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Akhal Teke and fans of Shiney

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kerri-jo/sets/72157620518538502/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; Too cool.

rabbitsfizz Fri, 08/07/2009 - 11:58

I don't like this breed, not at all, but those are nice examples, I do admit.
Weird horses, though.
Just looking at them you can see that they [i]have[/i]to have been used breeding the original TBs, don't you think??
How hard would it have been to slip in a funky coloured horse and just [i]say[/i] it was an Arab ?? ;)

lipigirl Fri, 08/07/2009 - 14:36

I am also not a fan of them but can appreciate the shiny coats. It's interesting that every horse book I have claims that they have one of the worst conformations of any horse and are quite agressive with it but that doesn't go to explain how come they are such amazing endurance horses then does it ??

accphotography Fri, 08/07/2009 - 14:50

Well conformation is truly somewhat discipline specific. Their conformation does aid them in their endurance. It would inhibit them in some other disciplines (like cutting for instance :laugh1 ). I also think their attitude aids them in endurance.

lipigirl Fri, 08/07/2009 - 15:55

[quote="accphotography"]Well conformation is truly somewhat discipline specific. Their conformation does aid them in their endurance. It would inhibit them in some other disciplines (like cutting for instance :laugh1 ). I also think their attitude aids them in endurance.[/quote]

Not really we have just been discussing how a horse with bad conformation is pretty useless - the many horse books I have are generally written by people who are far more qualified than you or me to judge conformation - and they think it's awful. So to reinterate if their confo was THAT bad then surely they should not be good at endurance as that would mean hard work on the limbs and you would want a horse willing to please to take you there BUT despite thier faults they are great at travelling long distances so maybe the experts have it wrong.....don't think so but there is an obvious flaw there in the experts opinions. ;)

accphotography Fri, 08/07/2009 - 16:03

That's exactly the point. There's nothing wrong with saying their conformation aids them in endurance when they are obviously excellent endurance horses even though the experts say they are terribly conformed...

lipigirl Fri, 08/07/2009 - 16:10

So with that in mind we could look at thier confromational flaws and try and see why they might help with endurance as opposed to any other discipline maybe ????

accphotography Fri, 08/07/2009 - 17:07

Yup, that's what I was thinking.

Maigray used to tell us some things about particular Arabian's conformation that helped them excel at endurance. Sadly I don't remember what they were. She also knew how those things would hinder them in other disciplines.

Dilutes Sat, 08/08/2009 - 06:10

I'm not a fan of the breed either but I like those examples. They don't seem as fine or leggy as the ones I've generally seen (ones that remind me of greyhounds to be honest).

lipigirl Sat, 08/08/2009 - 16:49

Couldn't remember where I had seen it so had to google it -

The breed is tough and resilient, having adapted to the harshness of Turkmenistan lands, where horses must live without much food or water. This has also made the horses good for sport. The breed has great endurance, as shown in 1935 when a group of Turkmen riders rode the 2500 miles from Ashgabat to Moscow in 84 days, including a three-day crossing of 235 miles of desert without water. The Akhal-Teke is also known for its form and grace as a show jumper.

Although the last bit I was NOT aware of !!

Edited to add -

This is all that is wrong confromationally with the breed -

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c…" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Jordie0587 Sun, 08/09/2009 - 04:12

Conformationally I think they're just long and have an odd neck set... other than that I don't really see what's wrong with their limbs.

Krickette Sun, 08/09/2009 - 10:12

I'm sure it's been said, I don't have time to read right now, sorry, but the breed does absolutely nothing for me. I really just have never liked how they are put together. I'm sure it's for some reason or another, but...I wish i could just bottle their shiney and put it on my horses, but that build is just....

rabbitsfizz Sun, 08/09/2009 - 13:34

OK, Lipi, thanks for that, BUT it says nothing.
We do not know how many horses started and how many survived (these people are not known for caring for their horses, remember) and we know nothing of the horses at all, their preparation, etc.
I am pretty sure there are quite a few Mongol Ponies that could do a ride like that and they, too, are train wrecks!!
I would like to see how this breed does in modern endurance, today, and I have to say, I have never seen one, not one, in any race, anywhere.
So I could say *My minis are really good at endurance . 150 years ago some of them were driven right across America. Proof? No, I have no proof but it's up on Wiki!!" :rofl
Sorry....

RiddleMeThis Sun, 08/09/2009 - 14:29

These pictures makes me drool puddles on the floor
[img]http://www.karakumstud.com/web/karakum…]

[img]http://www.karakumstud.com/web/karakum…]

What a cutey
[img]http://www.karakumstud.com/web/karakum…]

[img]http://www.karakumstud.com/web/karakum…]

Four year old Teke mare
[img]http://www.karakumstud.com/web/karakum…]

[img]http://www.karakumstud.com/web/karakum…]

All from
http://www.karakumstud.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

lipigirl Sun, 08/09/2009 - 14:46

I did get that quote from Wiki but it's also on most Akhal Teke websites too. I have also read in the last few years of them being used in modern days for endurance too see below but it is referenced in some of my books too and the above quote of 1935 is also referenced in my horse Encyclopedia.....it also says that the Turkmenstan (sp) nomads would get others to throw stones at their horses and be mean to them whilst they were tethered so could not get away, the owner would be the only one to show them kindness to make the horse like them - :sad It also said that the reason they were good at endurance was because they could survive on very meagre rashions.

