Sire lines
Arab bears a good resemblance to a heavily-Thoroughbred crossed warmblood, and his line has inherited and been bred for his particular affinity to classical horse sports.He was an excellent performer in his day, a participant in the Ashkabad-Moscow trek, many times the jumping of champion of the Soviet Union, lead horse in the victory parade after World War II, Stallion of the Year at the 1945 Moscow Horse Show, and holder of a high-jump record (2.12 meters, set at the age of 16), which stood for the breed until very recently.
From Akhal-Teke Ranch:
Excerpts of Dr. Milena Stoszek’s translation of an article written by Dr. Tatiana N. Riabova, as printed in the 2005 Akhalteke-Inform, discussing the Arab line of Akhal-Teke horses:
Current representatives of the line Arab – those are tall, powerful, strong boned horses, plain in type, with sufficiently high results in flat races (stallion Ametist, black,1966 (Absent – Algush) – record keeper of the breed at the distance 2000m – 2 min.11,5 sec), but mainly they excel in classical sports.
From the Golden Collection: (1)
Arab sired Absent in his first covering with Bakkara and others good stallions followed, including Alam and Avangard. Lachin and Kir-Sakar were great descendants, both being big and well built and champions of the Ashkhabad hippodrome.
Absent sired a large number of valuable horses, which inherited his type and dressage ability, Abakan, Akbulak, Altar, Agdam, Dombai and Elba, being some of the most talented. Ametist, who still holds the record of 2 minutes and 11.6 seconds for 2,000 meters, sired two stud horses; Derbent (the sire of the outstanding Aikhanum) and Mukhtar, who sired foals more typical of his dam’s line, Spar-Khan after his mother Melekush.
From Akhal-Teke Estonia:
We know very little of Arab`s ancestors. Arab`s dam is simply listed as “Akhal-Teke Mare”. Arab was a great grandson of 2a Boinou. He was not officially awarded a line of his own until 1990, after 14 years of evaluation of his descendants by the then Soviet Institute of Horse Breeding. His line has been bred for his particular affinity to classical horse sports. He was an excellent performer in his day, a participant in the Askhabad – Moscow trek, stallion of the year at the 1945 Moscow Horse Show, many times the jumping champion of the Soviet Union and holder of a high-jump record (2.19 meters, set at the age of 16), which stood for the breed until very recently. He is also thought to be a lead horse in the victory parade after World War II (but this fact is not proved yet). Mostly, however, he is known as the sire of 668 Absent.
Today, the Arab line is available through 668 Absent and 677 Alam.
El proved to be a quality race horse. Although horses of the line of El have exceptional speed and endurance, the line has often been neglected in breeding because of the horses’ plain type. At the present time a great deal of effort is going into improving the type while maintaining the horses’ performance abilities, and it was for this reason that the new branch of Sovkhoz II q.v. was begun.
From the Golden Collection: (1)
Baba-Akhyn’s direct descendant founded the line of El. El’s father Tugur-Bai, the brother of Topor-Bai (both out of Mele-Khadji-Nuru, was famous for his victories in 5 and 10 km races. El also excelled at racing and produced many good offspring, including Yegoza, the mother of Fakirpelvan. Almaz became the main successor of the line, throwing simple offspring with racing talent.
From the Akhal Stud:
Although the horses of the line of the EL have exceptional qualities of speed and in resistance, the line was often neglected because of its lack of the type. At the present time much of effort is committed in order to improve the type while keeping sporting qualities. For this reason one sees appearing a new line resulting from El : Sovkhoz II.
From Akhal-Teke Estonia:
The line-founder 100 El was born in 1932 at the 69th Stud Farm (later to become Komsomol and later still the Niyazov Stud) in Turkmenistan by 247 Tugurbai and 177 Elkab (line 175 Mele Kush). Of his breeding, he is inbred to 2a Boinou 5 x 3 x 5.
As a youngster he was, as Belonogov put it in the Third stud book, “kept in poor condition by underfeeding.” Once taken to the Ashkabad Hippodrome, he fared better and proved to be a quality race horse, doing the 2000 meters (roughly a mile and a quarter) in a respectable 2:24 (compare to an average speed of 2:05 for a Thoroughbred running the same distance) as a four-year-old.
