Date: June 1997
Q: Since Peren is the most recent, why wouldn't he be considered a
representative of the Peren line??? Peren was a grandson of Skak as
well. This may be the reason.

A: The Akhal-Teke uses the "paternal" line system.
The horses used in breeding have always been selected
as the "best" representatives of the line and have
continued it. 1021 Azal was a good representative
of the Skak line and graded Elite before moving to the US.
779 Peren forked off his own line because he had/gave
other characteristics than the other Skak line stallions
of the time. Peren differed from the Skak line by being
slightly smaller, more compact, dryer and better on the race track.
He in turn gave these characteristics to his offspring.

One of the "problems" I think we'll face in the future is that
people will be breeding good stallions that may not represent
their particular line. As Kat mentioned, you need resources to
be able to "pick the best, throw away the rest" line breed. The
Russians/Turkmen have/have had these resources. Now as the number
of private studs increases, you cannot expect the number of elite line
representative stallions to increase fast enough to supply these
new studs. Thus, some studs my use good stallions but that
are not typical of their line. Then the characteristics and
diversity of each line will fade into the past.

The major exception to the "problem", as I called it,
is elite stallions deviating from their "line" and
that are better or have some "improving" factor.
These stallions (such as Peren or Gelishikli) are
considered "improvers" and usually start their own
line. Note that there is a difference between line
improvers and breed improvers (the Russian's terms).
While Peren's characteristics varied from the
Skak line he could not be classed as an
improver of his own (Skak) line. He was, however, such a good
Teke that he was classed as an improver of the breed and
founded his own line.

Today there are 17 lines. The Ak Belek line might die
out soon and the Gelishikli line might be divided up
into 3 different lines (Gelishikli continued by
Arslan, Beshtau and Polet, the "new" Yulduz line
continued by Dagestan, Turali, Adat, Melgun and
Dornazarbek and the "new" Gundogar line continued
by Garem, Gorni Klad, Gaidamak, Khorog, etc.)

Both Yulduz and Gundogar deviated slighly
from the Gelishikli line. Their offspring
inherited these characteristics and now you
can clearly see the difference between a Yulduz
line horse and a Gundogar line horse.

There are maternal lines too! These lines
are only derived from mother to daughter where
as a paternal line is given to both sexes. I
haven't examined these lines thoroughly yet so I
don't want to comment until I know enough about
them.