Turkmenistan: Akhal-Teke Horse Farm

Another National Pride element in Turkmenistan are the highly prized Akhal-Teke horses. There is a National Horse Day for the breed and also the Ministry of Horses, the horses are featured in the country’s coat of arms and currency. The Akhal-Teke, one of the oldest horse breeds, has a history dating back over 3,000 years. They are believed to be descendants of the Nisaean horses of the ancient Parthian Empire and have influenced breeds like the Thoroughbred and Arabian. The Akhal-Teke are famous for the looks and endurance, their coat has a metallic sheen to them (hence nickname “golden horses”). There are only about 6000 of them in the world and they are very highly priced, they are like Lamborghinis of horses! While visiting the farm in Gokdepe, we got to see several horses, pet them, see them perform, and even ride them. We even got to see the recently born female with blue eyes! In 2021, the art of breeding and training Akhal-Tekes was added to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list.