El, whose name means “Wind” or “Power,” was a golden bay stallion with a short, plain head on a shortish neck; a long back with a very long loin, an excellent croup, good, dry legs and the curious combination of quite long pasterns and rather straight hocks. His lack of depth through the girth was considered at the time to be due to the impoverished circumstances in which he had been raised. He did not have the extremely “dry” conformation and indeed, he was known for suffering occasional swelling of the hocks (which may have been a relic of his racing days).
El stood at stud at Ashkabad, and there it is said by Belonogov that he sired many offsprings. It would appear that many were sold or conscripted for the war effort, for by 1945 only three of his foals remained: the stallion Enlimez, who was never formally registered, and the mares 1184 Elan and 650 Elmik. Enlimez himself left only a single son, 682 Almaz, and it has been through him that the line of El continues.
Today line El takes about 8% of the Akhal-Teke breed.
Here are a couple comments about this potential line as well:
From the Golden Collection: (1)
More recently Sokhov-2 has represented the line of El as his sons Saklanma, Polot and Melesur have produced valuable offspring. Polot has produced an amazing group of breed champions (Alaman, Ailazat, Jeiran) and racers (Piastr and Paradox) from his sons and grandsons.
From MAAK:
Unfortunately, Melekulan was used for a short time and then disappeared. Melesur was sold to Uzbekistan were he was used in endurance races, then came to Russia and was used as breeding and sport stallion. Polot was underestimated as a breeding stallion in Turkmenistan and he happened to come to Dagestan. Instantly, he proved his high class, producing a number of breed champions, including Alaman.
Dr. Rjabova’s article on Sokhov 2 can be found here, and Leonid’s response can be found here or go to the original Russian work.
All of Everdi Teleke’s sons were taller than their father, and of all of them, the Turkmen themselves most liked Kara Kush, who went on to become a Champion of the Breed. Parrot-Mouth is known to run in the line; according to Belonogov, the broodmares Anketa, Sakar Kush and Elichi all showed this trait.
From the Golden Collection (1):
Everdy-Teleke was inbred on Boinou (II-III) and was renowned for his outstanding type. Impressive sons include Mele, Dor-Kush and Kara-Kush, and daughters include Murad, Mamyk-Kara, Sauda, Ezgermek. His line was developed through Kizil (Everdy-Teleke x Beifid) , who sired the mother of Kaplan, Kelte. Alvan (Azamat x Lebab), a desendant of Kezil, and his desendants have been the main source for reviving “this outstanding line of the Akhal-Teke breed”.
From the Akhal Stud:
The characteristics of this line vary between the racehorse and the modern Turkoman type. Probably the best horses result from 850 ASAMAT. They are long but without exaggerated extremes. They are thin and are excellent runners : the line today is very appreciated in Turkmenistan for racing. The gray 1025 ALAGES (1985) is a good example.
From Akhal-Teke Estonia:
269 Everdi Teleke was born in 1914 in Turkmenistan and was 154 cm (15 hh). He was by Dovlet Ishana (2a Boinou) and Everdi Teleke (2a Boinou), inbred 3 x 2 to 2a Boinou, and in his general proportions was similar to that stallion, although the most widely circulated picture of him shows him in a very unflattering pose. Again, except for his maternal and paternal grandsire lines, we know nothing concrete about his ancestors.
All of Everdi Teleke’s sons were taller than their father, and of all of them, the Turkmen themselves most liked 125 Kara Kush, who went on to become a Champion of the Breed.
Today Everdi Teleke line takes about 2,5% of Akhal-Teke breed.
The line of the bay (and probably sabino) stallion Skak was one of the most widely represented in the Akhal-Teke breed, second only to that of Kir Sakar. “Skak horses” typically show large size and good bone, with moderate length of back. They also are known for exceptionally fluid gaits and a “statuesque beauty,” but they lack racing speed.From the Golden Collection (1):
Skak (Kizil x Skala) was a big, strong stallion with “extraordinary type and exterior”. Famous sons include Mellek-2 and Melekush. Other sons made excellent racers, including Erkus, Saper, Streleok, Arsenal, Sushniak. His daughters also turned out to be quite prominent. Skak’s descendant Angar (Kachkyr x Kir-Sakar) was skilled at racing and became breed champion in 1972. Angar was an outstanding producer of mares and his best son, Altyiab is hoped to be used to revive the line of Skak.
