Akhal-Teke Foundation

08/29/2024

“Run Shadowfax. Show us the meaning of haste!”

“In him one of the mighty steeds of old has returned.”

— JRR Tolkien

stallion (Mergen x Kerki, 2005) (Absent@4).

08/28/2024

Adamek! ❤️💕💖

08/27/2024

🐴🎉 🐴🎉 🐴🎉 🐴🎉 🐴🎉

Babies incoming! 🤞💖

We’re celebrating five mares in foal by four stallions for the first breeding season at the nonprofit Akhal-Teke Center:

• Anduma x Arima (chestnut x palomino)
• Caladesi x Gavinka (buckskin by buckskin)
• Ehyr Atlaz x Zenus (bay x black)
• Kiergen x Swan Yurekli Sazada (Sayda) (perlino x buckskin)
• Kiergen x Swan Kyzyl Kometa (Kizy) (perlino x chestnut)

The Akhal-Teke Foundation depends on your donations to support these pregnancies. Our conservation breeding program works to sustain the fundamental diversity of the Akhal-Teke breed, in North America and worldwide.

More about ATF programs here…
https://www.akhaltekefoundation.org/programs.html

Sponsor the foaling of your choice with a recurring monthly donation!

Donate here…
https://akhaltekefoundation.networkforgood.com

📷 Kizy (Kuwwat x Pallas Athena, 2016) now has her first pregnancy. 🎉Ellen L Chappell Photography

08/27/2024

08/26/2024

A huge, gigantic THANK YOU to everyone who participated, and to so many new Akhal-Teke followers, as our posting on SMART HORSES went seriously viral, reaching more than 1.1 million people, with over 60,000 clicks, and 35,000 reactions, comments, and shares!

Truly an epic response from SO MANY people who care about and appreciate horses, from our dedicated , to welcome throngs of interested new visitors.

As sentinels, leaders, and general horse royalty since time immemorial, the horses are deeply honored. 🐴💖😊

Thank you, everyone! 💫⚡️💥🔥🌟⭐️✨


In case you missed it…
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/2kcPJcXr8WKoSpJC/?mibextid=WC7FNe

And here is more info about the Akhal-Teke breed…
https://www.akhaltekefoundation.org/akhal-teke.html

Read about Akhal-Teke Foundation programs here…
https://www.akhaltekefoundation.org/programs.html

Join our email list here… 💕
https://www.akhaltekefoundation.org/email_list.html

08/23/2024

Congratulations to Sabine Desper & Adamek (Gindarkh x Agniya, 2005), showing fourth level test three open this week with a Regionals-qualifying score of 65.417!! 🎉🎉🎉

ERAHC Virginia Classic Open Dressage 1, 8/21/2024

❤️

08/18/2024

“Learn About the Akhal-Teke: A Rare ‘Mesmerizing’ Horse Breed”

Lancaster Farming News:

“They are the rarest of breeds – 500 in the U.S.; 6,000 worldwide.*

“Catching a glimpse of an Akhal-Teke can prove to be exceedingly difficult unless you just happen to wander through a park in the middle of State College, Pennsylvania.

“There you will find Jean Sanders’ two Akhal-Teke mares and a months-old filly, hopefully out in a small pasture on a sunny day to really see the breed’s most unique and distinctive feature – a natural shimmer to their coats that can look like glittering bits of mica; the duns looking like spun gold.

“There’s Sufi, a buckskin who is the grand dam of the trio; Chapuys, a dark bay and mother of 4-month-old Nanushka, a golden bay filly.

“They reside at Tom Tudek Memorial Park in Ferguson Township on conservation land protected for horse use only. There, many a passerby on the park’s walking paths stop at the fence when Sufi and company are out. Apparently, Nanushka is fond of the camera.

“They really are very social animals,” said Sanders, a visual arts professor at Penn State, who bought her first Akhal-Teke in 2009.

“Although its origins are murky, it is believed the Akhal-Teke emerged 3,000* years ago in what is today’s Turkmenistan, where the bulk of its global population can still be found. Known for their speed, endurance, intelligence, long backs and metallic-looking coats, they are likely descended from* the horse, a foundational ancestor to many warmbloods including Thoroughbreds.

