Akhal-Teke horse: breed characteristics, maintenance rules and cost

Description of the Akhal-Teke horse

Horses of this breed, once seen, cannot be confused with others. The purity of the blood, preserved over thousands of years, was expressed in the characteristic features of the exterior. An Akhal-Teke stallion reaches 160-170 centimeters at the withers, a mare – 150-160 centimeters. If you compare it with animals of other species, it resembles a cheetah: just as light, fast, and beautiful. Akhal-Teke horses are playful and jumping, and can go without water or food for a long time.

Exterior

Characteristic features of the Akhal-Teke horse’s exterior:

Dry head with a small hump in the bridge of the nose. The ears are widely spaced, thin, mobile. The eyes are large, with an “Asian” slant. Wide nostrils.
The neck is long. The mane and bangs are made of soft, short hair.
The chest is narrow and muscular.
The stomach is retracted, the ribs are straight.
The back is straight and long.
The croup is sloping.
The tail is set low and thin.
The legs are slender and long.
The hooves are small and hard.
The skin is thin, with translucent blood vessels.

The absence of a mane is found only in the Akhal-Teke breed.

Varieties and suits

There are three varieties within the breed:

Tall, with ideal body proportions.
Medium height, with average proportional indicators.
Short, strong in build.

Among the Akhal-Teke horses there are horses of various colors (in proportions of the total number of livestock):

bay (2/5);
dunka (1/5);
black (1/8);
red (1/8);
sulfur (1/25);
nightingale (1/20);
isabella (1/50).

All colors are characterized by a short undercoat of golden or silver color. It gives the main color a shine that changes depending on the brightness of the lighting.

Temperament and learning ability

Akhal-Teke horses are not known for being trusting of strangers. The peculiarities of the formation of the breed developed pride and independence in them. The Akhal-Teke dog only recognizes its owner and does not make contact with other people. Such affection has been artificially cultivated in animals for thousands of years.

Among the Akhal-Teke there are excitable, nervous and hot individuals. Coercion by force is met by stubbornness and refusal to carry out orders. But the horse does not show aggression towards humans.

Before you begin training, you need to build trust. This will require time and an understanding of the psychology of the Akhal-Teke horse. If the horse recognizes the trainer, then training will not require effort. Akhal-Teke horses, having a good memory, learn easily and willingly.

How are Akhal-Teke horses used?

Throughout the entire period of its existence, horses of this breed were never used as pack animals. They were not harnessed to carts either. Most often they were used as war or hunting horses. Sometimes they were used just for travel.

Nowadays, horses of this breed are most often used in distance racing and smooth running, and sometimes in dressage and show jumping. In agility they lose only to representatives of the English riding breed. It is also believed that these animals are well suited for circus training and horse riding competitions. Selling Akhal-Teke horses in Russia is currently considered quite profitable due to their unpretentiousness and very high cost. Since 1991, another large stud farm has been operating in our country, where these animals are produced - Akhal-Teke LLC. It is located in the town of Dubna near Moscow.

In Soviet times, this horse was not particularly valued. Nikita Khrushchev, for example, instead of supporting her breeders, did everything to ensure that she disappeared forever. At one time, the best representatives of the breed were even simply sent to slaughterhouses. Nowadays, the attitude towards these horses has changed radically. Not long ago, a test was carried out on horses of the Akhal-Teke breed, which showed their exceptional performance. After this, the main directions of breeding work with them were determined. The main focus in our time is on increasing the massiveness of these animals, their growth and bony while maintaining spectacular beauty.

What are the characteristics of Isabella horses?

Isabella color resembles the color of baked milk. Akhal-Teke dogs of this color have pink skin and cream-colored hair. In the sun, Akhal-Teke horses of Isabella color seem cast from gold. In addition to their rare coloration, they have bright blue or green eyes.

Use of Akhal-Teke horses

Akhal-Teke horses were bred for riding. They show excellent results in show jumping competitions and long races. In terms of length and height jumping, Akhal-Teke horses have no equal among other breeds. World records in height (2.20 meters) and length (9 meters) were set by Akhal-Teke horses.

Obedient and trained Akhal-Teke horses amaze judges and spectators at dressage competitions with their grace and precision of movements. For the same reason, Akhal-Teke horses are used for circus performances.

Famous Budennovites

Named after the famous marshal, no less famous horses are the pride of domestic horse breeding. The average price of a purebred stallion is about 100 thousand rubles. But individual representatives can significantly exceed the cost of their counterparts.

