Breeders Reviving Rare Turkish Horse Breed

Breeders Reviving Rare Turkish Horse Breed AG WORLD 34-4-22 áThe Akhal-Teke breed has 3,000 years of history, the brain of a border collie and the body of a greyhound. Breeders say there's just something about the horses and they hope to increase their numbers and make people aware of their unusual athletic abilities. Akhal-Teke horses served as war mounts in Turkmenistan and were named after the nomads that bred them. They are thought to be predecessors of Arabians and English thoroughbred breeds. They are survivors, built to survive extreme desert heat and cold temperatures. They don't do as well in hot and humid or rainy climates. The breed's worst enemy was the Soviets who nearly slaughtered them to extinction. Ones that were left were bred with thoroughbreds until Turkish breeders proved the Akhal-Teke's worth with an 84-day, 2,700-mile trip to Moscow, including a 225-mile, three-day leg across a desert without water. It's estimated there are about 5,000 Akhal-Teke horses worldwide, with about 500 in the U.S. and Canada. They thrive in northern regions, says Cynthia Swensen, who is the largest Akhal-Teke breeder in Canada with 20 of the horses near High River, Alberta. She recently established an organization to register and define the breed in Canada. The U.S. also has a couple of organizations. Swensen likes the size of the breed, at less than 16 hands tall. She also likes their long, lean, narrow-chested look and the way they hold their heads high. Most of all, she appreciates their intellect. "They're hot-blooded like a thoroughbred, so you have to treat them a little bit differently," she notes. "When training them you can't do three hours of circles or endlessly repetitive exercises. They are really smart horses, and they just want to be engaged, learning new things everyday." Their athleticism makes Akhal-Teke horses perfect for dressage, racing, eventing and show jumping. The problem is that there aren't enough of them to make a big name for the breed, though one Akhal-Teke named Absent won Olympic gold for the USSR in 1960 with the highest points for any dressage horse to date. Since the breed is rare, horses tend to be expensive. Prices range from $4,000 to $25,000, with many in the $10,000 to $13,000 range. Swensen hopes prices will come down as breed numbers expand and that they become much more common for sporting use and ranch work. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Cynthia Swensen, ATSBA Canada, 1123 9tháStreet S.E., Calgary, AlbertaáT2G 3B3 Canada (ph 403 452-2939; www.ATSBA.ca or www.boldvantage.ca).

To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click here to register with your account number.