From the Akhal Stud:
Skak’s extreme length of body should be noted: 181cm (his height was 164cm). He is really in the type Everdi Teleke. Not less than 8 standards resulting from the Skak line were approved like “Ameliorative” by the MAAK. One of his sons, 711 ERKUS, gave the founder of line 779 Peren.
The line is characterized by its aptitude to work and their size, but unfortunately much of horses have a percentage of rather high different blood. The horses vary between the traditional race type and Teke of sport and jump. It was long ago when the line accounted for 25%, today it is down to 6.5%.
From Akhal-Teke Estonia:
The bay stallion 569 Skak was born in 1940 at Djambul Stud, by 142 Kizil out of 377 Skala. He was big (164 cm), had right conformation and was very typey stallion of that time. He was widely used at Djambul Stud and many offsprings of him were left in Turkmenistan for breeding. Eight Skak-line stallions – 711 Erkus, 804 Strelok 7, 789 Saper, Sushnyak, Kosar, 801 Spesivii, 687 Arsenal, 797 Signal – are considered “improvers” of the breed by the Russian breeding authority MAAK. Skak-line horses show typically large size and good bone, with moderate length of back.
Peren foaled 1955 in Turkmenistan and stood 160cm (15.3 hh). He was by 711 Erkus (Skak) x 1321 Pobeda (Ak Belek). Peren’s performance on the race track was good, but not exceptional. Everything else about him was. He was in his day considered to be as “typey” an Akhal-Teke as could be imagined, and his son Polotli, along with Kambar, went on to become the pride of Turkmenistan. Peren raced four times, winning thrice, before being retired to stud due to injury. Peren is inbred 4 x 4 to both Everdi Teleke and Sluchai. Even though Peren himself was tall for a Teke, horses in his line are noted for being on the “small” side. Good outcrosses for the Peren line are considered to be the Kaplan, Kir Sakar and Karlavach lines.
From the Golden Collection (1):
Peren is the son of Erkus (one of the best Skak sons) and Pobeda. Peren is thought to be one of the best representatives of Boinou in the XXth century. His best son was Polotli, who was good at racing and became the breed champion three times. Piada (Pudock (by Polotli) x Bossan) is considered one of the best purebred types in the world.
From Akhal Stud:
Peren’s most famous son was 914 POLOTLI (1965), 161cm, by the mare 1244 KATSHKIR. He was several Champion times of the Breeding. Like KAMBAR, he was an excellent racehorse and also it had a strong percentage of blood other than Teke. The pair were the pride of Turkmenistan. POLOTLI had the most important influence on the turkmen breeding after 1965. He left 80 products and this on the basis of some 300 brood mare which constituted this breeding. KAMBAR had during the same period 130 foals.
As for the actual value of POLOTLI, it depends on the person from whom one requests it. In Turkmenistan, and for those which prefer the modern type, he remains a star. For the purists and those which prefer the old type, one will say that this horse should never have covered a brood mare.
The characteristics of this line are the esthetism, the type and the gauge. The majority of the Peren horses resemble a crossing between the Arab and the Spaniard, they tend to have a good gauge, a wrapped and round body. Mixed with the Karlavach line, one obtains horses of the sport type, which increases their quality in raising with light gaits: they approach modern the turkmene type. The neck is round, the head is short with a broken nose, space between the eyes is larger than for the other horses of the breed.
From Akhal-Teke Estonia:
The line-founder 779 Peren was born in 1955 in Turkmenistan. He was golden buckskin, 161 cm (15.3 hh), graded Elite and was named the Champion of the Breed in 1967. Peren is by 711 Erkus (line Skak) and 1321 Pobeda (line Ak Belek).
Peren’s offsprings were compact, with good conformation and particular type, so in 1983 started the work with Peren’s offsprings as a new line. Peren is inbred 4 x 4 to both
269 Everdi Teleke and Sluchai. Even though Peren himself was tall for a Teke, horses in his line are noted for being on the “small” side.
Good outcrosses for the Peren line are considered to be the Kaplan, Kir Sakar and Karlavach lines.
Today Peren line takes about 7% of the Akhal-Teke breed.
Many Akhal-Teke enthusiasts today especially admire Fakirpelvan for his purity of pedigree. Fakirpelvan’s best sons are considered to be 919 Opal and 971 Khalif, as well as the great Akhal-Teke jumper gelding Penteli.