“Sanders said she was bitten by the horse bug as a young child growing up in Naperville, Illinois. As she moved into adulthood and her teaching career, owning a horse was down the list of priorities until one of her graduate students asked her if she wanted to share-board an Appaloosa and that was it, she said. She was going to own her own horse finally.

“She researched online, combing through lists of breeds, one of which is often listed as one of the most beautiful horses: Akhal-Tekes. Sanders said she just became “more and more mesmerized” by the long-backed, glimmering horse. She was sold.”

Online with more photos…

https://www.lancasterfarming.com/country-life/mid-atlantic-horse/learn-about-the-akhal-teke-a-rare-mesmerizing-horse-breed/article_ffc24b66-ad0b-51f0-b76d-c6db57231a27.html

*ATF fact checks:
- more like 300 in the U.S., 3000 worldwide
- going back to 4200 years ago
- a direct continuation of the

📷 Ikon (Yilkindji x Plyazhnaya, 2000) in France, from Wikipedia by Ulrike Ruppelt


Here is more info about the Akhal-Teke breed…
https://www.akhaltekefoundation.org/akhal-teke.html

Read about Akhal-Teke Foundation programs here…
https://www.akhaltekefoundation.org/programs.html

Join our email list here…
https://www.akhaltekefoundation.org/email_list.html

08/18/2024

“Learn About the Akhal-Teke: A Rare ‘Mesmerizing’ Horse Breed”

Lancaster Farming News:

“They are the rarest of breeds – 500 in the U.S.; 6,000 worldwide.*

“Catching a glimpse of an Akhal-Teke can prove to be exceedingly difficult unless you just happen to wander through a park in the middle of State College, Pennsylvania.

“There you will find Jean Sanders’ two Akhal-Teke mares and a months-old filly, hopefully out in a small pasture on a sunny day to really see the breed’s most unique and distinctive feature – a natural shimmer to their coats that can look like glittering bits of mica; the duns looking like spun gold.

“There’s Sufi, a buckskin who is the grand dam of the trio; Chapuys, a dark bay and mother of 4-month-old Nanushka, a golden bay filly.

“They reside at Tom Tudek Memorial Park in Ferguson Township on conservation land protected for horse use only. There, many a passerby on the park’s walking paths stop at the fence when Sufi and company are out. Apparently, Nanushka is fond of the camera.

“They really are very social animals,” said Sanders, a visual arts professor at Penn State, who bought her first Akhal-Teke in 2009.

“Although its origins are murky, it is believed the Akhal-Teke emerged 3,000* years ago in what is today’s Turkmenistan, where the bulk of its global population can still be found. Known for their speed, endurance, intelligence, long backs and metallic-looking coats, they are likely descended from* the horse, a foundational ancestor to many warmbloods including Thoroughbreds.

“Sanders said she was bitten by the horse bug as a young child growing up in Naperville, Illinois. As she moved into adulthood and her teaching career, owning a horse was down the list of priorities until one of her graduate students asked her if she wanted to share-board an Appaloosa and that was it, she said. She was going to own her own horse finally.

“She researched online, combing through lists of breeds, one of which is often listed as one of the most beautiful horses: Akhal-Tekes. Sanders said she just became “more and more mesmerized” by the long-backed, glimmering horse. She was sold.”

Online with more photos…

https://www.lancasterfarming.com/country-life/mid-atlantic-horse/learn-about-the-akhal-teke-a-rare-mesmerizing-horse-breed/article_ffc24b66-ad0b-51f0-b76d-c6db57231a27.html

*ATF fact checks:
- more like 300 in the U.S., 3000 worldwide
- going back to 4200 years ago
- a direct continuation of the Turkoman horse



📷 Ikon (Yilkindji x Plyazhnaya, 2000) in France, from Wikipedia by Ulrike Ruppelt


Here is more info about the Akhal-Teke breed…
https://www.akhaltekefoundation.org/akhal-teke.html

Read about Akhal-Teke Foundation programs here…
https://www.akhaltekefoundation.org/programs.html

Join our email list here…
https://www.akhaltekefoundation.org/email_list.html

08/12/2024

“Horses have the ability to think and plan ahead and are far more intelligent than scientists previously thought, according to a Nottingham Trent University study that analysed the animal’s responses to a reward-based game.

