Akhal-Teke

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Context:

• Turkmenistan will hold a beauty contest for ' Heavenly Horses’ called Akhal-Teke..

About the Akhal-Teke beauty contest:

• The event is scheduled for April 27, 2024.
• The beauty pageant will be hosted by the newly-built city of Arkadag, near the Iranian border. Construction of the city started five years ago and it is intended to be Turkmenistan’s first ‘smart city’.
• This is an inaugural beauty pageant for Akhal-Teke horses
• This marks a significant cultural event, showcasing the nation's pride and heritage.
• This event symbolizes the historical and contemporary significance of these majestic equines.

About

• The Akhal-Teke is a Turkmen horse breed.
• They have a reputation for speed and endurance, intelligence, and a distinctive metallic sheen. The shiny coat of the breed led to their nickname, "Golden Horses".
• There are currently about 6,600 Akhal-Tekes in the world, mostly in Turkmenistan, although they are also found throughout Europe and North America.
• They are a direct descendant of the horses of the Massagetae, the Bactrians, and the Alans which were famous in antiquity.
• A feature of the breed is its great variety and gradation of colours, particularly golden. In antiquity the ancestors of the Akhal-Teke were golden.
• However, the hair of the Akhal-Teke is so fine and silky that it gives a special metallic sheen to any color. The commonest colors are: bay (39.9%), dun (22.4%), black (l2.3%), chestnut (ll.2%), gray, light bay, and cream are less frequently encountered.

Historical significance

• The Russian Empire invaded what is today’s Turkmenistan in the late 1800s. The Turkmen fought a losing battle mounted on the Akhal-Teke, against the armies of the Tsar.
• While the Turkmen lost, their horse won Russian hearts.
• After the annexation of Turkmenia to the Russian Empire in l88l the Turkmen horse became known as the Akhal-Teke combining the name of the Teke Turkmen tribe and the Akhal oasis in the foothills of the Kopet-Dag mountains.
• The Tsarist Conquest also introduced the Akhal-Teke to the rest of the world.
• The horse finds mention in Histories, the seminal work of the Greek Herodotus, the ‘Father of History’.

Cultural Significance of the Akhal-Teke Breed:

• They are known for their beautiful colors and amazing qualities.
• These horses are recognized by a big group called the International Association of Akhal-Teke Breeding.
• The art of breeding the Akhal-Teke horse and the traditions of horse decoration were included in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Source:

Down to Earth

Indian Express

Practice Question Q.Consider the following statements about the characteristic or historical aspect of the Akhal-Teke horse breed 1) Akhal-Tekes are primarily found in Turkmenistan but are also present in Europe and North America. 2) The nickname "Golden Horses" comes from their shiny coat, which gives them a distinctive metallic sheen. 3) The Akhal-Teke breed is exclusively descended from the horses of the Massagetae, the Bactrians, and the Alans. 4) The Akhal-Teke breed originated from Arabian horses brought to Turkmenistan by traders along the Silk Road. 5.  They are included in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.  How many of the above statements is/are correct? A.Only One B.Only Two C.OnlyThree D.More than three Answer: C Explanation Statement 1  is correct: ●Akhal-Tekes are predominantly found in Turkmenistan, their country of origin. However, they have been exported to other parts of the world, including Europe and North America, where they are bred and admired for their unique qualities. Statement 2 is correct: ●Akhal-Teke horses are often referred to as "Golden Horses" due to their shiny coat, which has a unique metallic sheen. This distinctive feature sets them apart from other horse breeds and contributes to their beauty and allure. Statement 3 is incorrect: ●While the Akhal-Teke breed is indeed descended from the horses of the Massagetae, the Bactrians, and the Alans, it is not exclusively descended from them. The breed has been influenced by various other horse breeds over time, including Arabian horses. Statement 4 is incorrect. ●While the Akhal-Teke breed has been influenced by various horse breeds, including Arabian horses, it did not originate solely from them. The breed has ancient roots in Central Asia and has been shaped by centuries of breeding and selection by Turkmen nomads. Statement 5 is correct: ●These horses are recognized by a big group called the International Association of Akhal-Teke Breeding. ●The art of breeding the Akhal-Teke horse and the traditions of horse decoration were included in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.