From the Golden Collection: (1)
Fakirpelvan was one of the more famous son’s of Fakir-Sulu. His offspring inherited their sire’s extraordinary endurance and physical features. “The greatest contribution to the development of the Akhal-Teke breed made by Fakirpelvan’s offspring, lies in the ability of Posman, Kaltaman, Opal and Khalif to sire hardworking, though simple and non-typical foals.”
From the Akhal Stud:
His name means ” Magic Hero “. He was evaluated ” Elite ” in 1961 and declared race Champion at the agricultural exposure of Moscow in 1969. He is one of the two famous studs who were brothers and were imported to Tersk from Turkmenistan. Taking into account the quality of their descent, they have both have their own line.
Much of the impassioned Akhal-Teke breeders today admire more particularly this line for its purity of pedigree, as it carries very little of different blood. However, if one makes tests it to look at only his photograph and to guess the race: it is indicated like crossing of PS or of horse of hunt. Indeed, during years during which the Soviets had the control of the breed, the tendency was to raise “less exotic” Akhal-Tekes more towards the European ideal of a sport horse to make them more attractive to export.
The line can be divided into 2 groups :
1. the pure ones : descendants of AYGITLI, OMAR, KHALIF
2. the least pure : by KALTAMAN which resemble P.S more
From Akhal-Teke Estonia:
Fakirpelvan, „Magician Hero”, a light liver chestnut stallion was born in 1951 at Ashkabad. He was graded Elite in 1961 and was named the Champion of the Breed at the Moscow Agricultural Exhibition in 1969. He is one of a pair of famous brothers brought from Turkmenistan to Tersk, where they were both effective enough to found their own stallion lines. Fakirpelvan is by 629 Fakir Sulu (Sluchai) and 647 Egoza (line El).
Many Akhal-Teke enthusiasts today especially admire Fakirpelvan for his purity of pedigree (i.e., he carries a very small amount of Thoroughbred blood), but in this instance if one looked at his photograph alone and were asked to guess his breed, one might first guess that he is a Thoroughbred Hunter or half-Thoroughbred warmblood. In Fakirpelvan, the extreme type seems to have been successfully avoided; the angular forms one equates with the breed are inevident in his photographs.
Fakirpelvan is inbred 5 x 3 x 4 to Bek Nazar Al, and carries seven lines to Kutli Sakar through 2a Boinou and one to Kutli Sakar through line stallion 220 Sluchai. His dam 647 Egoza is a daughter of line stallion 100 El, and granddaughter of Bek Nazar Dor’s brother, line stallion 198 Posman. Line stallion 175 Mele Kush also appears in Fakirpelvan’s pedigree. Unfortunately, about a third of his dam lines are simply unknown.
Fakirpelvan was bought from the Ashkabad stud by Vladimir Shambourant, along with his half brother 697 Gelishikli, and taken by him to Tersk for using as sires. Both brothers were being underutilized in the Turkmenian breeding program in favor of racing heroes 885 Kambar (line Karlavach) and 914 Polotli (line Peren).
Today Fakirpelvan line takes 6% of the Akhal-Teke breed.
Gelishkli’s performance at the race track was not spectacular; but nevertheless he was noted for these excellent gaits which lend themselves well to performance in classical sport. He was named Champion of the Breed, 1964, five years before the same honor was bestowed on his famous brother, Fakirpelvan. He is by 627 Fakir-Sulu (Sluchai) x 104 Gezel (Bek Nazar Dor).
From the Golden Collection: (1)
Gelishikli was distinguished as a very typical and graceful stallion, who produced “wonderful flawless Akhal-Teke foals”. From daughters of Sapar-Khan (Yulduz, Gundogar, Guneshli, Guldjakhan), Gul and Alsona (Azat, Arslan, Agava), he sired the prominent successors of his line today.
From the Akhal Stud:
Gelishikli represents the Turkmen type in the Russian breeding. It was of longline type with a conformation except standard. It transmitted to all its line its most dominant characteristics. They themselves transmitted them to the present generations.
About back length, as he covered many mares with themselves a neck and a long back: the results were GULDSHACHAN, JULDUS, and CHOROG. Many offspring had the hollow back and the neck so long that it was unthinkable to imagine warriors to assemble such horses. In any event it should be covered only by standards with the short back. This current fashion unfortunately tends to take importance.
