Akhal-Teke Foundation

02/11/2025

Akhal-Teke moms & babes today in .

(Yes, they have a lovely large shelter freely available. 😊)

02/10/2025

The trio this evening. Delguli, Tia, Anadana.

02/09/2025

Giant thanks to John and Dugan Brickley, pro-level construction volunteers at the Akhal-Teke Center yesterday! ❤️

These guys worked hard, braving freezing rain, mud, and skeptical inspections by several Akhal-Teke mares to install 500 feet of replacement fence boards and a donated gate, all in fine style.

The maternity paddock is now ready for pregnant mares who need to be kept safe from tall fescue grasses until foaling. And just in time.

Thank you, guys!!! 💖



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

More about ATF programs & horse sponsorships…
https://www.akhaltekefoundation.org/programs.html

Help support the Akhal-Teke horses…
https://akhaltekefoundation.networkforgood.com

02/09/2025

Please consider these thoughts. ❤️‍🩹

I don’t think people realize just how many horses out there carry trauma with them.

With that, I don’t even mean severely abused horses that have been starved, or beaten heavily. There are plenty of those around, and those usually cause a lot of outrage (as they should).

What I am talking about though, is the horses whose trauma is never really recognized as such. The ones who tolerate humans and their requests, but never learned to trust them. Those who get extremely obsessive about food which are labelled as “bossy” or ”dominant”. Those who deal with severe Separation anxiety, which are said to be “dramatic”. Those who cannot self-regulate, or co-regulate and constantly carry tension. Those who try to express their pain, which get punished for it because “just a mare”.
Those who are “perfect” until they finally get a choice.

Between Unethical weaning practices, unsuitable welfare, constantly moving homes & and ownership, and aversive training/handling approaches, most horses at some point experience trauma. And this trauma can present itself in a variety of ways. Some are more subtle than others.
Trauma doesn’t have to be this huge explosive reaction. Just like people, horses can carry trauma and move on with their lives fairly normally. It can shape their personality just like it can shape ours.
However, that doesn’t mean doing so is healthy.

The horse that has been in 6+ homes before the age of 10, and thus can’t cope with changes. That is Trauma.
The horse that has never had consistent companionship and becomes obsessive with certain herd mates. That is Trauma
The horse that has only known corrections when they tried to express their confusion, fear, or dislike, and turns from “a perfect beginner’s horse” to “Don’t touch me” the moment you stop using corrections. That is Trauma.
The horse that never had a chance to learn from other horses or connect with people and thus can’t trust people to make good choices for them, can’t self-regulate or co-regulate, and can’t think their way through a situation. That is Trauma.
The horse who was only ever fed 2 times a day and was left without food for 6 hours each night, and has thus become food-aggressive. That is Trauma.
The horse who experienced highly aversive training techniques, and thus now gets frustrated, tense and severely stressed out anytime they are handled in a similar manner. That. Is. Trauma.

Sometimes, awareness of this can be a frustration and defeating realization. I think as equestrians we are often blind to this reality, because sadly, it’s just so common to see horses like that.
It’s not until you work with young, untraumatized horses, or rehabilitated horses, that you realize: “Oh! This is how it should be!”

02/07/2025

Arima by moonlight tonight.

02/05/2025

Just a quick glimpse of Anduma coming in…

Anduma is (Agades x Goldka, 2011), bred by Phil Case.

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

02/01/2025

Cavorting in the rain

01/28/2025

It’s so awesome that the Skydog mustangs all have sponsors!!

The sweet Akhal-Tekes at the nonprofit Akhal-Teke Center need sponsors too. ❤️

Sponsor an endangered Akhal-Teke, starting at $10 per month…

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

🙏🙏🙏

01/27/2025

Things that need to be said.

By DEBBIE BUSBY As a welfare and behaviour specialist, I’m focused on the potential impact of cross ties on a horse’s physical comfort and mental wellbeing. People often come back with examples of things that “need” to be done to horses; most of the time I have an answer for that; I’m comm...

01/26/2025

Akhal-Tekes yearling filly Abby and pregnant mare Kizy this evening at the Akhal-Teke Center.

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

01/26/2025

Akhal-Teke mare Ally and her dam Annuschka on a recent evening.

01/24/2025

What’s on your ?

01/22/2025

Presenting ATF stallion Adamek, at stud for 2025…

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

01/22/2025

Presenting ATF stallion Anduma, at stud for 2025…

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