The number of breeders have exploded and we have seen all kinds of breeders coming into the breed, a surprisingly great deal of the new breeders decide to breed Tekes before they have even seen or tested a Teke live, they love the pictures and concept of the breed and feel very strongly that they want to become breeders. I welcome all of them to the breed and wish them good luck, because good luck is what they will need plenty of.
In the age of Internet it might seem easy to aquire an elite graded Teke from Russia without even going there, just order and the horse with paperwork stating elite will be delivered to your door step, it is really amazing, what the Internet revolution have done for the international market for horses.
If you want an elite graded Teke from Russia that have been trained and maybe even competed on Grand Prix level in dressage that's also possible. If they are to young to have been trained, be sure that you can order a Teke with the famous Absent blood, Absent that was Olympic Gold Medalist in the 60's.
And those Tekes can be bought for a fraction of what a GP warmblood costs, including shipping to almost wherever you live. Does it sound to good to be true, I can confirm that it is to good to be true, the horses that showed up at some naive buyers door step wasn't all that good. But when the buyer has invested all this money, I guess they feel that they have to breed that animal anyways defect or not, elite grand prix dressage prospect or not.

Tekes here in the US that cost a little bit more than the Russian elite graded GP prospects are offered as great investment opportunities as they are from the purest bloodlines and all have an extremely high breeding value, they are so good and worth so much money that they do not even need to be fed, handled or trained! They are all elite graded and top the US rankings, so why bother to feed or train them. Here the new breeders can make a bargain to! And those poor sceletons, excuse me pure blooded Tekes, can all make it to the highest level of sports because they are tall and massive (well could have been massive if they had been fed, but that's a detail).

And the latest fad among many of the new breeders is the sport Teke and obviously considered a new lucrative market by the breed engineers in Ryazan.
The best Teke buyer today would be the new breeder that wants to breed Tekes for sports that have not seen a Teke live and preferreably has a vague idea about horse sports and what it takes to succeed in the extremely competetive sport horse market, owned by the European sport horse breeders for more than 20 years.

I would be the first one to congratulate the success for the next Teke that makes it to international level of one of the three big sports, dressage, jumping and eventing. That horse would be the first since Absent. The question is will that horse be an exception like Absent or begin a new era for the Tekes as elite sport horses.

I think that the stud book should not get involved in the rating of the performance of Tekes at all and that the points for performance do not belong in the stud book. The stud book is to keep records for the pure bred and part bred Teke and not act like a sport horse selectionist. The trend today to give higher points to Tekes that morphologically resemble a vision of the modern sport horse and think that they also have all the inner abilities of the modern sport horse like workability, trainability, gaits, jmping ability and all other factors that are actually measured in the sport horse breeding is irresponsable and not a mark of professionalism.
This breed must be allowed to travel through time as intact as possible to steer the breed in a direction to satisfy a fad is a sign of weakness from the Russian state that has taken on the responsability for this breed.

The sport horse arena is not in the stud book evaluated by people that have no rider experience and no experince in the European sport horse market.
The sport horse abilities, which many Tekes do have, should be evaluated in sports, or by the insitutions that was created to aid breeders and riders to evaluate the sport horse abilites in the young horse, the stallion tests and the Quality Tests. Very few Tekes have been tested by these institutions and I would like to encourage more Teke breeders to use the knowledge and experience in sport horse breeding and evaluation you can find there.

I must admit that eventhough, with todays cadre of new , uneducated breeders, that really need guidance in form of shows and gradings, I agree with Leonid and myself suggest that horses inscribed into the stud book should not be graded. Inspection of horses shall only be done on horses that have ben chosen by the owner to be shown for inspection.

A point in a Russian stud book that few can read and have access to will not make the Teke a sport horse, let the Tekes be Tekes at least in their own stud book and breed association.

1. Todd Keith05/20/2006 09:15:00
Homepage: http://www.beknazar.com/

Don't forget that if a horse is a "Rare Line" that the going price is even more... It doesn't matter that the rare line is rare for a reason or that the horse in question looks like a thoroughbred. It's RARE and worth much, much more!!

2. Leonid05/20/2006 12:38:27
Homepage: http://www.shael-teke.ru

Rare, becourse not need to anybody. In any case it is good that breed are developing into different directions. Main, breed must be pure.
Dear Jessica, this all is problem ofcouse, but real problem that it is discussion between maximum fife persons. Nobody pro, nobody contra, indifference.

