The Akhal-Teke are regarded as the most beautiful horse breed in existence because of their magnificent coat and thin conformation.

The magnificent Akhal-Teke, Turkmenistan’s golden stallion. Image from Imgur.

No other horse makes an impact as lasting as the aristocratic Akhal-Teke, which is lithe, light, and springy and shimmers with gold in the sunlight. It also has a ground-lining gallop in addition to its smooth gliding trot. Breeder Alexander Klimuk’s words, which are quoted above, truly express it all.

The Akhal-Teke is a breed of Turkmen horse known for its speed, stamina, intelligence, and a striking metallic shine that has earned the breed the moniker “Golden Horses.” Golden, in this context, does not necessarily imply sensitive. Currently, there are roughly 6,600 Akhal-Teke people in the world, the most of them live in Turkmenistan but also inhabit Europe and North America.

The Akhal-Teke was first used by tribal people in what is now Turkmenistan mostly for raiding. These horses were their most prized property because they were essential to their livelihood and survival. They selectively bred their horses and maintained the pedigrees by oral tradition.

In order to keep stallions’ coats short and glossy, they were covered from head to tail in up to seven layers of felt. Horses were also maintained and schooled in a very precise manner. Before raids, they would be put on a restricted diet to get them ready for a long journey into the desert where there wouldn’t be much in the way of food or water. This allowed for the preservation of the breed’s astounding beauty and durability.

An Akhal-Teke showcased in St Petersburg. Image credit: Catherine Todd

The Russians called these ‘Argamaks’ (divine or Sacred Horses), and in ancient China they were known as ‘heavenly horses.’ Han emperors from China waged two expeditions to get hold of breed that was highly valued for their speed and stamina in the desert and loyalty to their owner.

And they were right. Eventually, access to the Akhal-Teke fueled the success of China’s future campaigns against their nomadic neighbors.

The Akhal-Teke can have other colors than gold, but the distinctive shine is always there. Image credit: Twitter

Out of the different color varieties of the Akhal-Teke, those with cream, palomino or bayo-cream dilute coats usually show a metallic shade, giving them the appearance of having golden body hair. The same thing happens with white horses, grey liarts, or perlinas – only the sensation is of silver hair.

This curious effect is due proteins in the horse’s coat emitting this metallic iridescence when light falls on them. And while dark-coloured Akhal-Teke horses do not display the same effect, they do have a highly glossy coat. Still, the most valued and desired coats are those of the albinos and cremellas, which have silvery and pearly metallic reflections.

While the palominos, which are given an incredible golden effect by the ‘cream gene’, are generally considered the most amazing-looking of this breed, we must say that we find them to be equally eye catching, be they gold, silver or pearl.

Source: https://fancy4daily.com