The best sires from GELISHIKLI are: 699 GUNDOGAR, 935 JULDUS, BESHTAU, ARSLAN
ARSLAN probably gave the best standard of the line : ORLAN located at the Stud farm of Stavropol.
GUNDOGAR and JULDUS will most probably have their own line in the near future, both being extremely typified and with an exotic look.
The line is characterized by their long conformation. It resembles the old type. Its line is enormously popular among enthusiastic the defender of modern Akhal Teke. Today there are more horses of Gelishikli line than of any other line: approximately 16% of the race attributes to him all alone. Those which want to choose a horse of this line to make horsemanship seriously must choose a horse with a stable back.
He was not a very good racehorse; but nevertheless it was noted thanks to its excellent predispositions for the traditional sport. It east is born in Ashkabad but lived the major part of its life to the Stud farm of Tersk, under the monitoring of Mr. Shamborant, who bought it at the same time as his half-brother FAKIRPALVAN. Shamborant wanted these two horses for their excellent sporting qualities; his intention was to raise of Akhal-Tekes which could excel in Olympic disciplines as on the racecourses, and with the sight of its production as well GELISHIKLI as FAKIRPELVAN, he succeeded admirably.
Mele-Kush was one of the last children of Boinou, and he was like his father as a race winner and an outstanding purebred. Despite his soft back, Mele-Kush was considered “an embodiment of the ideal Akhal-Teke”. His line was continued mainly through his grandsons, Sapar-Khan and Tese. The daughters of Mele-Kush were found to be outstanding dams, including Elkab, who sired El. Klimuk considers Tyllanur (Telekush 2 x Aisulu) the best contemporary representative of the line.
More on line Mele-Kush in Czech.
From the Akhal Stud:
MELEKUSH took part in many races and often finished 1st. For the Tekes nomads, he represented the ideal horse, it was of the type ” alaman At “: of average conformation, a neck not too long and a croup slightly higher than the garrot.
He covered many mares and had many products which founded their own line or gave rise to founders. Many purists think that this line was forsaken with the profit of others and this especially because of Turkmenes. It is thought that the spirit of this line continues through that of Sapar Khan.
Sapar-Khan and his descendants are known for their powerful muscles and broad bodies, but can be characterized by “insufficient leanness and simplicity”. Sere (Synok x Wnysh) maintained the line of Sapar-Khan. He was a “clearly marked Akhal-Teke of the long lines”.
Kir Sakar became a line stallion on the basis of the evaluation of his sons, four of which–Kelam, Edenli, Goklen and Karader–are considered by MAAK to be “improvers” of the breed; his best son was Keymir. Nevertheless, Kir Sakar is seen in pedigrees mostly as a broodmare sire; his daughters Kagiz, Karali, Keskelti, Keshte and Kachkyr are seen very frequently in Akhal-Teke pedigrees.The best traits of the line are considered to be a good croup, good size, substance and bone, and exceptionally smooth gaits. Their racing speed is said to be “passable,” and in type many are considered fairly plain.
From the Golden Collection: (1)
Kir Sakar was the main stud of the Ashkabad stud from 1949 and he had great ability to sire typical offspring from even plain mares. His son Keimir was an unsurpassed winner at the Turkmen racetrack. His most prominent offspring included Kemer, Kirdja, Kalyan and Keimer. Keimer played a most prominent role in developing the line, producing Kirsakar-2 (sire of Melekush and Mogar), Kerven (excelled at racing longer distances) and Gaplan (Kaplan).
From the Akhal Stud:
Kir Sakar was a horse of the old war type, heavy and muscular, with a conformation that had nothing to do with that of Akhal Teke typical. He was a good racehorse before being a stud. The characteristics of the line are varied, they are good horses of jump and race with much of energy.
The standard was 989 KARADER (1977 – 1998): who is definitively of the “modern turkmene” type.
Kaplan was by 736 Keimir (Kir Sakar) x 1249 Kelte (Everdi Teleke). The one fault that most breeders found in Kir Sakar and his line was a lack of type. This was considered correctly with the birth of 721 Kaplan, who proved prepotent enough that in 1991 he was awarded a line of his own. Kaplan was a superlative race horse; in 6 years, he ran 26 times and won 17 of those races.
From the Golden Collection: (1)
“Gaplan and his best descendants represent an excellent type of long-line Akhal-Tekes marked with extraordinary trainability and purity of blood.”
