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Posts Tagged ‘Ashgabat’
Turkmenistan: Celebrating 20 years of Independence
Check out my photo journal from my trip to Turkmenistan in October: Turkmenistan Celebrating 20 Years of Independence by Kerri-Jo Stewart
Turkmenistan’s Independence Day
I was so lucky to be invited as a member of the IATHA (International Akhal-Teke Horse Association) to be invited to Turkmenistan to celebrate their 20th year of independence. The parade was amazing, a vivid display of colour and movement. The military parade was impressive and was a huge display as well. Akhal-Tekes are an [...]
The Day of the Horse
The Day of the Horse by Kerri-Jo Stewart
Day of the Horse: racing!
And the main event for the Day of the Horse, the races: Race 1: 2000m race, winner #1: Gokhan (Goar-Tamaly); #8: Yeldes (Pelle-2 x Yorka); #7: Garadag (Garadil x Arzuw) ______________________________________________ race 2: 1400m, winner #2: Gysyksakar (Goar x Dursecen); #5: Tejebe (Ahal 2 x Tuly); #7: Gullden 2 (Arkadag 2 x Ganga); #12: Bereket [...]
Day of the Horse II
At the track they had jumping, Roman Riding and a circus horse for entertainment on the holiday in honour of the Turkmen horse: Dr. Alexander Zaitchev (Vice Director of VNIIK) & Dr. Michael Atrochenko (Russia, VNIIK) Rosemary Swift (Australia) & Dr. Marius Dolis (Romania)
the Day of the Horse (I)
The Opening Ceremonies for the Equestrian Complexes in the Balkan, Dashoguz, Lebap, and Mary started off the Day of the Horse. There were performances of famous singers and performers from throughout each province. At the same time the ceremonies were conducted in the other venues that were telecast live on the giant screen. left: Nadja [...]
Beauty Contest: the winner!
And the winner is Khan Begler, bred by Ovliakuli Scharipow: And some of the people: Ovliakuli Scharipow when they announced his horse as the winner Alla Karnazhevskaya toasting the winner great Russian photographers: Vitaliy Osovskyy & Julia Kuznetsova On the right is French association president, Jean de Bannes Those handsome Hungarians are on the left, [...]
the beauty contest: under saddle
Part VI of the Beauty Contest series, the horses were presented under saddle: 1. Melegush 2007 (Melekhan-Talvas) 363.1 points; 9th place 2. Khan Begler 2008 (Bitaraplyk x Gyulyalek) 401.9pts, 1st place, bred by Ovliakuli Scharipow 3. Kapdagy 2008 (Kararym-Karkara) 365.1 points, 8th place 4. Khanburgut 2005 (Bitaraplyk-Patma) 392.0 points; 4th place 5. Dostbag 2006 (Kararym-Adzhap) [...]
the Beauty Contest, pt V
Next the horses were presented saddled with their adornments: 1. Melegush 2007 (Melekhan-Talvas) 363.1 points; 9th place 2. Khanbegler 2008 (Bitaraplyk x Gyulyalek) 401.9pts, 1st place 3. Kapdagy 2008 (Kararym-Karkara) 365.1 points, 8th place 4. Khanburgut 2005 (Bitaraplyk-Patma) 392.0 points; 4th place 5. Dostbag 2006 (Kararym-Adzhap) 368.8 points; 7th place 6. Garagum 2003 (Gamkeser-Gyulperi) 383.4 [...]
Beauty Contest: halter
Here are my photos from the second component of the Beauty Contest, halter: 1. Melegush 2007 (Melekhan-Talvas) 363.1 points; 9th place 2. Khanbegler 2008 (Bitaraplyk x Gyulyalek) 401.9pts, 1st place 3. Kapdagy 2008 (Kararym-Karkara) 365.1 points, 8th place 4. Khanburgut 2005 (Bitaraplyk-Patma) 392.0 points; 4th place 5. Dostbag 2006 (Kararym-Adzhap) 368.8 points; 7th place 6. [...]
