Showing posts with label history. Show all posts
Showing posts with label history. Show all posts

Monday 10 June 2013

Akhal Teke: probably the most beautiful horse in the world !!

 Akhal Teke: probabil cel mai frumos cal din lume

Horses Massageţilor?

"Then came ten of the sacred horses, which is also called Nisaeani, all adorned with bright harnesses. They came from the lands of the Great Plains Nisaeane Medes, where horses never seen elsewhere "(Herodotus - Historia)

Considered by many people even more elegant and beautiful than Arabian thoroughbred horse, Akhal Teke is really the image of a horse that will not be forgotten by one who sees it for the first time in reality. Akhal Teke horse is a breed whose length exceeds 3000 years.

It is the direct descendant of the horses were afraid of fighting and mysterious Massageţi (Getae great, Getian tribes arrived to Central Asia), Bactrieni and Alani. In ancient Persia, these horses were known as horse Nisaeani and Romans have said a few hundred years later, the horses sides. In the second century BC, the Roman historian Oppian wrote to her about:

"These horses, worthy of the most powerful kings, have a look breathtakingly beautiful, moving smoothly under the rider, not readily accept punishment. Their head is almost novel profile and their golden manes flying majestically in the wind. "


There are several theories regarding the original ancestry of the Akhal-Teke, some dating back thousands of years. The tribes of Turkmenistan selectively bred the horses, recording their pedigrees orally and using them for raiding. The breed was used in the losing fight against the Russian Empire, and was subsumed into the Empire along with its country. The Russians printed the first stud book for the breed in 1941, including over 700 horses. Since then, the Akhal-Teke has influenced many other breeds, including several Russian breeds. There has also been some crossbreeding with the Thoroughbred to create a fast, long-distance racehorse, but the resulting horses did not have the endurance of the purebred Akhal-Teke. The studbook was closed in 1975.


After studying the most striking archaeological and historical evidence, experts and V. Firsov, K. Gorelev, V.Witt, E. and M. Belonogov Erşova concluded that the Akhal Teke horse breed is an ancient branch of galloping horses, evolved independently isolated steppes and deserts Turkmenia today. Thus selected by a hostile natural environment and people's requirements then Akhal Teke horse does not compare to any other breed of horses in speed, strength, power and beauty of appearance.

Environment has been selected - Turkmen desert and steppe, with large temperature had an important role in determining its unique qualities.

Considerable age race not the subject of any dispute in this regard, but no past or present specialist could not explain the occurrence of such a horse in the heart of Central Asia.

Its unusual appearance, it is not like that of ancient equine and tarpan and Przewalski's horse. In this case, the theory that the horse comes from outside where it was first described in antiquity, it is worth taken into consideration as the more recently discovered in the Altai Mountains were more similar to fossils of Akhal Teke horses .

A flighty young stallion Akhal Teke breed    (Foto: Shutterstock.com)Un armăsar tânăr şi nărăvaş din rasa Akhal Teke
In modern literature targeting these pathways are numerous tangible evidence that the Akhal Teke horses were used to create much more famous races as pure Arab blood, pure-blood English and to improve local breeds of horses in Russia Europe and Middle East.
 
As stated by Professor V. Witt Akhal Teke "last drop of blood has valuable breeds were selected riding today." From Turkmen to Russian


 
In the Middle Ages brought horses glory of ancient civilizations that have been successful in Central Asia have gradually come to the possession of Turkmen tribes descended from the Altai region Horezmului. These nations have understood immediately the amount of riders and horses Nisaeani were busy following centuries of growth and selecting their own criteria.
 
After Russia annexed Imperial Turkmen Khanate in 1881, the horses became Turkmen Akhal Teke horses, the name Turkmen tribes and oasis Akhal Teke from Kopete Dag Mountains. Traditionally, a Turkmen family grew by one horse, it has the status of a close family member.
 
The horse was kept in the house or tent, and since he was a small foal grew surrounded by love and care for all. He was fed only with feed quality alfalfa, oats, honey, dates and even a special kind of wheat dumplings and mutton tallow. As Turkmen proverb says:
 
"The growing good and beautiful horse, get skinny fast like a dog!"
 
But the horse will definitely reward master with full devotion. Suspect, even aggressive with strangers, Akhal Teke will give only friend and his master's heart. Breed horse demonstrated over time that they have truly legendary qualities.