Posman is one of two sons of Bek Nazar Al (see Bek Nazar Dor) to be recognized with a line of his own. He was a successful racehorse at the shorter distances becoming popular on the tracks at the time. He was considered to have a short back and flat croup, which are handed down the line “even through the broodmares.”
From the Golden Collection: (1)
Posman was known as an excellent purebred with outstanding racing abilities. however by the 1970s the line had declined and was preserved only by Kermek (Kalkan-Tovshan) and his only son Karaman,. Karaman sired sired Gaigysyz (from Angar’s daughter Syiagul), Galabeg (from Geze, Opal’s daughter), Mangyt and Murgab (from Millet, the daughter of Dagestan), Calyr (from Cania, Sere’s daughter), Nuker (from Prelest, another Sere daughter), Sagib (from Serga, Rokot’s daughter), Gaiaz (from Pampa, Glazok’s daughter). Among their outstanding children are Garaiusup, Pekhimdar, Pelen, Peremena, Primula and Amira.
Line Posman is currently the most typical and noteworthy in this breed. This line includes almost all last champions of Russia and the World: Murgab, Mangyt, Salyr, Margaritka, Galabeg, Sagib, Nuker, Garajusup, Pehimdar, Gench, Pelen, Peremena, Primula, Amira and many others. Line Posman now has two representatives in North America, Kuwwat and the splendid Habib Shael.
From the Akhal Stud:
This resurgence of the Posman line arrives just in time and fortunately, among this line, one can find best Akhal Tekes of our time. They are well made, robust and resistant, and very much resemble the descendants of BEK NASAR. They move all well, with much fluidity and at a good speed. The Posman line that it is by wire or the girls of KARAMAN or GAIGYSYZ is made for the endurance, hunting and the jump. On the level character, they are rather sensitive and have much determination.
It is one of oldest the lines to be recognized by Mr. Belonogov, writer of the first studbook, and this very early in the beginning of the book. Posman is one of two Al Bek Nazar (see Bek Nazar Dor) to have its own line which starts in the fifth volume. The Posman line today is one of the most typified race lines. However, the Posman line is always one of rarest.
The line of Toporbai is one of the oldest of Russian/Soviet Akhal-Teke lines. Toporbai is found in pedigrees today mainly through his son 044 Tillya Kush. Tillya Kush, is noted by Dr. Belonogov as having “inherited his good conformation from this [thoroughbred] grandfather, while at the same time preserving perfectly the Akhal-Teke type. His foals are very typey and well-formed.” Tillya Kush was of the old, massive alaman-at or Goklan type, with a lot of daylight under him and strong, straight legs and, unusually for both Turkmenian and English Thoroughbreds, a heavy crest. Tillya Kush’s chestnut son Yulduz (“The Star,” foaled 1923) was a superior racehorse in Uzbekistan, and stood for a time at the Iomud stud there.
From Akhal Stud:
The line is characterized by its good character. ROKOT transmitted to its descent its extraordinary calm and his soft character. It is the line of choice for which seeks a calm and flexible horse. They are excellent jump horses.
There is some excellent information on the Torpobai line at the Achalteke Tukleky site.
432 Karlavach was an excellent race horse, which some people discount on the basis that Karlavach carried 12.5% “foreign blood” in the form of a doubling of an English Thoroughbred great-great grandsire, Burlak. However, his conformation is not typical of the English Thoroughbred in any way; and it is more likely that his speed came from the fact that Akhal-Tekes were, at that time, being bred for and tested on the racetrack.
One of his most famous sons was also one of the most successful of Teke race-horses, 886 Kambar.
From Akhal Stud:
It is of this fact today more considered as a anglo-teke or P.S. which as a Teke truth as well it is true as a many its products have this typical conformity.
The characteristics of this line are conformation and the gauge. They resemble more one crossing between Anglo-arabe and Hispano. Much of them tends to have a rough skin, their gauge is higher than the other lines and, put aside the color, they resemble European horses.
Their esthetics is nevertheless pleasant and much of Western riders prefer this type of Akhal Teke parce which they are more easily accepted in the contests. For these reasons, this line is very present in Europe and the number of these horses is practically equivalent to those in Russia.