“The horses cannily adapted their approach to the game to get the most treats – while making the least effort.

“Previously, research has suggested that horses simply respond to stimuli in the moment, they don’t proactively look ahead, think ahead and plan their actions – whereas our study shows that they do have an awareness of the consequences and outcomes of their actions,” said the lead researcher, Louise Evans.”

https://www.theguardian.com/science/article/2024/aug/12/horses-can-plan-ahead-and-think-strategically-scientists-find

The actual research paper…

“Whoa, No-Go: Evidence consistent with model-based strategy use in horses during an inhibitory task”
Louise Evans et al.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168159124001874?via%3Dihub

Read about Akhal-Teke Foundation programs here…
https://www.akhaltekefoundation.org/programs.html

Join our email list here…
https://www.akhaltekefoundation.org/email_list.html

08/11/2024

This video is detailed and informative. Don’t overload immature horses. ESPECIALLY not slender, flexible young Akhal-Teke horses.

What is an overload? 🤔

08/07/2024

We support microchips for easily identifying beloved horses.

The organization supports implantation of ISO-compliant radiofrequency identification devices (RFID) and standardization in procedures.

08/04/2024

At around three months old, little Robbie & Ruby are so sweet together. ❤️

(Ehyr Atlaz x Gavinka, 2024), (Ehyr Atlaz x Kurinka, 2024) **t &

07/30/2024

“The range of variability within a breed is an important characteristic of the breed.”

Variation is an outward manifestation of the genetic diversity of a breed. Preserving the variation within the breed is an important part of preserving the breed itself.

The conventional goal of modern breeding, especially commercial breeding, is to produce a particular version of the perfect horse. That goal inherently implies reducing variability.

Reducing variability goes hand-in-hand with reducing genetic diversity in general. Reducing genetic diversity comes hand-in-hand with always striving for the perfect horse.

It’s no coincidence that the known genetic diversity of Equus caballus, the species of the modern horse, has collapsed over the last two hundred years. Despite having some 60 million horses living on Earth today, their genetic diversity has shrunken drastically under modern hyper-selective breeding approaches.

Root stock breeds like the rare and ancient Akhal-Teke are a precious genetic resource for the future of all horses. Although only about 0.005% of horses are Akhal-Tekes (one in every 20,000 horses) their share of remaining horse diversity, relative to the most common breeds, is disproportionately larger.

Fortunately for Akhal-Teke breeders, their horses are built on a four thousand year land race heritage, based on continuing a naturally athletic type, the original greyhounds of the horse world.

As a result, the “outliers” in the Akhal-Teke breed are typically not that far out. Akhal-Tekes naturally tend to breed relatively true, compared to modern composite breeds.

To continue their heritage and preserve these horses in the modern world, breeders should resist the competitive rhetoric of hyper-selective breeding.

Instead, by emphasizing breeding of the best horses, while simultaneously ensuring that all available non-defective horses do also get bred, breeders can continue to produce exceptional equine athletes today, and far into the future, as well.

📷 Akhal-Teke stallion, by Artur Baboev Horse photography

More on ATF’s nonprofit programs here…
https://www.akhaltekefoundation.org/programs.html

Join our email list here…
https://www.akhaltekefoundation.org/email_list.html

07/28/2024

"Black Beauty" is an 1877 novel by English author Anna Sewell. It was composed in the last years of her life, during which she remained in her house as an invalid. The novel became an immediate best-seller, with Sewell dying just five months after its publication, but having lived long enough to see her only novel become a success. With fifty million copies sold, "Black Beauty" is one of the best-selling books of all time. The novel is a tender tale filled with life lessons and brimming with warm memories and experiences from a horse's point of view. It touches the heart with its many fine moments and remains one of the world's favorite animal stories.

"Black Beauty" is a horse's autobiography, narrated by Black Beauty himself. The novel has been praised for its ability to humanize the voiceless horses during the late nineteenth century and bring about reforms in the treatment of animals. Despite being a classic meant for older children or very young adults, it has resonated with readers of all ages, evoking empathy and emotional responses, especially for animals.

