HomeHorseAkhal Teke: Most Interesting Information About This Turkmenistan Horse

Akhal Teke: Most Interesting Information About This Turkmenistan Horse

Akhal Teke is one of the most beautiful, versatile, oldest, and racing horse breeds that originated in Turkmenistan. The horse is one of the oldest horse breeds of all horses today. The horse’s name was taken from “Akhal,” a series of oases of Kopet Dag Mountains of Central Asia, and the horse was rared by the “Teke” tribe of Turkmenistan. The horse hard-working, heavy, shiny, well behaved, adopt extreme weather condition, and lovely.

Interesting Information on Akhal Teke Horse 


Turkmenistan is a Central Asian country full of oil and natural gas reserves. The horse breeds Akhal Teke is one of the most ancient horse breeds that originated in Turkmenistan. Therefore, the horse has an essential place in Turkmen culture and heritage. The local people initially used the horse, but the horse is distributed throughout Europe, North America, Australia, and parts of Asia due to its exceptional qualities. In my article, I shall highlight the most exciting information on this versatile horse breed.

Akhal Teke Horse of Turkmenistan

Origin and History


Akhal Teke is one of the most ancient horse breeds that originated in the mountainous area of Turkmenistan more than 3000 years ago. There is a common debate about the oldest horse breed on Arabian and Akhal Teke. The horse’s thoughts to be originated from Turkomen and Nisean horse breed. The Turkomen horse is also found in part of Iran in present days.

Origin and History of Turkmen Horse

The tribal people of Turkmenistan, “Teke,” took the horse as their prized possession, riding, and necessary items for the sustenance in tribal life. The horse breeding was maintained by oral records and transmitted generation after generation. The horse breed Barb, Turkoen, Arabian, and Akhal Teke originated from the same oriental region.

Later, the horse breed was influenced by Arabian and Thoroughbred horses. After the Bolshevik Revolution in 1881, Turkmenistan was part of the Russian Emperor. The Russian General Kuropatkin made horses famous and started breeding the horse. He renames the horse breed “Akhal Teke” from the oases of Akhal mountains and the tribe’ Teke.’ The first studbook of this horse breed was opened by Russia in 1932 and was printed in 1941. 

Physical Characteristics


Akhal Teke is one of the most beautiful and most pleasing horse breeds. The head is well refined, predominantly straight, and slightly convex. The ears are long, and the bright eyes are almond-shaped, also called ‘hooded eyes.’ The neck is upright, muscular; the croup is flat and long, mane and tail are sparse. The shoulders are sloping, the skin is thin, and the legs are straight. The horse is adapted to sustain in the harsh environment, with little food and water. 

Physical Characteristics of Akhal Teke

Height and Weight 


The Akhal Teke is a medium-sized racing and sports horse breeds. The average height of the horse is 14.2 to 16 hands (58 to 64 inches). 

The average bodyweight of the horse is 450 to 550 kg (1000-1100 pounds). However, the horse is stronger and more energetic than that their size.

Height and Weight of Akhal Teke

Color and Markings


The horse found varies of colors and markings on their head, body, and legs. Almost all equine colors are accepted for registration in the studbook. The horses having unique colors with golden buckskin and palomino are more popular than others. The dilution of the cream gene produces cremello and perlino colors. The other recognized colors of the Akhal Teke horse are bay, black, chestnut, grey, and brown. The color of the horse utilizes for camouflage in the desert. The horse has a natural metallic shin color in its skin due to the presence of the cream gene.

Color Turkmen Horse

Behavior and Temperament


The horse is well-behaved, intelligent, calm, hard-working, and mannered. The horse breed is suitable for harsh environments like mountainous areas and in extreme cold. The horse can travel continuously for three days without water and taking minimum feed. The horse is easily trainable and docile. The horse is also suitable for kids and beginners. The horse is sensitive, loyal, proud tempered, and sometimes fiery. Thats why many parts of the world love the horse.

