ATSBA Canada Ltd.

Mandate  Governance  Categories  Breed Standard  Paperwork  Inspections  Canadian Breeders

Canadian Horses  Ex-Studbook  Sport  Partners  Acknowledgements  Links

Breed Standard

“The amalgam of snake, cheetah and eagle”

This poetic description of the Akhal-Teke horse, by Russian journalist and writer Irina Khienkina, is well known amongst the connoisseurs of the breed.

The modern evaluation of the breed is performed using a points system awarded for Type, Conformation and Movement, assessed at different points during the lifetime of the horse.  From the age of seven, breeding animals are also rated based on the quality of their offspring.  Performance records are recorded throughout the lifetime of the horse, in accordance with the recognised rules of the discipline in which the horse is competing.

Chief Studbook Registrar, Tatiana Nikolaevna Riabova, usually performs the evaluation, however, while her expertise is universally acknowledged, it is also recognised that it is logistically impossible for a single individual to perform all evaluations worldwide.  If the number of Akhal Teke foals born annually in Canada increases, ATSBA Canada will consider the need for selecting local evaluation experts.

     Type and Conformation

Head is light and dry, with a wide, lean jowl.  It should have either a straight profile or a slight Roman nose, favoured by some breeders.  The lips and nostrils are finely shaped and the muzzle should, metaphorically speaking, be able to fit into a small teacup.

Eyes are large and have a characteristic elongated almond shape, sometimes likened to the eyes of a predatory bird.  The upper eyelid often overhangs the eye-  this feature is highly prized by breeders and referred to as “hooded eye.”

Ears are long, fine, highly mobile, often having the shape of a scythe or a lyre.  They should not be “lopey” but should point upwards.  Some Akhal Tekes have the points of ears positioned close together when the horse is alert, similar to those of a Marwari horse.

Neck is long, with a characteristic “S” bend, sometimes likened to the shape of a cobra suspended before the moment of attack, or to the shape of a curved spout on a traditional bronze Turkmen vessel.  The neck is set high to the withers while the head is set to the neck at an extreme acute angle, so that if a horizontal line were to be drawn at the level of the lower lip it will be positioned well above the withers of the horse.  A special importance is ascribed to the so-called “zatylok”-  the stretch of the neck between the head and the poll:  it is expected to be long, wide and well-defined.

Withers should be high, long and very well defined.

Shoulder should be sloping and well-muscled, with a particularly wide, active “swing” which must be taken into account when fitting a saddle.

Chest is deep.  It can be less wide than that of a warmblood but must not be too narrow and should be well-muscled.

Back is often longer than that of other breeds and can appear to be “soft.”  This is not a defect provided the loin is strong at the point of attachment to the croup and well-muscled.  “Loose coupling” at the loin should be avoided.

Croup is well-muscled and often can have a sloping shape with a low-set tail (opposite to that of an Arab).

Legs must be “dry,” meaning that the ligaments, joints and bones are clearly defined and can be easily seen with a naked eye.  The forearm should be long and well-muscled, with short cannon bones. The hind legs are sometimes cow-hocked or sable-shaped-  neither of these characteristics are seen as defects.

Feet are generally strong, with hard horn and correct angle but they can sometimes have thin soles.

The overall shape of the body is tubular in cross section, with a shallow girth and tucked-up belly, resulting in an overall impression of a tall, light horse on long legs.  An Akhal Teke should never be “stalky,” with a large, heavy barrel on short legs.  The proportion of the body mass to the height of the horse is one of the features that gives the Akhal Teke its marvellous recovery, as the horse carries relatively little weight in relation to its height.

This is also the reason why, coupled with extreme muscling, the tall, narrow Akhal Teke invites the comparison with the fastest animal in the world, the cheetah, while the flexibility and smooth, elastic movements are likened to that of a snake.  The combination of athleticism and stamina in the Akhal Teke is unparalleled amongst the horse breeds in the world today.

The coat-  the Akhal-Teke usually has a thin skin and a very fine, silky coat, with a sparse mane and tail and often no forelock.  The fetlocks are expected to be clean and free of hair.  Generally, the less hair the horse has overall, the higher it is rated for its Type.

When kept in Northern hemisphere, the Akhal Teke will grow a winter coat which, however, completely lacks the coarse, water-resistant hair characteristic of the European native breeds. The winter coat on an Akhal Teke is thick, felt-like, and will provide good protection from the cold but will let in and even soak up water.

     Coat Colours

No other breed in the world can boast the variety of colours found within the Akhal Teke breed.

Formally, the breakdown of coat colours is set out in the last volume of the General Studbook as follows:
 

Bay – 38.5%

Buckskin/ Dun – 24.2%

Black – 12.6%

Chestnut – 10.2%

Grey – 6.2%

Palomino – 5.4%

Crèmello/ Perlino/ Isabelle – 2.9%

However, there are numerous shades within each of the above formal colours, especially in Bay, Buckskin and Palomino which can very from very light to very dark, often with strong dapples and “wings”-  dark areas around the withers.

One of the most unique features of the Akhal Teke coat colours is the legendary, highly sought-after “metallic sheen.”  It can be found on all of the colours apart from the grey and varies in intensity from one individual to another.

Skewbald and Piebald are not found within the breed, though Sabino can occur but is not encouraged.  Blazes and white socks are common and not discouraged.

     Size

Among the old Eastern breeds, the Akhal Teke has always been known as the tall horse, with most stallions known to us from the records in the 19^th century measuring at over 158cm at the withers. The sizes of the horses listed in the last published volume of the General Studbook are shown below (cm):

The average recorded sizes are not regarded as the limit of the genetic potential of the breed, and taller animals (165- 167cm at the withers) are often sought after by the modern breeders, as European and North American riders are generally taller than traditional male riders in Russia and Central Asia.

     Movement

The movements of the Akhal Teke are spacious, flexible and elastic, with strong impulsion.  The horse moves parallel to the ground, showing elevation but retaining the economical, efficient, forward stride which make the breed exceptionally comfortable for the rider in all gaits.  The Akhal Teke evolved as a saddle horse over thousands of years, on desert terrain, to carry a rider over long distances, often in harsh conditions, sometimes requiring a sudden burst of speed, and at other times a steady, continuous effort.  As a result, the Akhal Teke possesses both the stamina over long distance and the ability to accelerate from a stand still.  Its racing speed is only second to the English Thoroughbred and exceeds that of the Arab.  The Akhal Teke also has an excellent jump, showing great athleticism and agility over fences.

The wide range of valuable qualities in the movements of the Akhal Teke make it suitable for a variety of equestrian disciplines:  it is, in fact, one of the most versatile riding types, whose ability ranges from flat racing and endurance to dressage and eventing.

     Temperament

The Akhal Teke is a horse of extreme intelligence and sensitivity, with a highly responsive temperament.  It is sometimes described as "the horse of one-master" for the special bond it will attempt to establish with its owner.  While this bond is an undeniable characteristic of the breed, the Akhal Teke will work with multiple riders who understand its temperament and are prepared to take the time to get to know the horse.  They do not tolerate force and do not respond well to constant mundane repetition.  They require a sensitive and skilful rider, and while they will look after an inexperienced rider, to achieve their potential, they do best in the hands of a skilled professional.

      Breed Standard compliments of Akhal Teke UK

      with thanks . . .

The Past. For the Future.

ATSBA Canada

1123 9^th Street S.E.

Calgary, Alberta

T2G 3B3

info@ATSBA.ca