Dec 9, 2011: Akhal-Teke horse

Nirvana • Dec 8, 2011 9:12 pm
yah I know but I am tired and want to get in Friday's cute and cuddly ;)

The Akhal-Teke (play /ˌækəlˈtɛk/ or /ˌækəlˈtɛki/; from Turkmen Ahalteke, [ahalˈteke]) is a horse breed from Turkmenistan, where they are a national emblem.[1] They are noted for their speed and for endurance on long marches. These "golden-horses" are adapted to severe climatic conditions and are thought to be one of the oldest surviving horse breeds. There are currently about 3,500 Akhal-Tekes in the world, mostly in Turkmenistan and Russia, although they are also found throughout Europe, Australia and North America.

The breed became popular with the Russians, who established a breeding population at their state stud farms. Many Akhal-Tekes were bred at the Tersk Stud in the northern Caucasus Mountains, and later moved with the head breeder Vladimir Petrovich Shamborant to the Dagestan Studfarm.[2]


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The Akhal-Teke typically stands between 14.2 and 16 hands (58 and 64 inches, 147 and 163 cm). These horses are famous for those individuals who have a golden buckskin or palomino color with a distinct metallic sheen. However, a number of other colors are recognized, including bay, black, chestnut, palomino, cremello, perlino and grey. The Akhal-Teke's most notable and defining characteristic is the natural metallic bloom of its coat.[3] This is especially seen in the palominos and buckskins, as well as the lighter bays, although some horses "shimmer" more than others. The color pattern is thought to have been used as camouflage in the desert.[4] The cream gene that produces buckskin and palomino is a dilution gene that also produces the occasional cremello and perlino. Akhal-Tekes are not thought to carry the dun gene or roan gene.

LINK
jimhelm • Dec 8, 2011 9:49 pm
HI HO SILVER?
Aliantha • Dec 8, 2011 9:50 pm
That's the most beautiful horse I've ever laid eyes on. Not just the colour, but it's in spectacular condition.
Pete Zicato • Dec 8, 2011 11:06 pm
Wow. That is a stunning horse. If it had a horn, I'd have agreed that unicorns exist.
sandypossum • Dec 9, 2011 12:10 am
OMG ponies!!!

I agree, that is the most beautiful horse I've ever seen.
ZenGum • Dec 9, 2011 12:52 am
Man, that ride is pimped out! Bling! Bling!

Seriously, that is one stunningly beautiful horse.
Elspode • Dec 9, 2011 1:01 am
I've got to agree with Ali, here. That is a stunningly beautiful horse. Never seen anything quite like it. Almost looks like a sculpture instead of a living creature.
DanaC • Dec 9, 2011 5:03 am
Beautiful!

The stables up the road from me has gymkhanas and horse shows. Sometimes I hang out at the fence and watch. Last time (about 5 months ago) there was a young lady with a horse that looked very like that. Really striking and elegant. I wonder if it was that breed?
Undertoad • Dec 9, 2011 5:25 am
It's a beaut! Who knew you could get them in the metallic paint? Thanks Nirv!
Griff • Dec 9, 2011 6:40 am
Can you get a lift kit for it I've got some cool 20" rims...

Seriously that is a magnificent animal.
SPUCK • Dec 9, 2011 6:46 am
Looks like an A1 target for graffiti.
ZenGum • Dec 9, 2011 7:09 am
You reckon that thing would shit rainbows?
HungLikeJesus • Dec 9, 2011 7:29 am
I'd like some boots made out of that.
infinite monkey • Dec 9, 2011 8:25 am
Goodness what a gorgeous creature!

It would make some tasty Horse D'oeuvres!
Nirvana • Dec 9, 2011 10:19 am
Thanks for fixing my title powers that be :)
This breed almost makes me want a horse :D
BigV • Dec 9, 2011 11:12 am
It's purty, very purty. It looks fake, like Barbie's horse, Dallas.

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infinite monkey • Dec 9, 2011 11:27 am
You know way too much about Barbie.
classicman • Dec 9, 2011 12:20 pm
infinite monkey;779035 wrote:
You know WAY TOO much about Barbie.


ftfy
Clodfobble • Dec 9, 2011 12:38 pm
You can really tell that it's a different breed from standard horses we see here. The pelvis is so high, and the face so tall and narrow. If I didn't know it was real, I'd be tempted to say it had to be fake because the proportions are all wrong. Very cool.
Coign • Dec 9, 2011 1:44 pm
Oh and the US government recently OK horse slaughter again. Now we can cook it up and see how it tastes. Granted that one looks a little skinny.
Lamplighter • Dec 9, 2011 2:00 pm
Coign;779088 wrote:
Oh and the US government recently OK horse slaughter again.
Now we can cook it up and see how it tastes. Granted that one looks a little skinny.


The Warm Springs Reservation (central Oregon) has been proposing
to build a slaughter house to process the (exess of ?) wild horses that
are on the Reservation and BLM lands.
The argument has been made that the "adoption program" has not been successful (enough).

I thought it was being resisted by both local ranches and PETA, but maybe...
.
BigV • Dec 9, 2011 2:45 pm
infinite monkey;779035 wrote:
You know way too much about Barbie.


classicman;779054 wrote:
ftfy


you say that like it's a bad thing....
wolf • Dec 9, 2011 3:00 pm
Wow, gorgeous. Compact, but speedy looking.

beautiful movers.

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classicman • Dec 9, 2011 3:13 pm
Jim was in a dressage competition? Where does he find the time? :rolleyes:
Gravdigr • Dec 9, 2011 4:35 pm
Beautiful, beautiful horse. A bit slim for my wide load, but, ya prolly wouldn't ride that horse too much.
infinite monkey • Dec 9, 2011 6:35 pm
Coign;779088 wrote:
Oh and the US government recently OK horse slaughter again. Now we can cook it up and see how it tastes. Granted that one looks a little skinny.


A good horse like that, you don't want to eat all at once.
Sundae • Dec 10, 2011 6:50 am
classicman;779117 wrote:
Jim was in a dressage competition? Where does he find the time? :rolleyes:

There's always time for horsing around!
Aliantha • Dec 10, 2011 6:51 am
Yeah, specially with all those blue laws...