Ak Sakal was of the old line of Chopar Kel and stood 152 cm (15 hands). He was of the Alaman-At type. He participated in the famous Ashkabad-Moscow ride in 1934. Ak-Sakal’s line was established when the grey stallion Kara-Kir was bred; he was inbred to his sire 1 x 2, and most present day Ak-Sakal line horses trace back to him. Kara-Kir was a good racehorse over short distances, setting a record for 1200 meters (about 6 furlongs) which stood for many years. However, modern Akhal-Tekes of his line do not necessarily resemble either horse. Ak-Sakal line horses are noted for their exotic look and delicate, smooth gaits.
From the Golden Collection: (1)
Karakir was used as a stud by the Lenin kolkhoz and later by Tersk stud. He sired some decent mares and a valuable stud, Vatcnchi (out of Guldjakhan, daughter of Gelishikli). The main successors of this line are Vezipe and Vepaly.
From the Akhal Stud:
Ak Sakal was a horse in the style of DOR BAIRAM : completely apart from the current types. It was of the old line of CHOPAR KEL: type Alaman-At. Contrary to the modern criteria of the breeding which tend to make rectangular horses, one can say that the type Ak Sakal would be rather square… Nowadays the horses of the line have short and stable backs which make them ready to run long distances.
It was proven that the nomads, before 1900, raised these horses with a very precise aim, to traverse long distances. AK SAKAL took part in the Ashkhabad-Moscow raid at only 5 years old. He was also an excellent racehorse.
This line, like Sapar Khan, Posman or Toporbai, is characterized by horses of the old type having good qualities. Their glance is exotic and their significant and soft step. They are very enduring, calm and well in their head. One often says that they are the horses of only one rider, refusing to work with foreigners. The brood mares are famous as being very fertile.
This line goes combined very well with the Posman lines or Sapar Khan.
44 Dor Bairam is another Chopar Kel line stallion this time with a maternal connection to 2a Boinou and Kutli Sakar. He was of excellent size for his time and powerfully muscled, although he did have what the Russians call a “fleshy back.”
Dor Bairam was extensively bred in Turkmenistan, but most of his sons were sold to Kazakhstan to be used in breeding programs there. Like Kir Sakar, Dor Bairam turned out to be an exceptional broodmare sire.
From Akhal Stud:
The characteristics of the line are the purity, the very marked old standard, solid health making them suited to the endurance and the trec.
Ak Belek was a grey sabino, foaled 1932 in Turkmenistan and eventually acquired by Soviet Turkmenistan. His name means “White waist,” which probably referred to the white sabino (or probably rabicano) markings on his flanks. Ak Belek was the only line sire believed to have been a pinto-and the only one to trace in the tail-male line to an English Thoroughbred.
The line of Ak Belek is rare today, but Thoroughbred grandsire or no, it has been an extremely valuable one. According to Dr. Tatiana Riabova, current editor of the Stud Book:
“Through his tail-male line he descends from Fortingbrass–which appears to be grounds to dislike the line among several modern specialists who are ready to use very strict measures to eradicate it. Nevertheless, Ak Belek himself was clearly of the essential Akhal-Teke type and conformation. … It is impossible to forget that without the splendid mare [of this line] Pobeda, we would not have the magnificent Peren, founder of one of the most useful modern lines.”
From Akhal Stud:
The characteristics of the line are purity, very marked old standard, and solid health making them suited to endurance and the trec.
From Farm Achalteke Tukleky:
| cca | 1938 | 1953 | 1966 | 1978-1987 | 1988-2004 |
| Boinou | Mele Kush | Mele Kush | |||
| Sapar Khan | Sere | ||||
| Baba Akhun | Toporbai | Toporbai | |||
| Karlavach | Karlavach | ||||
| El | El | ||||
| Sovkhoz 2 | |||||
| Dovlet Ishan | Everdy Teleke | Everdy Teleke | |||
| Skak | Skak | ||||
| Peren | |||||
| Torpobai | |||||
| Bek Nazar Al | Bek Nazar Dor | ||||
| Posman | Posman | ||||
| Mele Chep | Ag Ishan | Kir Sakar | Kir Sakar | ||
| Kaplan | Kaplan | ||||
| Arab | Arab | ||||
| Sultan Guli | Sluctshai | Fakirpelvan | |||
| Gelishikli | Gelishikli | ||||
| Chopar Kel | Dor Bairam | Dor Bairam | |||
| Ak Sakal | Ak Sakal | ||||
| Ak Belek | Ak Belek | ||||
| Niderbai | Voron | Kara Kunon | |||
| Gecheli | Gecheli | ||||
Alexander Klimuk (1) wrote that there are 3 original foundation sires for the Akhal-Teke breed: Kutly-Sakar, Chopar-Kel and Akh-Sakal. From Kutly-Sakar descend over 93% of all Akhal-Tekes through Boinou and Sultan-Guli. Boinou came from a line of warrior stallions and was a successful sire, with about 70% of modern Akhal-Tekes descended from him.
