 strokes a steed raises its legs very high and demonstrates galloping movements, while standing still.

T E C H N I Q U E O F L E A P S

Leaps are complicated motions of a specially well-trained horse. Movements in a leap include several stages.

Preparation for a leap – a speedup. A steed is let galloping and it is gaining a speed. At last moment, before a caper, a steed leans on its forelegs and tosses up its body with all its might. The steed’s head and neck are lowered and its forelegs are ready to fly up.

A part of a leap – a steed pushes its body upwards with its forelegs, bends hind legs a bit, then unbends them vigorously and jumps upward.

To soar – during this part of a leap a steed is flying forward over an obstacle and soars, while its forelegs are bent, then, staying in the air, the steed bends its hind legs and unbends its forelegs.

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Coming down to the ground – at first a steed raises its head and neck, immediately after it sets two forelegs on the ground, following which it lowers its hind legs.

A rider on the horseback shall execute movements similar to the horse’s and act in harmony with it. When the steed starts speeding up, a rider shall sit in the saddle in a semi-inclined state and lean his hands against his laps. When the steed is preparing for a leap, a horseman shall move forward, and at the instant of a leap he shall bend towards the steed’s neck. At the landing moment the rider draws himself up and sits up straight.

Steeplechase competitions are called a show jumping. Variable-height steeplechases call for an exquisite workmanship from a steed

and a rider. Every time an obstacle bar is raised considerably higher and contests con-

tinue until the highest point is overcome, videlicet, until a steed clears the highest bar. This point is happened to reach 220 cm.

Steeds are to be trained for this type of contests thoroughly and for a long time. One should keep a vigilant watch on the steed’s health and permanently harden it, strengthen muscles, train in various types of dressage and proper motions in a leap, thereby, foster traits required for a leap – an audacity and certitude.

After a steed learns the simplest jumping motions well, one should proceed to training in more complex and difficult techniques of a leap. For example, while rais-ing and extending an obstacle by 1 metre, one should make the steed skip from the place, in pacing, in trotting and in a speedup gallop, thereat, the steed shall perform such exercises easily.

The second-year training of steeds aged 4-5 should be added with an ar-rangement of surprises, for example, one should train the steed to approach an ob-stacle from one side or very closely, then turn back and approach the obstacle again to skip.

At present, a special ground measuring 80 m long and 50 m wide is construct-ed at the Akhalteke horse complex for steeplechase trainings. International masters of the equestrian sport are training sportsmen there. Team and individual steeplechase championships are annually held at the Akhalteke horse complex.

T R I AT H L O N

The equestrian triathlon is the most difficult and complex type of the eques-trianism. Contest performances in this kind of sport have been held for three-four days and include different exercises.

The first day of events – a manege ride with showing the simplest exercises. On the manege having dimensions of 20-60 m a sportsman has to display different figures of the highest school of riding, and perform turns, half-turns and steed’s stop-ping.

The second day’s competitions consist of four parts – a cross-country run and running on roads with artificial barriers.

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The third day’s triathlon competitions include a manege ride and a steeple-chase on lengths of road 750 to 900 m. Obstacles 120 m high and 180 m wide and numbering 12 are erected on the aforementioned length, provided that the speed is not less than 400 m per minute.

Field tests in triathlon are held in two types – a steeplechase and a cross-country race. A circle-shaped or an octad-shaped steeplechase track is arranged in the centre of a ground and obstacles are installed thereon.

A cross-country race is assigned on more complicated roads, a rugged ter-rain with varied obstacles with a moat inter alia.

T U R K M E N N AT I O N A L H O R S E B A C K G A M E S

Horseback games are notable for their rapidity and demand courage and fearlessness. The first horseback games corresponded to sabre fights, javelin throwing at full tilt, suspending of a pumpkin at a certain altitude that served as a gold shooting mark. Such sport events taught skills of military game playing.

“To ride a horse, while hidden behind its side”. In one’s hour of need, one had to hide by hanging over a steed to get to the enemy’s camp. The game bears resemblance to the aforesaid, during the game a horseman hides by stretching along the steed’s back.

“Telpek gapdy”. While riding a horse at a gallop, a horseman tosses up his papakha and catches it at full speed. Dexterity is fostered owing to this game.

“Chovgan” – when two rival teams play a ball; this game was widespread with the Turkmens in the Middle Ages. Subsequently, the game “chovgan” has become

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widespread in Europe and called an equestrian polo. The game is played on a rectan-gular ground having dimensions of 200 m x 150 m. The gates are 3 metres wide. Two teams, 6 horsemen in each team, play the game.

“Ovlak chapdy” (goat-tearing). Two horseback teams play this game. A rival team must reach the finish at a gallop and throw a goatling carcass towards the middle of the field. There wins a team that kicks the goatling carcass into the goal in greater numbers. The game is interesting and watched with a strained attention. Strong race-horses, which are able to balance, are preferred for this game.

“Riders’ horseback games”. A trick riding. A horseman does all kinds of ex-ercises at full tilt. Horseback circus shows may be regarded as the continuation of ancient Turkmen national horseback games.