Behavior of Akhal Teke

Registration and Distribution


The horse was bred by the tribal people of Turkmenistan from ancient times and maintained the breed history by an oral record. The first studbook was started in 1932 by the former USSR, and the first studbook was published in 1941. There were 700 horses registered in the first studbook of the Akhal Teke horse. 

Akhal Teke Distribution

Today there are more than 6600 Akhal Teke horses throughout the world. The majority of the horses are located in Turkmenistan. However, the horses are also found in Russia, the United States of America, Iran, Turkey, Uruguay, Australia, South Africa, and several European countries. The International Association of Akhal Teke Breeding (MAAK) and Akhal Teke Association of America are two famous and well-known horse associations. 

Diet and Nutrition of Akhal Teke


The horse lives on general equine feed, and the diet must be balanced with protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals. You can provide a high protein diet, corn, cowpea, gram, soyabean meal, and barley. The usual pasture of the horse is alfalfa, dry lucerne, Para, Napier, or Sudan grass. An equine nutritionist must calculate the total diet of the dorse, and you can provide the feed three times a day. The horse can be accessible at pasture to graze, or you can provide green grass or hay to the stable.

Akhal Teke -Eventing

Care and Management of Horse


The horse requires daily feeding, watering, grooming, and cleaning of stable and premises. The horse requires weekly bathing in a hot environment, monthly clipping, and hoof trimming. The horse must be dewormed at every four months interval. The horse must be vaccinated to protect from potential diseases and revaccinated regularly. You must provide a secured housing that will protect the horse from extreme cold or hot environments.

Care and Management of Horse

The Health of Akhal Teke Horse


The horse is generally healthy and affected by general equine diseases. The critical point is that the horse breed is affected by several genetic diseases that are specific to Akhal Teke. The genetic diseases are:

  • Hairless Foal Syndrome or nacked Foal Syndrome.
  • Hereditary Cryptorchidism.
  • Wobbler Syndrome or Cervical Vertebral Malformation (CVM).
  • Degenerative Suspensory Ligament Desmitis (DSLD).
  • Osteo chondritis Disease (OCD).

Health Issues of Turkmenistan Horse

Unique Features of The Horse Breed


Akhal Teke is one of the most ancient horse breeds that originated more than 300 years ago. The horse has many unique features in comparison to many other horse breeds of the world. The unique features of the breed are:

  • Akhal Teke is the most ancient horse breed and had a debate with Arabian horses.
  • There are four horse breeds, like Turkomen, Barb, Arabian, and Akhal Teke, which originated from the same oriental region.
  • The horse has an essential place in the culture and heritage of Turkmenistan society.
  •  It is strictly prohibited to change the name of the horse in its lifetime in Turkmenistan.
  • The horses are used as a diplomatic relationship and as a country gift in Turkmenistan.
  • The horse picture is displayed in the Official Coat of Arms and the Banknotes of Turkmenistan.

Unique Characteristics of Akhal Teke Horse

  • The horse is like a greyhound with a lean, athletic, long, and elegant body with flowing paces.  
  • The horse is famous for its intelligence, elegance, endurance, stamina, and beauty. 
  • The unique metallic shin coat color of the horse makes them popular with many horse lovers.

Uses of Akhal Teke Horse 


Akhal Teke is a versatile horse breed and used in many equestrian disciplines and sports. The horse is also famous for pleasure riding, companion animals, and suitable for kids. The versatile uses of the horse are:

Jumping by Turkmenistan Horse

Concluding Remarks on Akhal Teke


Akhal Teke is one of the most versatile and exciting horse breeds in the world. The horse is a native horse of Turkmenistan, but it is popular in many parts of the world due to its exceptional qualities and beauty. The horse attains many international records in the Olympic, FEI, and Grand Pix. The horse is gentle, elegant, intelligent, and docile. The horse is a desire to many horse lovers. In my article, I have tried to highlight the most exciting information on this beautiful horse breed. 

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