Boinou1. Klimuk, A.: Linear Structure of the Akhal-Teke Breed, Golden Collection of Akhal-Teke Horses, Gold Mustang, Moscow, 2006.
More information on sire lines:
Le Studbook et les lignes de chevaux Akhal-Teke
North American studs referenced by sire lines
French studs referenced by sire lines
Most photographs on this webpage are generously supplied by MAAK. The entire Dor Bairam line is from a book by T.N. Rjabova: Linie in AT Breed (VNIIK, 1995).
April 14th, 2007 at 9:49 pm
Please take off my Sire Gazyr Shael from department “line Sovkhoz 2-nd”. I don’t know such line. He belong to line El and El only.
April 17th, 2007 at 7:36 am
Disputable situation with a line El and Sovhoz 2. Her try to allocate now into own line, as has once taken place with Kaplan from Kir Sakar and Peren from Skak . But not all breeders support this point of view. Officially – a line Sovhoz 2 exists.
April 17th, 2007 at 9:10 am
Officially, lines are not exist in the breeds, this is only games in the big sience. I can declare with equal rights that every my Sire is the founder of his own line. Lines are conditional characternot more.
From this moment I do announcement that every my Sire is foundator of his own line.
April 17th, 2007 at 11:56 am
(applauds and laughs). Leonid, you again is in your repertory. With impatience I shall observe on development of events!
September 1st, 2007 at 7:57 am
Hello! I’m looking for the pedigrees of stallions:
992 Karash, 1064 Kaspii, 887 Kara Sakar, 435 Kara Mashal and 892 Keppan.
Maybe somebody can help me? Please contact me on my e-mail address: pursat85@interia.pl
It’s very important for me.
September 14th, 2007 at 1:54 pm
Hi,
I do not understand the text that says that stallion Skak is one of the most widely line represented in the Akhal-Teke breed, second only to that of Kir Sakar. I have talked with some people within the breed and they say that, at least in Europe, there are not that many stallions from Skak line. I do not know about Russia and the US, but that is not the line that you hear most about!
Is the text that you used up to date?
September 14th, 2007 at 3:48 pm
I got that information off the Turanian Horse site:
http://www.turanianhorse.org/atsirelines.html#skak
Comments are appreciated!
September 14th, 2007 at 8:41 pm
The most widespread is Gelishikli (around 25%), then Kaplan (around 10%), Arab (7%), ….
But maybe in Turkmenistan could be Kir Sakar and Skak the most widespread lines.
November 27th, 2007 at 5:43 pm
Check out Studfarm Shael’s development of their own lines:
http://www.shael-teke.com/web/shael.nsf/htmlarticles/FCA0AF590F1C41178525739E0069D742
January 18th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
About creation of new line of Sovkhoz 2-nd:
http://www.shael-teke.com/web/shael.nsf/Articles/DFCC77F72120DB448525731F0022B10C
October 18th, 2008 at 6:44 am
Small correction. Photo of Toporbai does not exist. At your photo not Toporbai, but Tillya Kush.
October 18th, 2008 at 8:22 am
much appreciated Mr. Klimuk!
March 19th, 2009 at 7:20 am
[...] is linebred to Kir Sakar. That line are typically good racers and jumpers. They are of the old warhorse type and of a [...]
August 24th, 2009 at 12:42 am
Thank You for a splendid “collection page”!!
One question: is this really the “line stallion” Posman in the picture?
To my understanding this picture presents a “younger stallion”.
Thanks for the reply in advance!!
August 24th, 2009 at 5:06 am
Prisse, do you mean this picture: http://www.stewartclan.ca/galleries/atweb/Posman.jpg ?
It’s Posman (1960) by Fakirpelvan.
September 18th, 2009 at 11:48 am
Thank You Pursat! I also had an impression that he is not even a Posman-line stallion.