The novel has had a profound influence on readers, with its portrayal of the life of a horse leading to increased empathy, particularly for animals. It has been described as surprisingly dark, with its depiction of the challenges and tragedies faced by the protagonist, Black Beauty, evoking emotional responses from readers. The enduring impact of "Black Beauty" is evident in the continued admiration and recognition it receives, making it a timeless classic that transcends generations.

In summary, "Black Beauty" by Anna Sewell is a beloved classic that narrates the life of a horse, Black Beauty, and has had a profound influence on readers, evoking empathy and emotional responses, particularly for animals. Its enduring popularity and impact have solidified its status as one of the best-selling and most cherished books of all time.

07/27/2024

😆😆😆

07/26/2024

A new ! 😍 Company for ! 👏👏

Collector Club members - the final release of the 2024 Exotic Destinations Web Special series is here! ✈ Meet Petra, a gorgeous red dun Akhal-Teke stallion that represents the "Rose City." The ancient city of Petra in Jordan is rich in archaeological history. Famed for its rock-cut architecture and cultural heritage, it is now protected as a World Heritage Site.
Enter for your chance to purchase here: https://ow.ly/Rumv50SL6Yb

07/17/2024

“It can sometimes be tricky to figure out where you can tune in for Olympics equestrian coverage, so we did some research for you! Keep this handy for a guide to where you can find coverage in your country…”

From Eventing Nation:

https://www.facebook.com/share/2erLqe1BnZxgL5nM/?mibextid=WC7FNe

07/17/2024

Yes. And this can happen so fast in a breed that is already very rare. And that’s part of why we follow a “conservation breeding” approach at the national Akhal-Teke Center, as a cornerstone of the Akhal-Teke Foundation’s programs to preserve the rootstock breed of modern athletic horses.

More about ATF programs here…

https://www.akhaltekefoundation.org/programs.html

Join our email list here…

https://www.akhaltekefoundation.org/email_list.html

Where entire breeds can go off track is when some one feature becomes so popular that breeders get so focused on that single piece to the neglect of the real deal basics such as soundness, temperament and general athletic ability.

Examples might include the way some Arabian breeders focus on a distorted looking dish face, some Quarter Horse breeders on extreme musculature, some race horse breeders on intense early speed, some Morgan breeders on a high knee action trot, some color breeders on specific color, any one piece of the whole that leaves other more important features neglected when decisions are being made about which stallions to breed to which mares.

Why does this happen? Probably because of ignorance about overall horsemanship that fails to take into account that horses should be sound, sane and athletic if they are to be useful to the average rider or driver.

But fads have a life of their own. One breeder produces it, some judge rewards it, and before you know it the aberration has become so popular that that’s where the money goes, and we all know the saying, “Follow the money.”

And once that starts it can so easily become a runaway train, and another breed is in trouble. And it started with some fad made popular through ignorance of basic horsemanship.

07/11/2024

“Who Really Owns a Nonprofit?”

“The most popular business entity for nonprofits is the nonprofit corporation, making up well over 90% of all tax-exempt organizations. This type of corporation is very different from the above-mentioned for-profit corporation. A nonprofit corporation has no owners (shareholders) whatsoever. Nonprofit corporations do not declare shares of stock when established. In fact, some states refer to nonprofit corporations as non-stock corporations.

“A nonprofit corporation is formed to carry out a non-commercial purpose, whether that be religious, educational, charitable, scientific or other qualifying purpose. It is prohibited from acting in a manner that results in private inurement (profit) to individuals. …

“No matter which entity type is chosen, none have a mechanism for ownership. Governance responsibility is vested in the board of directors or trustees. These individuals are accountable to state and federal authorities to ensure the organization operates in a legally compliant manner and for the purposes outlined at formation.”

“Who Really Owns a Nonprofit?”
Greg McRay, Foundation Group, 501c3.org
https://lnkd.in/e4Chu8Yq

More about the Akhal-Teke Foundation’s nonprofit programs here…
https://lnkd.in/e4r7ZWBj

Join the Akhal-Teke Foundation email list here…
https://lnkd.in/eeKSusrZ

📷 Akhal-Teke filly Ruby at two weeks old on June 1, 2024. Ruby and her dam Kurinka are ‘owned’ by the .