3. Jessica 05/20/2006 16:34:33

I agree, I do get quite a few private emails that more or less agrees with what is said here on the blog. But otherwise these issues seems to be of no or little interest to a broader Teke public.
It is also a risk to be critical to the establishment as they have the power to hurt your horses market value. And for many it is not worth the risk to open the mouth or send a message over the Internet, we do have hundreds of visitors to this blog per day so I'm sure the message is spread.
Maybe it is simply the fact that most people are please with todays' system and think everything is ok?

4. Leonid05/21/2006 00:13:47
Homepage: http://www.shael-teke.ru

So, expertise is power, in the case of TB, expertise is hippodrome, in the case of AT - dictatura of one person.

5. Jessica 05/21/2006 09:07:17

Information is power. For breeders, access to correct breed statistics is a powerful tool except for the breeder's instinct. If breeders cannot find reliable information/statistics about horses to combine it with their expertise and instinct, they have a higher risk to fail.
And if the breeders fail so will the breed.

6. Todd Keith05/21/2006 09:50:25
Homepage: http://www.beknazar.com/

You are right Leonid.
If this was run like a normal breed you could complain to your national breeders association. They could then pressure the international breeders association to pressure the stud book. Today the same person(s) control your national breeders association, the international breeders association and the stud book. There is no way to audit any information. You (in Russia) don't even get to see your own blood typing/DNA results!!!
One person decides who is purebred, who is good/bad, who goes into the stud book, who wins at shows, etc. Up until the 9th stud book all experts were included in the compilation of the stud book. Today the so called Mother of the Breed (self proclaimed) is in fact the Teke Bashi. I'm glad that we have DNA tests on all our horses. No one can ever dispute the pedigrees or question their origin.

7. Hege05/22/2006 09:17:21

After reading through the latest postings on your blog, I feel a little flat and pessimistic. I am trying to get to learn about this fantastic breed, and I am very grateful your web site and blog exist, but it is so worrying to see what problems breeders encounter. I am looking to buy an AkhalTeke horse some time in the near future, and so far I get the feeling that due to my current lack of knowledge and the corrupt system and grading problems and lies (!!) I am on thin ice. As a somewhat naive Norwegian, I do get the feeling I am easy to fool because I don't know where to get reliable information. I don't want to support breeders that aren't serious and I want to know that the money I invest are being spent wisely!!

I am glad you have highlighted this problem and I hope that in the nearest future someone manages to challenge this poor system, where information is held back and/or is WRONG! I seriously don't understand who benefits from this. As a true horselover and fan of the AkhalTeke horse I can only ask if there is any possibility in starting a new independent studbook and create a reliable, proper system for grading and give people an easily accessible source to the truth? I don't know how the politics work but surely if the current organisation isn't doing a proper job there must be a way of breaking away from them? Or am I being silly now, for thinking this is possible?

I am not willing to spend lots of moneys travelling around to see breeders that are timewasters and I wonder how I should approach this. By the looks of it I can spend bloody 5 years researching and still not know for sure..

I guess that's it for today...

Best regards from
frustrated AkhalTeke-owner-to-be...one day...:- :-

8. Leonid05/22/2006 10:16:33
Homepage: http://www.shael-teke.ru

Dear Hege, all this questions, wich discuse in this blog, are not important absolutly. Expertise, judging are sport event only. Entrust to your eyes only. Entrust to your feeling of beauty and be proud of pure breed AT horse wich you bought. Important only one term - horse must be pure blood. In this way we are trust to Studbook. Mrs. Ryabova can not make null and void all her life. All this conversations advice column how we would like and why we can not do, like we count correctly.

9. Severine05/22/2006 11:30:12

Dear Hege,
I agree with Leonid.
I just can give you an advice : take time to find your AT horse. You might have breeder in Norway. Go and look at the horses, several times if necessary (it is always necessary).
And you have a lot of web site with photos of akhal tekes horses (Maak, AT associations, breeders,...). I know it is better to see them live, but, more you see photos and more you will have the sight developped, to see what an AT type is and what an AT good conformation is. You will see there are different kinds of akhal teke horses, and which one you prefer.
If you take the time, your eyes will see and appreciate more a type than another, you will learn more about pedigree,...
After, the problems with the MAAK, the stud book, Tatiana Riabova are problems for professionnal breeders. You can read, but it doesn't have to affect you if you want to buy an AT horse. Just verify that it is really an AT horse (MAAK passport), and it is ok.