No Turkmen wedding or national holiday is celebrated without national horse-back games.

T U R K M E N H O R S E R A C E S

To have horse races during festivities has become a tradition with the Turk-mens. At the same time, they have grown into one of the most wonderful kinds of the equestrian sport.

On Turkmenistan hippodromes one can see performances of Akhalteke race-horses displayed independently; the steeds aged 2 to 8 and mares aged 2 to 4. The races are held under an annual programme in spring and autumn seasons.

Racehorses are divided in 5 groups according to their speed. Two year olds having won neither in the first races nor in subsequent races are recorded in the fourth group. Those, which have won once, are put on the third-group list, twice winners – in

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the second-group list and thrice winners – in the first-group list. Those which have won four times are entered in a separate group, thus, five groups are formed. Any race-horse is allowed to set off on a track together with steeds of its group.

The following distances are foreseen in the races: for two year olds – 500, 800, 1000, 1200, 1400 and up to 1600 metres; for three year olds - 1000, 1200, 1400, 1600, 1800, 2000, 2400, 2800 and 3000 metres; for four year olds and above – 1200 to 4800 metres.

The Grand Prix – the President of Turkmenistan Prize – is generally con-ferred on the winners of the laps on the Day of Independence on hippodromes of Turk-menistan. Three-year-old steeds and mares compete at a distance of 2800 metres.

The Great Akhal Prize may be also attributed to traditionally large prizes. It is commonly conferred on steeds aged 4 and above at a distance of 4000 metres; Eyeberdy Teleke Prize – among two year olds at a distance of 1600 metres.

Premium points are recorded for steeds that take prize-winning places and, depending on the point magnitude, a cash bonus is instituted and valuable gifts are given.

M A R AT H O N R A C E S

In ancient times and nowadays, the marathon races are organized in order to find out the steed’ speed and stamina. There are one-day and days-long marathon rounds. Strong and specially trained horses aged 6-12 are selected for this kind of contests. Rules of the International Equestrian Sport Federation specify distances for a marathon round to be 25, 50, 100, 120, 160 kilometres, thereat, a horseman’s weight with the harness shall not exceed 70-75 kilogrammes.

The first marathon round with participation of Akhalteke racehorses was held in November 1945 at the distance of 500 km and dedicated to the Victory in the World War II. Horses of all nine racing breeds existed in the USSR in those days, including Arabic, English and other breeds, took part in the event. In the course of competitions that spanned five days steeds had to cover 100 km without stops. Turkmen racehorses gained all essential prizes and three prize-winning places.

E Q U E S T R I A N T O U R I S M

The equestrian tourism is a horseback travelling, which facilitates the human’s relaxation and rest, not to say about good spirits together with a physical training.

While riding on horseback, one can reach the out-of-the-way corners of the countryside, whereto no other transport vehicle can get – to mountain gorges, to the forest, to the banks of rivers and lakesides, one can travel in barkhan sands, rest and enjoy the amenity of wildlife. Tourists can go on days-long riding trips with tents and foodstuffs taken along.

Throughout the tourist route special grounds have been furnished to keep steeds on a tether during recreational stops. Thereat, a steed is liberated from a bridle

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and haltered; the length of the tether rope shall not be less than 3-4 metres. If enclo-sures are available, mares and geldings are kept together.

Steeds whereon tourists are riding shall be in plenty watered and fed thrice a day. The fodder is divided in three parts, and a workhorse is given 8-10 kilogrammes of hay and 4 kilogrammes of barley. After returning from a trip, steeds should be given grass, but they are watered not less than 1,5 hours thereafter and only then the fodder is poured.

One should bear in mind that quiet and good-tempered, physically strong and flawless steeds must be selected for the organization of the equestrian tourism. Horses above 4 and under 14 are applicable.

In addition to governmental institutions, daikhan associations, private farms and enterprising horse breeders may be engaged in the organization of the equestrian tourism provided that they are specially authorized thereto and steeds are in their pos-session.

The equestrian tourism is suitable for everybody, and it is a convenient form of relaxation. We dispose of every opportunity to have it organized at the highest inter-national level, to attract foreign tourists to our country and to familiarize them with the national culture, and peculiarities of unique nature of the Turkmen land.

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Contents

A Symbol of Great Revival ................. 11

History witnesses ................................. 27

In the sun of the Turkmen land ........... 35

In harmony with nature ....................... 43

Steed is everything for the Turkmens .................................... 51

The best from the best ........................... 63

To new sports achievements ............... 71

Superstrain of the Akhalteke breed .... 86

To help an equestrian sport devotee ............ 216

Gurbanguly BERDYMUHAMEDOV

Akhalteke horse – our pride and glory

Special photography: V.A. Sarkisyan

Photographs by A. Tumanov, R. Kozubov, Yu. Shkurin and from TDH photo-archive

are used in the book.

Printed in Germany

© Türkmendöwlethabarlary (TDH), 2008