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Akhal-Teke horses were the breed of choice for soldiers and kings from Kazakhstan to China. Akhal-Tekes are believed to be one of the oldest horse breeds in the world, some say the precursor to both the Thoroughbred and Arabian. Throughout its history the Akhal Teke has been pure bred, and due to war and conflict, remains rare and endangered. 

 

The Akhal-Teke horse is considered the most beautiful equine breed in existence. The Akhal Teke has a fine coat and thin skin, the hair is short and iridescent, and a distinctive feature is a pronounced metallic sheen. They have unique soft and elastic gaits, most seeming to glide or float across the ground, with a trot that snakes from side to side. 

 

The Akhal-Teke can be found in different colours, including bay, black, chestnut, buckskin and palomino. The most famous colour is the pale, metallic perlino. Akhal-Teke horses average 15.2 hands and weigh 450-500kgs. They are known to be very intelligent horses that respond well to sensitive training, and they can make an outstanding horse partner.

 

The Akhal-Teke is suitable for a wide variety of equestrian disciplines.

 

They are mainly raced in their native Turkmenistan and in Russia, however they show great aptitude for eventing, jumping, dressage and polo. 

 

Perhaps the most famous Akhal-teke was Absent who won the Olympic gold medal in dressage at the 1960 Olympics in Rome for Russia. Jet black Absent went again to win the bronze individual and team medals in the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo, and then the team silver medal for Russia at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City.  Absent had a career total of six medals – the most ever earned by any individual horse. He was named “Horse of the Century”.