These horses have a fairly wide range of applications. They have proven themselves well as sports and hunting ones. They are used for hippotherapy—the treatment of children with cerebral palsy and other defects with horses. Often it is Budyonnovsk residents who are brought into boarding houses and recreation centers to communicate with visitors.

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Excellent results in competition, dressage, and eventing are the reason that these horses are widely used in sports competitions. These are fast horses and excellent jumpers, which is why they take an honorable third place in the ranking of popular horse breeds in the world.

However, some breeders believe that a sporting lifestyle is not suitable for proud horses and leads to the degeneration of the breed.

Basic content rules

To maintain the health of Akhal-Teke horses, it is necessary to fulfill the requirements for their maintenance.

The list of necessary conditions includes:

Feeding in accordance with the animal's physical activity.
Daily cleaning.
Water procedures 3 times a week.
Check the hooves once a month.
Dental examination twice a year.
Daily walk in the fresh air with physical activity.

To clean horses use:

natural hair brushes (hard and soft);
wooden comb;
sponges (for the muzzle and buttocks);
velvet/cloth;
rags for washing hooves;
hook for cleaning hooves.

The cleaning procedure begins from the head, moving to the shoulders, withers, back and legs. For wool, use a stiff brush. In places where the bones are not protected by muscles, clean with a soft brush. Then moisten the tail and mane with water and comb it with a comb. Use a hook to clean the hooves and wipe with a wet rag. Wipe the muzzle near the eyes and nostrils with a damp sponge. The skin under the tail is treated with another sponge. Rub the entire horse with a slightly damp velvet mitten.

Arrangement of the stables

The stable is located outside the city, away from the highway. Animals are kept in wooden structures with good ventilation and lighting (natural + artificial). A heated floor is installed in the stalls: a straw bedding with a thickness of at least 10 centimeters is laid on a concrete-clay base. Feeders are placed across the entire width of the stall with a tray depth of 40 centimeters.

Feeding and watering

It is recommended to feed the horse at certain hours, which stimulates the secretion of gastric juice and better absorption of feed. The drinking regime is similar to other horse breeds: water is given before feeding. Daily fluid volume varies depending on the time of year. In hot weather, a horse needs 60-70 liters of water, in cold weather - 35-40 liters. The water should be fresh, clean, with a temperature of +10...+15 degrees.

Physical activity is not allowed half an hour before and after feeding. A sweaty horse is given water after it has cooled down. The diet is determined based on physical activity. In the old days, the Turkmen supported their horses with camel milk, flatbreads with lamb fat, and eggs.

Basic diet

The basis of nutrition for Akhal-Teke horses is:

roughage;
green food;
concentrates.

Roughage:

hay;
straw;
chaff of spring wheat, barley.

Green food - fresh grass. Concentrated feed includes cereals and silage.

Grain crops in the diet of Akhal-Teke horses:

wheat;
barley;
oats;
corn.

Silage is made from green mass of corn or sunflower. The daily diet takes into account the energy expenditure of the animal. On days when the horse is walked with light jogging, he is given forage (roughage and green feed) without concentrates. During long, slow riding, the percentage of forage is reduced to 70%, replacing it with concentrate. During training in show jumping, dressage, and harness riding, the percentage of concentrates is increased to 40%.

In show jumping and dressage competitions, forage and grain constitute equal amounts. In eventing, the horse needs more energy and receives 60% grain and 40% forage. Akhal-Teke horses participating in racing are fed mainly with concentrated feed (70%).

During feeding, the animal is first fed roughage, then green. The daily intake of roughage is divided into 4 parts: one in the morning and afternoon, two at night.

Nutritional supplements

Horses are given succulent feed (vegetables, fruits) last. Vitamins are introduced into complementary foods as needed.

Bathing

The Akhal-Teke, with its mobile nervous system, benefits from water procedures. Water invigorates the animal, affects mood and appetite. Washing is carried out once every 2 days. In summer, the horse is bathed in a pond (natural/artificial). The rest of the year, douse with a hose or bucket. The reservoir must have a sandy or gravel bottom without silting.

Water temperature is within +20 degrees. The water procedure lasts 20 minutes. At the end of it, excess water is removed with the palm of your hand or a scraper. Drying of the skin and hair occurs in the air. The animal is walked at a slow pace for 20 minutes until it dries in the sun. The horse is gradually accustomed to washing with a hose and bucket so that the water under pressure does not frighten him.

Dental care

With age, the Akhal-Teke's chewing teeth begin to deteriorate, causing pain when chewing. The older the animal, the more often its teeth should be examined. If toothache is suspected, the horse is taken to a specialist.

