The Modern Desert-Horse: The Akhal-Teke

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Have you ever been lucky enough to have seen one of these unusual looking horses in real life? The Akhal-Teke is an incredible, beautiful breed, and currently there are only about 3,500 of them in the world. A great endurance horse, the Akhal-Teke has an unusual appearance and looks like it’s stepped right out of a history book.

History

The Akhal-Teke originated in Turkmenistan during the 8th century, making it one of the oldest horse breeds. The Akhal-Teke horses were thought to be some of the best horses in Asia at the time, and were frequent favorites for mounted guards. The horses were used in Turkmenistan’s fight against Russia, and became a part of the Russian Empire when Russia won the battle. Until that point, the Akhal-Teke’s pedigree had only been kept orally; it was the Russians who first created a stud book for the breed in 1941.

As the breed has gained popularity, the Akhal-Teke has been used to produce new breeds, including the Nez Perce Horse, created by crossing an Appaloosa with an Akhal-Teke horse. Akhal-Tekes have also been used to produce lighter draft horses with more versatility...

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http://blog.classic-equine.com/2013/04/the-modern-desert-horse-the-akhal-teke/