and open for discussion. Here is the email
"I am a new Akhal-Teke owner and have been trying to educate myself
about this breed as well as breeding. The first inquiry e-mail I sent
was to Leonid (and received no response) as I had gone through many
Akhal-Teke photos and found his horses to look to be outstanding. I
wish I had found your blog earlier as now I realize I probably
offended him by inquiring about AI (I had no idea it was controversial).

I would really appreciate your opinions and suggestions about
breeding. I have been educating myself through one main source and am
now finding out about the different breeding philosophies. I don't
want to make it my breeding philosophy/breed my mare to make
Akhal-Tekes into a more typical "American" type and I obviously need
lots more information.

After finding out as little as I have already I probably wouldn't
have even started with this specific mare, but she was recommended
for breeding so I think I am still going to do that, at least for
this year. So I have been looking at as many Akhal-Teke studs "on
paper" as I can find to narrow it down that way, and then relying on
their breeders and owners to tell me what their horses are like."


If you really want to educate yourself on this breed I think you must learn to make a difference between high quality, middle and low quality animals. Look at the high quality Tekes from breeders such as Shael and Stavropol and compare them to the Tekes you have been presented with.
Do your homework and you will realise that the elite grading and recommended by MAAK, golden crosses and rare lines, imported from Russia are merely buzz words used for marketing. Look at the horse.

You must have a clear goal when it comes to the rideability, workability, soundness and mentality. What is the difference between high spirited, sensitive, high strung, electric, where do you want your horses to be, who will use your horses, beginners or advanced riders? What are they supposed to do?

Once you have made your observations and decided what you want to have in your breeding program, you must weight the different traits, is type more important than height, is conformation more important than gaits, is rideability more important than type etc. No one else can tell you what is most important for you.

When you select your breeding stock you should be able to tell the stenghts and weaknesses in your horse as well as placing it on the quality range. This you are required to do also once you begin market yourself as a breeder.

(At this point in the history of the breed in the USA I think we can conclude that the business idea to mass produce low to middle quality Tekes, raise them without food are care and market them as pure and rare and at the same time top performance animals has finally proven to be a failure. Let us hope for a quick recovery from the flooding damages.)

To begin with you can make a list of strenght and weaknesses in your mare. You should also start her under saddle before you breed her. From the list and your mares rideability you can take out a list of faults that you cannot accept in a stallion.

If you are presented with performance results, and if they are important to you, ask when and where the actual show took place where the horse participated and if claims are made of results on higher levels such as Grand Prix dressage and show jumping, check with the national federation for verification.
Also understand that for example dressage in Europe are of the highest quality in the world and cannot be compared to for example USA or Russia.

Save the stud fee for 2007, ride your mare and get to know her potential, gaits, jumping ability, buy a ticket to Moscow in August and attend Equiros and the Moscow show and optimally Pyatigorsk. See the best horses and learn from the best breeders.

For now the North American market is flooded by low quality to medium quality Tekes, many of them you can get almost for free, if you want to see the Tekes on the real horse market, you must breed high quality horses and not animals whos only assett is the buzz.

You are always welcome with questions on this blog, most of us here are honest, hands-on, hard working, buzz free people, quite rare in this breed actually.

1. shael12/05/2006 12:57:07
Homepage: http://shael-teke.com

Wellcome!!!

2. Todd12/05/2006 13:29:47
Homepage: http://www.beknazar.com/

Let's not forget the old "trained to xxx level", or being trained for Grand Prix xxx. Always check with the trainer to verify, and remember that a trainer is getting PAID to train a horse! Very few trainers will tell you that your horse should be glue or that they will only reach a certain level. This would mean loosing a paying client! Ask yourself, why has this horse been trained (for xxx years) for Grand Prix something, yet has never competed at that level. :-
Todd

3. Heather12/05/2006 14:24:54

Welcome to the Akhal-Teke blog! There are lots of newbies here, like myself, just working to slowly increase their understanding and knowledge about this wonderful breed. And I too emailed Leonid a couple months ago with questions in regards to his articles on Akhal-Tekes (posted on his website) and did not receive a response. But remember, there are lots of people here from lots of countries, and communication is not always 100%!
Do you mind sharing where your mare was purchased, or from which breeding lines? Do not feel obligated, however, as I am simply interested.
Jessica, there is no way to share pictures on the blog without having a hyperlink, correct? It would interesting to the see photos of other's horses, which we hear alot about, but I've no idea what they look like!