Jessica and Todd made years before a very precious web site on AT, a kind of encyclopedia with recommandations for buyers, and explanations, ... I personnally would be so please if they could upload this website again... (message in a bottle )

10. Leonid05/22/2006 11:52:25
Homepage: http://www.shael-teke.ru

And ofcourse you need come in Russia into the most importent Studs with traditions. AT breeding of other World did not organize enough and nowhere you can not look so many and different horses, like in Russia. For example in Pyatigorsk hippodrome run more then 150 of young tekes.

11. Hege05/22/2006 12:02:25

Dear Leonid and Severine,

Thank you both for your comments and advice, I really appreciate it and I agree with you!

I realise that I need to educate myself and take my time, like you suggest..After all it should be an exciting process buying a horse - especially an AkhalTeke! I just need to emphasise that I definitely don't want to support a breeder that isn't serious. I want to know that the horse I buy is a healthy (with no defects), happy and well trained, I would like to believe many breeders can provide this. But I also want to know it's a "typical" AkhalTeke, when it comes to every aspect of the breed! I want the horse for the love of the breed as well as my best mate and companion
I think I can conclude with this - I will get there, and I will be very proud the day I own an AkhalTeke!

By the way, I love the sound of this AT website Severine mentioned, please Todd and Jessica; are there any chances you may open it again?

Best regards

Hege

12. Hege05/22/2006 12:06:36

Leonid,
Thank you, I would love to come to Russia and check out lots of gorgeous horses!

Jessica also advised me to go to the Moscow show in August!

Hege

13. Jessica D.05/23/2006 00:20:37

Well I have been a lurker on this blog for a bit. I have ultimately fallen in love with the AT breed and hope to be able to participate in the breed's promotion in the future. I have done Hunter/Jumpers for a long time and I love the sport and I hope to someday show AT's in the hunter world. I think with their wonderful movement and athletic ability and not to mention that they will stand out in a large hack class with their shine, they will prove to be successful. As I am fresh out of college, that's not in my ability at the moment.

I grew up in the Tampa, FL area and was sooo beside myself when I found out that you (Todd and Jessica) had an AT farm near me....and I had JUST moved to TN to live. I look forward to making a visit to your farm when I return to the area at some point. I can't wait to see one in real life!

Anyways, I just wanted to say that I was feeling the same as Hege and I am also glad this blog exhists because it helps to clear up a lot of confusion about the breed and it also allows for inexperienced AT people to ask questions and get some answers.

14. Jessica 05/23/2006 13:47:27

Hege. You will find your Teke, and I would say that you are among good people here on the blog that will help you out from our best of knowledge.

15. Jessica 05/23/2006 14:09:30

Jessica. Too bad you had to leave when we finally moved here. Give us a call whenever you are back in Tampa so that we can show you our horses.
You are not the only one who thinks that the Tekes can do good as hunters/jumpers. We have a few trainers hovering around our stud farm trying to snitch their favourite hunter Teke, we have to count them every night! They have already kidnapped our daughters and plan to turn them into hunter/jumper riders so we know they are serious.
I'm trying to educate myself about the hunter/jumper concept as it is new to me. So I'm glad you are here on my blog so that I can ask you beginners questions.
I saw some classes at HITS in Ocala and I will go to a show at quite a new barn very close to us, Barrington Hill, (moved here from Lutz not to long ago) on Saturday to see more of the hunters.
So far, I think the Tekes have the right movements, the long and low stride, they are also good looking horses and do have good jumps. Still a lot for me to find out, interesting and fun to learn new equestrian disciplines, that is one of the best thing about breeding Tekes, they can do so many disciplines! The challenge is to pick the right Teke for the right task and give them the best training. Fun, fun, fun

16. Heather Mahoney05/23/2006 15:13:24

Jessica D.:
Like you, I lurk on this blog at some point nearly everyday, though rarely post. Usually it seems more fitting to read and think and learn from the experience of those more familiar with the history and politics of the AT breed. My husband and I were thrilled when Todd and Jessica moved to Florida! You should definitely make the effort to see their animals when you are next in the area, as I assure you they are very worth the drive (the horses AND the breeders).

