Turkmenistan has announced the holding of international competitions for Akhal-Teke horses on April 27, dedicated to strengthening their international recognition, according to a statement from "Neutral Turkmenistan" referring to the decree of Turkmen leader Serdar Berdimuhamedov.
The main goal of the event is to promote Akhal-Tekes as a symbol of Turkmenistan's national wealth.
As part of this event, which will take place in Arkadag, contests are also planned for representatives of creative professions, including artists, sculptors, carpet weavers, jewelers, designers, photographers, and videographers, for the best visual representation of the Akhal-Teke horse breed.
The national day of the Turkmen racehorse has been celebrated on the last Sunday of April since 2011. Previously, the holiday was held in Ashgabat.
Several days before the start of the main events, horse races are held, a meeting of the International Association of Akhal-Teke Horse Breeding is convened, scientific conferences and exhibitions take place.
Akhal-Tekes are an ancient breed of horses, first mentioned over 3,000 years ago, and are at risk of extinction.
According to the American non-governmental organization "Livestock Conservancy," there are about 7,000 Akhal-Tekes left in the world. This breed, predating the Arabian horse, has had a significant influence on the development of European breeds, especially the English riding breed, making Akhal-Tekes ancestors of many modern horse breeds.
Among the famous representatives of the breed is a stallion named "Absent," who won the "gold" at the 1960 Olympic Games in dressage and earned a total of six Olympic medals in his career - a record achievement for an individual horse.
An interesting historical moment is associated with the 1935 expedition when a group of riders on Akhal-Teke horses covered a distance of 2,500 miles from Ashgabat to Moscow in 84 days, including a 225-mile crossing through the Karakum Desert.
Today, Ashgabat is home to the International Association of Akhal-Teke Horses, and Turkmenistan's horse breeding is recognized by UNESCO as part of the World Heritage.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
April 9, 2024