Turkmenistan has very few things that it can call their own, their unique carpet weaving styles that originated centuries ago and now are considered some of the best in the industry,.....gas, oil, sand, and of course their horses. The horse rearing culture of Turkmenistan is as old as the sand that they walk on, the breeds that have been developed for the hot terrain of Central Asia have been regarded as some of the most beautiful and fastest of the domesticated breeds. All modern Arabian breeds can trace their roots to the breeds of the Turkmen tribes, and today we still call a specific group (now extinct) Turkoman horses. The most famous of all, and now regarded as the national emblem of Turkmenistan is the Akhal-Teke:
The breed has suffered near extinction in Turkmenistan, mainly due to Soviet intention of breeding the animal for slaughter and not sport. Many people today in Turkmenistan still regard horse breeding as a national pass time. The current problem that the government is facing is getting young people to find interest in this dying spectacle. There are currently more than a thousand pure breeds that have been recorded, the breeds popularity spreads as far as Luxembourg, where in 2007 the Akhal-Teke horse club presented the breed in a formal show.
Whatever you want to call this day, or the next day, or the day before last Thursday; these horses are majestic and to this day inspire a sense of the old-orient that we have forgotten. Here are some more videos on Turkmen horse races and some more trick riding. Enjoy.
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