4. maria12/05/2006 15:09:07

I want to echo Jessica's advice: save your breeding fee for next year and spend the money on training your mare and flying to Russia to see the best horses. Seeing the best stock in the flesh totally alters your judgement and perceptions. Riding your mare or, if you don't ride yourself, seeing her ridden and watching her behaviour, will also tell you a lot about the Akhal-Teke, much much more than some of the write-ups on websites. It's not that the write-ups are always a deliberate distortions - most of the time they are not and the authors probably believe what they write but unless you have been around the Akhal-Teke for a while, it's really hard to interpret them objectively.

5. Darya12/05/2006 15:28:41
Homepage: http://www.avatstud.com

Talking about being around the Akhal Teke for a while. I am completely in love now with my horses. Our relationship has come to a certain point, where they love me (in their horsey love kind of way) and are seeking my attention. My stallion is actually starting to be completely focused on me, and is not even paying so much attention to what the mare is up to, but concentrated on me. I am so happy and it has become so much easier to do everything with him including training. Just shows what two months of care, attention and determination can do. Once you won their heart, there is no better horse.

On the subject though, it makes me feel very sad, that people get put off through experiences like this. There is nothing worse, than being disappointed in your own horse. Don't let it make you feel down and just look at things objectively and do what is best.

6. maria12/05/2006 17:32:37

I am going to make a wild guess as to who you are, the Akhal-Teke mare owner, wanting to educate yourself about the breed: "Are you the person who was bowled over by the most recent picture of Gasyr and nominated him as your top-choice stallion for your mare?" I could be completely wrong... but I invite everyone to look at this extraordinary photo (on shael-teke) which truly incapsulates the quote on the same site: "Zmei, geparda i orla edinyi splav" - so true and so difficult to translate with the same rhythm as it has in Russian! - "A snake, a cheetah and an eagle - all in one"

7. Kerri-Jo12/05/2006 18:05:31
Homepage: http://akhal-teke.ca

That answers my questions. Yes, I found the stallion pictures on the Russian sites more "exciting" to look at than those on other North American websites, although I'm sure we have some great ones here as well. I will save up and go to Russia for the breed events - but it won't be until 2008. I did not know what getting involved with an Akhal-Teke meant! The difficult part is getting educated with so many completely opposing opinions!

I do love my mare, she has good solid conformation. She is really quite wild though and does not know anything at all. It will take a while to train her and I have put her with a professional trainer. She already follows me around though and seems like she really wants to trust people. She is on "rest" right now to settle in and gain weight (she is very skinny). Wish us luck!

8. shael12/06/2006 02:06:42
Homepage: http://shael-teke.com

Dear Kerri-Jo and Heather, my apologies. Sometime, when I recieve long and difficult letters, I have not good english for moment answer. I tell myself "tomorow, later", but day to day and another affairs. I am sorry. I could answer by russian?

9. shael12/06/2006 02:17:35
Homepage: http://shael-teke.com

My new adress www.shael-teke.com

10. Darya12/06/2006 03:42:16
Homepage: http://www.avatstud.com

Hello Kerri-Jo and welcome! Good you have found your way to this blog. I have got a pretty wild mare myself, but we have gone a long way in two months, and once they trust you, they will let you do anything as long as you are gentle and do not cause them pain and put them off. It is funny how by working my mare she has actually become much happier. She walks out of the stable with the purpose and she feels so proud when she does good and I praise her. She is like a little shy child in this massive body. I wish I had a camera with me yesterday as she decided to have a nice play in the paddock and was doing some dressage and spanish riding school elements after doing her favourite impersonation of a race horse. It was so funny to watch.

