Showing posts with label Akhal Teke. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Akhal Teke. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Andalusian probably the most beautiful horse in the world



























The Andalusian, also known as the Pure Spanish Horse, Spanish/Portuguese Horse or PRE (Pura Raza Española), is a horse breed from the Iberian Peninsula, where its ancestors have lived for thousands of years.

As long as it can be proven that the horse’s bloodlines can be traced in an unbroken line back to Spain or Portugal, they are eligible for any of the available “Andalusian” registries, depending on their bloodlines. See our ‘Organizations’ page for more information on the registry options.





The Andalusian has been recognized as an individual breed since the 15th century, and its conformation has changed very little over the centuries. Throughout its history, it has been known for its prowess as a warhorse, and prized by nobility. The breed was used as a tool of diplomacy by the Spanish government, and kings across Europe rode and owned Spanish horses.


In the 1400’s, a decree was issued by the Spanish military authority, directing the Spanish Breeders to blend their pure Andalusian mares with Neapolitan drafts in response to the weight of armor carried into battle. A small group of family breeders refused, selecting their best horses and hiding them away on monastery lands in Cartujana. The Carthusian monks were said to have managed a breeding program based on these horses for almost 400 years after this.

Around 1835 the government dissolved the church’s ownership of the lands and the horses were passed on to a small handful of families who preserved the original lines for years to come. These horses heavily influenced the breed and although rare, can still be found today, referred to as “Bocado” (Cartujano).



Exports of Andalusians from Spain were restricted until the 1960s, but the breed has since spread throughout the world, despite still-low population numbers due to the cross – breeding in the 14 – 1500’s. In 2010, there were more than 185,000 registered Andalusians worldwide.



Strongly built, and compact yet elegant, Andalusians have long, thick manes and tails. Their most common coat color is gray, although they can be found in many other colors, including buckskin, chestnut and palomino. They are known for their intelligence, sensitivity, docility and versatility.


Aztecas and Quarterhorses - Alcazar Andalusians

The Andalusian is closely related to the Lusitano of Portugal, and has been used to develop many other breeds, especially in Europe and the Americas. Breeds with Andalusian ancestry include many of the warmbloods in Europe as well as western hemisphere breeds such as the Azteca.



Over its centuries of development, the Andalusian breed has been selected for athleticism and stamina. The horses were originally used for classical dressage, driving, bullfighting, and as stock horses. Modern Andalusians are used for and excel in many different disciplines, including open dressage, driving, pleasure and breed shows. They are very versatile and you will often see them shown in many different disciplines at the same show.

The breed is also used extensively in movies, especially historical pictures and fantasy epics.


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Sorce: Andalusianworld and more


Thursday, June 2, 2016

Akhal Teke: "The horse of heaven" and probably the most beautiful horse in the world !




















"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 thorough bred 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.

Turkmenistan seeks to see Akhal-Teke horses in UNESCO World Heritage List

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:


Akhal-Teke - Wikipedia

























"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.


Akhal teke horses pinterest.com


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.


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 color copy cremello open ridden by a person in traditional Turkmen


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.

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.





























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 beautifulhorse in the world.



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