Hege:
I have simpathy for the frustrations you've described, as I find myself in much the same situation. It is disconcerting to have such a sincere interest in a breed only to find that you must always be careful of who to believe and have faith in. It is intimidating, but good, I think, that we ultimately take responsibility for educating ourselves. While I agree that we must rely much on ourselves and developing an "eye" for breed type, it is also important that our investment is not on a good looking animal that has genetic defects which may not be immediately apparent. This concerns me much when I think of an eventual purchase of my first Akhal-Teke. Are you considering attending the Moscow show? My husband and I are talking it over, and it would be interesting if there were other AT "first-timers" as well... just a thought.

Heather

17. Leonid05/24/2006 01:13:51
Homepage: http://www.shael-teke.ru

At 19th of August will be akhalteke show in the horse exebition "Equiros" in Moscow. Wellcome everybody!

18. Tabitha05/24/2006 03:50:48
Homepage: http://www.geocities.com/tabithameijer/index.html

Dear Jessica D., Hege and Heather,

You wish experience from AT first timers? I was one once, until I "bumped" in to this little colt that had a personality that appealed to me.
You should just be very aware of what you want to use your Teke for. Just for companyonship and having a good time with your horse or to really do competitions (no matter what kind) or for breeding.
With the first two you only have to look at the personality, the horse's health and conformation and his movements. Just like with any other horse.
The latter however demands indeed a lot of knowledge and experience with the breed. If that's what you want, just keep lurking is my advice and go see as much AT's in real live and at pictures as Todd said and talk to as many breeders as possible.

Or you can buy 'your' Teke and learn the rest afterwards (I thought I already had learned very much about the breed only to find out that the "politics" of the studbook were even stranger as I had thougt).
So now I keep my wonderfull Teke just for the first two things and I keep lurking and learning for the insignificant chance that someday I might be able to become a breeder . And I can tell you... we are really happy together and with the fact we don't have to worry about the studbook like real breeders .

So I can assure you... if you ever buy an AT, you'll never regret it even not if the studbook thinks your Teke is crap (unless you've bought an unhealthy horse of course).
That's my experience.

19. Hege05/24/2006 05:02:43

Dear all,
so great to see all these postings and to know that I am not alone in a long winded quest for an AT horse!
Jessica D, when you make a visit to Todd and Jessica I am sure you will have a fantastic experience, I would love to read about it on this blog!!!! I bet an AT would be a brilliant hunter/jumper as well, I never even thought of that before - with their stamina and willpower I think an AT would be very successful. My impression is that they possess so many good qualities!

Heather, I would like to attend the Moscow show in August, it would be very good to share opinions, the whole experience and learn together with someone. I also agree with you, we need to know as much as possible so that we don't buy ourselves a horse with defects or other problems. Sometimes these things are hard to discover when you can't make many visits to a breeder. I have been burnt once, when I was fourteen and got my first horse, from Denmark. It taught me always to X-ray all four legs of the horse before deciding to buy it! He had calcifications (I think that is the english word for it) in his back legs.

Tabitha, thank you for your advice and letting us know how you experienced buying and owning and AT horse, I think it is a good start to know exactly what you want from the horse when buying it! Did you visit many breeders and where did you end up buying your heavenly horse? By the way, so exciting that you dream of one day breeding these lovely horses!!!!

Finally - I feel that I am in good and honest company on this blog, it is teaching me a lot already and I would be pretty ignorant without it.

Hege

20. Jessica D.05/24/2006 10:42:29

Did you say Barrington Hill, Jessica? If it's the same Barrington Hill that was formally in Lutz, I used to work for them as an assistant Barn manager a few years ago. Is it run by an Alicia Padro by any chance?? (If you want to know more about this farm send me an email) I wish I was still in the area...maybe I'd be able to help you more.

21. Jessica05/25/2006 15:01:48

Leonid. Will you be showing your horses at the Moscow Show on the 13-15th of August as well as at Equiros on August 19?
For Teke lovers coming from far away like for example Florida it could be worth visiting both events I guess. Maybe a visit to your stud farm in between the two shows would be doable.
We're making plans for Todd to come to Moscow to attend the shows as I am not approved for the US stud book yet, this, in spite of the fact that I have produced two US citizens (I wonder what grades I will get?). Not being approved means that I cannot leave the US at this point.

22. Jessica 05/25/2006 15:06:21

Jessica D. Yes we are talking about the same Barrington Hill. The horse world is small isn't it! We will check it out during their last spring show event on Saturday. There will be several hunter/jumper classes to for us to study. Interesting.

23. Leonid05/26/2006 02:24:23
Homepage: http://www.shael-teke.ru

At the beginning will equiros and then 25-27 will Miting. Ofcourse somebody can visit our Stud.