11. Blanca12/06/2006 06:27:21

Hello Kerri-Jo, and welcome to the AT community.

You have a nice mare and I wish you will find not "the best" stallion but the best stallion for her!

12. Blanca12/06/2006 06:30:20

PS. I hope you don't mind the small correction made in your web site

13. Heather12/06/2006 08:48:32

Leonid,
No need to be sorry. I am well aware that I ask too many questions when I am interested in something, and I enjoyed your articles. Some of them (that were only available in Russian) I had to run through an online translating tool, since my Russian is not so great. Of course, those never work so well, and things can be unclear. You may respond in Russian if you like, and I'll do the best I can, but truly I know you are a busy person and a reply is not manditory.

14. Heather12/06/2006 10:19:04

Kerri-Jo,
I couldn't help but notice that your web address is "stewartclan". You are in good company here, as Todd is obviously Clan Keith, and my family is Clan Anderson. "Alba go braugh", as the old-timers in my family say!
Heather

15. Todd12/06/2006 11:06:24
Homepage: http://www.beknazar.com/

Right Heather, Clan Keith! Veritas Vincit!
Alba go Bragh!

Todd Keith of the Clan Keith

16. shael12/06/2006 12:12:31
Homepage: http://www.shael-teke.com

Please Heather!

17. Heather12/06/2006 12:42:37

Thank you, Leonid. But if I had a dollar for everytime an adult had told me "Stop asking questions" when I was a kid I would be a rich woman! I had a teacher that even made a sign that said "WHAT?" and would hold it up anytime I came to her desk! Any answers are appreciated very much.

18. shael12/06/2006 13:22:01
Homepage: http://www.shael-teke.com

Take it easy

19. Kerri-Jo12/06/2006 14:06:22
Homepage: http://akhal-teke.ca

Hi Leonid - I love your website and your horses! I would be honoured to see them one day. Please write me in Russian, my husband's colleague can translate for me. Thanks!

20. Kerri-Jo12/06/2006 14:10:20
Homepage: http://akhal-teke.ca

Oh - and thanks Blanca, I appreciate your correction as In didn't know it was the wrong picture. I set up the blog as a reference for me to learn.

21. shael12/06/2006 15:36:16
Homepage: http://www.shael-teke.com

Please, I am open.

22. Jessica12/06/2006 15:57:30

To go back to the different opinions and advice Kerri-Jo has gotten in her quest for a Teke, I think to discuss different views is interesting and educational. If you want to share some of the differences you ponder about please feel free to do so.
I would also like to pose a question that came up when I have read and shared the experience with newcomers to the breed, especially here in the USA were many has not yet been around so much and therefore not yet seen the essence of the Teke so to say.
Well, here is my question; Which five traits do you think make the Teke and no Teke would lack? With traits I mean everything like conformation, movements, temperament etc.
I think of long legs, long thin neck, zatylok, dry noble, highly carried head, fluid movements and a never ending willingness to work with you.
This question leads to the next question, which five traits are most merited by the breed judge today?

23. maria12/06/2006 18:40:30

sorry to disrupt the discussion - I am translating the article about the 2006 Breeders' Cup at Equiros and am struggling to think of the English equivalent to the Russian expression . It's similar to but relates to the visual, rather than auditory, senses. Stupid stupid Babelfish gave me the priceless !!! I hope to finish it tonight and it should be soon available on Shael site. Please help - it's driving me potty.

24. maria12/06/2006 18:44:19

the Russian is "bal'zam na dushu" - it disappeared from the previous post because I put it in triangular brackets, it must be some Java script or other. Similar to English "music to my ears"

25. maria12/06/2006 18:45:23

Babelfish came out with "Balsam Per Capita" - don't use Babelfish if you can help it!