Here are some of the links to site with current Tekes being used in endurance -

http://www.akhaltekes.eu/index.php?opti…" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.endurance.net/merri/stories/…" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

http://www.akhaltekeuk.com/MicheleInt.h…" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

lipigirl Sun, 08/09/2009 - 15:26

Some actually are not as bad as others - this mare for instance noted as a bay - looks red based to me but maybe it's a wild bay and shows more red with lack of mane and tail and high shine ot coat -

http://www.akhaltekeuk.com/Kunzita.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This one has what looks like splash to me too -
http://www.akhaltekeuk.com/Sypai.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

This one is conformationally not too bad either -
http://www.akhaltekeuk.com/Tedzhen.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

They are obviously used in competition too - although how well they get on ??

http://www.akhaltekeuk.com/Almaz.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

and Rabbit you will definitely find this very interesting -

http://www.gsuttle.free-online.co.uk/ka…" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Krickette Mon, 08/10/2009 - 09:39

RMT most of those do nothing to help my opinion of them! Sorry, I just really dislike them. I've seen very few that I like. It's the shoulder, and the length of their bodies, and...I dunno, a lot of things. I can't put my finger on it, but I have never liked the breed.
Oh, and do you mean this one? =p~

lipigirl Mon, 08/10/2009 - 11:36

[quote="Krickette"]RMT most of those do nothing to help my opinion of them! Sorry, I just really dislike them. I've seen very few that I like. It's the shoulder, and the length of their bodies, and...I dunno, a lot of things. I can't put my finger on it, but I have never liked the breed.
Oh, and do you mean this one? =p~[/quote]

I agree apart from the one I posted and commented on they are just weird looking IMO. :?

accphotography Mon, 08/10/2009 - 12:44

Agreed. But we have to realize not everyone has the same tastes, and I happen to know RMT likes long, lean, narrow horses... like grayhounds. Oh and upright neck and large heads (and small butts). :laugh1 So they're right up her alley.

lipigirl Mon, 08/10/2009 - 14:16

I can appreciate the love of Greyhounds but can't really see the beauty here - but yes if some people like them then great - at least they have a fan club so someone can enjoy such an ancient breed but I would still like to know how thier confo helps with endurance?????

rabbitsfizz Mon, 08/10/2009 - 14:17

Wow, she has ME and can still ride!! That was one of the first things to go, with me, I'm afraid.
I accept that different people like different things in a horse, but I do think that, whatever we like, it should have good conformation and not look like someone crossed a camel with an okapi and crossed the resultant baby with a dachshund.......

lipigirl Mon, 08/10/2009 - 14:20

[quote="rabbitsfizz"]Wow, she has ME and can still ride!! That was one of the first things to go, with me, I'm afraid.
I accept that different people like different things in a horse, but I do think that, whatever we like, it should have good conformation and not look like someone crossed a camel with an okapi and crossed the resultant baby with a dachshund.......[/quote]

:laugh1

yes well as to the ME I think it's amazing she can ride I only got back into riding because the gaited Paso Fino means I don't get jolted, don't have to kick on to get going or pull back to stop as super responsive and I don't have to rise in saddle all of which means I can sit back enjoy the ride and conserve energy - this is the only way I was able to ride - you should give one a go Fizz !

RiddleMeThis Mon, 08/10/2009 - 16:02

[quote="rabbitsfizz"] but I do think that, whatever we like, it should have good conformation and not look like someone crossed a camel with an okapi and crossed the resultant baby with a dachshund.......[/quote]
No, if you're BREEDING it should have good conformation. And even then good conformation is subjective.

I also didn't post to change anyones mind, but to merely show what I like. I've seen what floats some peoples boats on here, and I've felt the same way about there ideas, as people are about mine right now.

lillith Tue, 08/11/2009 - 04:34

Most people here will likely disagree with me but to me a lean, dry, lightweight teke is far nicer than a fat bottomed, low necked, breeze-block headed, straight legged QH.

Ducks

Anyway I love them, Tekes and baroque breeds are the only horses I like, other than them its ponies all the way.

TB's QH's and warmbloods.....you can keep them.

Everyone has different tastes though.

Most tekes are a little too tubular in the body, high set in the neck and light of bone for standard conformational measures but they arent train wreks as far as I can see....

lipigirl Tue, 08/11/2009 - 05:34

I too adore the Baroque breeds but they are chalk and cheese compared to the Tekes but I agree with you I would rather have one than the Hypp types Arnie'ish built QH types anyday !!

RiddleMeThis Tue, 08/11/2009 - 05:44

[quote="lipigirl"]I too adore the Baroque breeds but they are chalk and cheese compared to the Tekes but I agree with you I would rather have one than the Hypp types Arnie'ish built QH types anyday !![/quote]
I know this is going to seem redundant but I would rather a Teke than MOST QH, not just the Halter ones LOL