Akhal Teke for Endurance?

[Ozalynda]

[QUOTE=Singh559;6222056]
It’s now quite established that the Russian SB is fairly flawed due to the fact that it recognizes partbred ATs far from the standard/original Akhal Teke.
:)[/QUOTE]

While I will not argue that there are problems with the Russian Studbook (managed by VNIIK), I am not following you here.

There is a partbred section of the book and a purebred section of the book. Partbred section is at least 50% teke and purebred is as close as purebred as is possible considering the “pollution” of the breed with TB crossing in the early parts of the 20th century. The book was closed in 1935 and no new introductions of TB blood has been allowed. This is a big issue right now with the attempts to return the population of horses in Turkmenistan to the main studbook amidst claims of illicit use of TB’s in breeding there where horseracing is especially important.

But back to your statement. How are the tekes of today “far from the standard/original Akhal Teke”? There is quite a lot of variation within the breed, and one should not be misled by photos of racing fit 2-year-olds.

I will agree that it is problematic to purchase an akhal teke for a specific sports discipline based on pedigree. There are not enough sports results for the breed (due largely to the low numbers and the concentration on racing in russia/turkmenistan/etc.). The results there are can be attributed as much to the lucky combination of horse and rider as to a specific bloodline.

Best of luck in your hunt for a horse!

[Singh559]

[QUOTE=Ozalynda;6227808]
While I will not argue that there are problems with the Russian Studbook (managed by VNIIK), I am not following you here.

There is a partbred section of the book and a purebred section of the book. Partbred section is at least 50% teke and purebred is as close as purebred as is possible considering the “pollution” of the breed with TB crossing in the early parts of the 20th century. The book was closed in 1935 and no new introductions of TB blood has been allowed. This is a big issue right now with the attempts to return the population of horses in Turkmenistan to the main studbook amidst claims of illicit use of TB’s in breeding there where horseracing is especially important.

But back to your statement. How are the tekes of today “far from the standard/original Akhal Teke”? There is quite a lot of variation within the breed, and one should not be misled by photos of racing fit 2-year-olds.

I will agree that it is problematic to purchase an akhal teke for a specific sports discipline based on pedigree. There are not enough sports results for the breed (due largely to the low numbers and the concentration on racing in russia/turkmenistan/etc.). The results there are can be attributed as much to the lucky combination of horse and rider as to a specific bloodline.

Best of luck in your hunt for a horse![/QUOTE]
I see, thanks for clearing up how the studbook works. Would an expert on the breed be able to find an Akhal Teke (based on physical and visual) analysis of the horse that would do better in a field such as endurance?

But back to your statement. How are the tekes of today “far from the standard/original Akhal Teke”? There is quite a lot of variation within the breed, and one should not be misled by photos of racing fit 2-year-olds.

Ah, I see. That would make a lot of sense. So the reason for the variation in these two horses is not necessarily because they have more TB % or aren’t like the original AT breed, it could very well be because they’re more fit and tuned for short distance racing. Correct me if i’m wrong.

[rainechyldes]

I understand that you are interested in ATs specifically for endurance - but I feel I need to interject…
If you spend some time looking at the more successful endurance horses in the sport, you’ll find that regardless of breed, - they all usually share common attributes - that alone if you train your eye and ‘feel’ for a horse, will undoubtably bring you closer when the time comes to picking that prefect for you AT partner - than any endless discussions purely based on bloodlines.

• Conformation
  -Temperament
  etc etc

Not saying that bloodlines shouldn’t come into play - however at the moment - there isn’t a huge amount of ATS being used/bred for endurance that I am aware of, in the PNW any rate.

I know a few very small AT breeding operations that are aiming for endurance …however their bred stock are just coming into their own. their 1st endurance potential horse did LDS last year, may be moving to 50s this coming year, I don’t know

Of course, my oinion is worth about 2cents – so take it for what it’s worth:)

but in now going past 3 decades in our family of breeding endurance purpose bred arabians, and arabianx appaloosas… bloodlines don’t always tell the ‘whole’ story - and I would certainly never depend solely upon them when making a purchasing decision.

Breeding for a specific discipline as we all know takes time… and sometimes heartache. hehe. 20 years from now, we may see a ton of absolutely purpose bred ATs

• and while I don’t plan really on ever owning one, I adore them, as they are certainly head turners, so I do hope for that day for sure:)

[QacarXan]

I looked at the Tevis Rider list for this year and didn’t see any purebred Tekes. Anyone know of some crosses that might be there?

[Lisa_Preston]

One of the entrants riding TBD has Tekes and halfs…I shot her an email to ask which pony she’s taking.

[QacarXan]

[QUOTE=Lisa Preston;6464027]
One of the entrants riding TBD has Tekes and halfs…I shot her an email to ask which pony she’s taking.[/QUOTE]

Thanks for doing that. Has she responded yet?

[prudence]

Horse breeds on the Tevis Cup Ride this year are included here:

http://teviscup.org/tevis-results/2012-tevis-webcast/2012-live-results

Some are still TBD on the list though.

[Bluesy]

I can’t answer the original poster, as I am not an endurance rider, nor have I ever owned or even ridden one, but I definitely want to own one sometime in my life.

I got the chance to handle a AT stallion (this one) that was at my barn, and I just adored him. When ever I was leading him and he was being a goober - as in going to bite me - I’d stop and glare at him as if to say “What ARE you doing?” and he’d be all like “oh, nothing.” and just be fine.

I had also done a presentation in college on the Teke horse - and it just cemented my love for these loffly horses.

And I don’t remember which poster owns Superstar - but I am such a big fan of his! He is just gorgeous and so lovely. (He was certainly in my presentation :))

And those who posted pictures of you AT’s and AT crosses - Lovely lovely lovely. Jealous

[QacarXan]

Lisa Preston indicated above that there was a “TBD” rider who has Tekes, so we’re waiting to hear if she used a Teke, a cross, or something else entirely.

Also, in case anyone hasn’t looked in a while, there’s a load of new pictures on the Akhal Tekes in Iran facebook page.

[Lisa_Preston]

Didn’t start, Quarx.

Anyhoo,
entries
http://www.teviscup.org/results/21-results/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3&Itemid=1176
which still had TBD horses–

and results

http://www.teviscup.org/tevis-results/2012-tevis-webcast/2012-webcast-live-results