Signs of problems with teeth are constant tension in the back muscles, poor appetite, and causeless restlessness of the animal: the horse often rears.

Grazing

The fenced paddock should be located next to the stable. Akhal-Teke horses are walked twice a day, if there is no training - for at least half an hour.

Horseshoe

Horses participating in horse racing and show jumping are shod with special horseshoes that have an orthopedic effect. This protects the animal from injury to its legs. In other cases, universal horseshoes are used.

Character and temperament

Argamaks have the usual horse character. But among them, more often than among representatives of other breeds, there are active, excitable individuals with a hot southern temperament. But even such horses never show unnecessary aggression.

Tekins are attached to their owner and have a hard time being separated from him. Some animals are “monogamous” and do not allow strangers near them. Therefore, it will not be easy for a new horse owner to win its favor.

Argamaki is not one of those horses that will unquestioningly carry out commands under the influence of brute force. Patience, sincerity and subtle calculation will help you tame these proud animals. If the owner manages to make friends with the horse, then it will be ready to do anything for him. If contact cannot be established, then the horse will do whatever it pleases.

Temperamental Sky Argamak

Areas of application

Akhal-Teke horses successfully participate in races on flat terrain (smooth races) and distance runs; they are used a little less often in dressage and show jumping.

Argamaki are beautiful horses. Due to their endurance, horses can easily cope with sprint races and often come first to the finish line. Their springy movements are not tiring for riders.

The Akhal-Teke horse is comfortable for riders

In terms of speed, Akhal-Teke horses are inferior to English riding horses. In Turkmenistan, special competitions are held for Argamaks, in which horses of other breeds are not allowed to participate.

Akhal-Teke horses have no equal in dressage. Trained horses of this breed, following commands, seem graceful and fabulously beautiful. But behind unconditional obedience lie years of hard training.

In show jumping, the record for representatives of this breed is 2 m 12 cm, while the world record was recorded at 2 m 47 cm.

One of the features of the breed is late maturation: horses reach peak physical activity by 4-6 years. This significantly increases the cost of their maintenance and reduces the potential for use in equestrian sports.

Akhal-Teke stallions are perfectly suited for circus training and horse riding.

Akhal-Teke circus horse

Breeding

Puberty in Akhal-Teke horses ends by 2 years. But for breeding animals are attracted at the age of 4-5 years. Insemination of mares in heat is carried out artificially. The stallion is selected in advance so that the foal is born of the desired color.

The mare's pregnancy lasts 11 months. One, rarely two foals are born. After 5 hours, newborns stand on their feet and can follow their mother. For the first six months, the foal is fed by a mare. Then he is gradually transferred to plant foods. Until the middle of the last century, stud farms for breeding Akhal-Teke horses were located in Turkmenistan. Currently, breeding work is carried out in the Russian Federation and Kazakhstan.

Interesting facts about the breed

There are 3,000 purebred Akhal-Teke horses in the world. Half of them are located in Turkmenistan. Turkmens consider Akhal-Teke horses to be their national treasure, the brand of the country. The horse is depicted on the coat of arms, the banknote of the national currency. A national holiday is held in her honor - an annual race, in which only Akhal-Teke horses can take part.

In past centuries, the rulers of the country could afford to keep Akhal-Teke horses in herds. Turkmen nomads kept 1-2 horses, which were constantly near their homes on a long lasso. Foals were taken into a tent during the cold season. Stall housing has formed the relationship between man and horse as equal partners with complete trust in each other.

In the old days, among the Turkmens, the first place in importance was the father, then the guest. The horse took third place, he was more important than his wife, children and other relatives. Akhal-Teke horses lived to a ripe old age without learning what a whip was. Due to the illiteracy of the population, the pedigree of each horse was transmitted orally. Information for the stud book was accumulated by the middle of the 20th century.

Akhal-Teke Absinthe at the Olympic Games in Rome (1960) became a world sensation. With his dressage performance, he captivated the audience with the beauty of his appearance, impeccable execution of commands, demonstrating the fusion of rider and horse.

Luxury of the East

Arabian horses are horses that have made some people millionaires. They often take part in horse races; for one good horse the price tag can soar to a million dollars.

Not everyone can start a business with Arabian horses, since purchasing even one animal requires significant expenses. You can buy a stallion in Russia in the range from 180 to 400 thousand rubles.

Horses have found use in equestrian sports, both amateur and professional, and are also used for filming. Indeed, representatives of the breed are very beautiful and noble. Experts began to actively use Arabs to improve the breed qualities of other varieties.

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In addition, such beauties often take part in exhibitions and often leave competitors far behind.