 
A color copy cremello open ridden by a person in traditional Turkmen
 Un exemplar de culoare cremello deschis călărit de o persoană în costum tradiţional turkmen
As noted a participant in the Battle of Geok Tepe of Russian imperial troops and Turkmen tribes:

"I saw a beautiful stallion Akhal Teke amazed seriously wounded by a sword blow. However, this magnificent specimen, carrying two heavy blankets and was ridden by three warriors Teke. In these circumstances stallion managed to gallop at speed, leaving far behind bands of Cossacks on horseback chasing him. In admiration, stallion managed to do so drop the three rebel Turkmen ".

Turkmen horses, known for their exceptional speed, strength and beauty, quickly attracted the attention of Russian aristocrats, among whom these Argamak, as they were called, were valued as any other breed of horse. Russian prince's dream was to have a stallion Argamak. In fact, Turkmen horses led to the improvement of horse and horse Orlov Don.

Under these conditions, the export of horses attached Turkmanistan continued to flow to Tsarist Russia. In the first half of the 19th century, stallions Argamak is already a third of breeding stallions in Russia. After the annexation of Turkmen Khanate all breeders rare horse enthusiasts and collectors were familiar with the new breed discovered and became admirers of its open.

A cremello Akhal Teke characteristic color    (Foto: Shutterstock.com)Un Akhal Teke de culoarea caracteristică cremello
General Kuropatkin, appointed governor of Turkmenistan has built his own expense Caspian Region State Farm and invited Russian specialists working there. It was when the Akhal Teke began to be selected as a race track. Produced horses stables Russian general came to be remarked in profile exhibitions in Kiev, Pyatigorsk and even Paris, causing sensation among connoisseurs who spent huge sums to buy pure bred stallions and mares.

A living spirit and legendary "It seems that it is a combination of a cheetah, a hawk and a snake" Irina Khienkina, expert Akhal Teke

The above comparison is not unfounded. Between the horses of other breeds Akhal Teke'm a creature from another world. Visually impressive refinement and smooth lines.
Portré and description made ​​a golden stallion named Sardar, at an exhibition in 1882 remained an integral part of modern standard of the breed:

"He has a unique body conformation. A long back, shoulders high, chest deep, tall and narrow chest, long legs and slender with defined tendons, muscles strong without being heavy. The Akhal Teke horse seems reminiscent of the most pungent animal, the cheetah. Flexibility and smoothness particularly high neck movements and suggest the cobra snake ready to attack. Majesty and pride in gallop movement to create the illusion of an eagle embodied in a stallion. Has a conformation and body proportions unprecedented in other races. The head and neck elegant seated in a specific angle race. "

Originality is largely due to race head shape that is light and dry, with an elongated aspect but refined. Fine and long ears expression eyes attitudes often bring a bird of prey.
Another characteristic of the breed lies in the mane short, in some specimens being almost nonexistent. A typical Akhal Teke measured average between 147-163 cm. at the shoulders and presented in multiple colors like black, brown, white. However, as described in ancient authors Nisaeani horses were invariably yellow.


Akhal Teke stallion horses in original color Nisaeani (Foto: Shutterstock.com)Armăsar Akhal Teke în culoarea originală a cailor Nisaeani
And now most specimens Akhal Teke has many shades of yellow and especially that almost metallic white blonde called cremello, color found only in this race.
Turkmens have always been interested in horse racing. In addition speed under stress has always appreciated the quality of a war horse.

A cremello Akhal Teke characteristic color    (Foto: Shutterstock.com)Un Akhal Teke de culoarea caracteristică cremello
Therefore, these nomadic warriors and horses were selected on the basis of this requirement. Modern times Akhal Teke horses have come new challenges. Today horse riding is primarily a horse race or obstacles. The oldest breed in the full profile excels in both chapters considering that pure-bred stallions and mares of Turkmens have set numerous records in both categories.

Copies and Avsent, Arab, Abakan, Sardar, Arguvan, Domb Man, Arslan, Kovum, Karamashal, Tarlan Maksim, Zabeg, Peikam, Galambiya, BUGARI or Perepel wrote the modern history of the race records set and races won.

In 1935 a group of Turkmen horsemen crossed the distance between Ashgabat and Moscow in 84 days, including traveling over in just three days of a portion of the desert without water, over 378 km long. In 1955 he won a stallion Tarlan endurance race, 500 km long, attended horse race in eight different races.

Cremello color copy open  (Foto: Shutterstock.com)Exemplar de culoare cremello deschis
Currently worldwide Akhal Teke horses live only 3,500 pure-bred, mostly in Turkmenistan and the Russian Federation. To maintain purity, since in 1975 it was decided studbook closure. Today the Akhal Teke shared with shepherd dog animal Alabai national title of Turkmenistan. And many people still truly the most beautiful horse in the world.
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