26. maria12/06/2006 19:25:23

one more please, my friends: lozhka degtia v bochke meda. It literally means a spoonful of tar in a barrel of honey. Anyone who can offer me the proper English equivalent can have a ride in my new saddle with its very hard seat! ha-ha

27. Kerri-Jo12/06/2006 19:39:00
Homepage: http://akhal-teke.ca

The reason I wanted an Akal-Teke was because I wanted a taller horse that would be good at endurance and competitive trail riding. (A big bonus is that they are also good at other disciplines so I will also be able able to do dressage and try jumping with her.) What are the typical breed traits and best lines for the good endurance horses?

28. maria12/06/2006 20:15:29

Kerri-Jo, like with other sports, one of the most important traits is mental suitability of a particular horse for the discipline. The other all-important trait is soundness. You should discover in time if your mare has the endurance mentality. In my not-very-extensive experience, not all Teke are obsessed with running long distance. My first one was just that but the one I have at the moment is the opposite. He is great on trails but he doesn't have the obsession to go on and on and on forever. Having said that, most Akhal-Teke are capable of going 50 miles with normal appropriate training. How come your mare is so wild? How old is she?

29. Heather12/07/2006 09:01:29

Maria,
"Music to my ears" but in reference to visual senses makes me think of the English saying "a feast for the eyes."

30. shael12/07/2006 09:51:50
Homepage: http://www.shael-teke.com

Look Maria job here:
http://www.shael-teke.com/web/shael.nsf/htmlarticles/315EDE253116331985257230003665E9

31. Darya12/07/2006 10:09:52
Homepage: http://www.avatstud.com

Excellent work, Maria! Akhal Tekes are lucky to have you.

32. Heather12/07/2006 11:10:37

Maria,
For the second one, the only English saying I could think of is "one bad apple spoils the bunch."

33. maria12/07/2006 19:15:55

Heather, the "bad apple" expression is kind of near enough but doesn't fit with the tone of the article. I used "cloud overshadowed...." which works well but the first one - bal'zam na dushu - I just had to fudge. I still can't think of anything suitable. "Feast for the eyes" is TOO visual : - ) Anyway, I think I would give myself 7 out of 10 for the translation overall, no more!

34. Heather12/08/2006 08:10:21

Maria,
You did a great job! I think you deserve at least an 8.5. It's so hard to translate things without losing a lot of the inference.

35. Jessica12/08/2006 14:26:21

Kerri,
Since we imported the first Teke to Sweden, many endurance riders, a few of them WC riders have been checking out our horses. Being curious and not an endurance rider myself I always ask them which one of the Tekes at our farm they would pick for endurance.
It seems like the same horses have been picked, Almaz and Alma, two different types of Tekes indeed but somehow I can agree as they are both very correct and of athletic build. Almaz actually was selected two cover the, at that time, two most successful endurance mares in Sweden that had participated in world championships and the Quatar endurance.
Obviously he must have something that the top endurance riders like. You can look at pictures of him on our home page under our horses if you want to study his conformation.
A successful Australian endurance rider, Tom Thomsen, that has been in the US a few times to check out the Tekes her, actually did not find his endurance Teke here but at our stud farm in Sweden. He had earlier seen Almaz and picked him as a good endurance type and a few years later he bought Gelberi from us, pregnant with Almaz. You can look at Gelberi and Alma under our horses on our web page.
The endurance riders as I know them are very careful in picking horses that are correct with a strong body build and pure movements.
A Teke that was not picked by the endurance riders but did quite good in competetive endurance in Russia was Parikhan.
There are not enough Tekes that compete in endurance to draw any statistical conclusions on stallions that produce good endurance Tekes or other combinations compared to the Arabian breed that have so many horses out being tested per year so that you can pick the best producers from reliable statistics.
Like with so much else in this breed it is the trial and error system that is applicable. Expensive and time consuming enough to make endurance riders pick Arabians instead!