Beauty Contest III
Here are some photos of the “half time” entertainment during the Beauty Contest. Drill Team: Roman Riding:
President Berdimuhamedov
Beauty Contest II: Here are some photos of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov riding his favourite stallion Sagadam during the final judging of the Beauty Contest for Akhal-Tekes bred in Turkmenistan. Note the dove that flew onto his shoulder, peace symbolism is prevalent everywhere in Turkmenistan as are their Akhal-Teke horses. The last photo is of the [...]
The Beauty Contest, pt I
The final judging of the Beauty Contest for Akhal-Tekes bred in Turkmenistan at the Ashgabat Hippodrome and Equestrian complex. First some horses were presented to the President: 1. Melehan: 2. Melenan: 3. Dowletli: 4. Akhan: ______________ 5. _________ 6. ______________ 7. ______________ 8. ________________ 9. ________________ 10. Unfortunately the program didn’t come with the horse’s [...]
Day 8, scientific conference
This was day 8 for me and the second official day of the program for the official Horse Holiday. In the morning The Third International Scientific Conference, “Turkmen horse and the world horse breeding art”, was held. Various people gave their impressions of where the breed was at in their countries and also where it [...]
National Museum II
Here are some photos of the artifacts inside the National Museum in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. Funnily enough we were allowed to photograph here with the ancient antiquities, but not inside the memorial in honor of their late president Saparmurat Niyazov (Türkmenbasi). the Sword of Neutrality. It is permanently encased in the sheath and can’t be drawn. [...]
the National Museum I
In the afternoon we visited the National Museum of Turkmenistan. Here are the exterior photos and in the next post I’ll put the ones from inside with all the ancient artifacts. It was really amazing and certainly adds depth to history. I loved the changing of the guards. It was very impressive, although I would [...]
Opening Ceremony III
Next it was time for the ceremonial presentation of the Esteemed President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov’s book, “The Flight of Celestial Race Horses”. The presentations about the “The Flight of Celestial Race Horses” were interspersed with wonderful dancing and music and singing. The presenters were Jessica Eile-Keith, __?, Dr. Jalil Ghiadi, Petra Marešová, the Turkmen poetess __, [...]
Opening ceremony II
We entered Sergi Koshgi and there was again lots of entertainment and the hall was filled with more artwork and novelties. Everyone had a chance to relax and enjoy themselves. There was so much going on it was hard to take everything in. The second to last photo is of Seyt Gulmammedov, The Minister of [...]
Opening ceremony I
The opening ceremonies of the “The Horse is the Winged Symbol of Revival” on the occasion of the Turkmen Horse holiday at “Sergi Koshgi”. Here we are waiting outside for the opening to begin: There is always lots of great entertainment! left photo: Dr. Celine Chantry-Darron (France), Jessica Eile-Keith (USA) & Michele Van Kastern (Belgium) [...]
at the Bazaars!
Ruski Bazaar: Teke Bazaar: Tolkuchka Bazaar: I bought a couple of aladjas and a dress for my daughter at the Ruski Bazaar. It seemed to have some traditional things. The Teke Bazaar was more food and modern stuff. The woman with the lilacs at the Teke Bazaar presented me with them after I took her [...]
Vladimir Bagdasarian’s studio
Our group in the bottom photo: Vladimir Bagdasarian and his wife Vera (they do many of their works as joint projects), Jessica Eile-Keith, Ulrike Ruppelt, Monique Lebon (Haras Nationaux France), myself and our Turkmen host & driver ___. Missing is
the Art Competition
Along with the celebrations for the Day of the Horse and the scientific conference was held a competition for representational art portraying their Akhal-Teke horses. The prize for the best carpet was $3000, decoration $2,000, best image $1,500 and best sculpture was $1,000. My favourites were the natural dyed wool carpets made by Boozoganow Satgeldi [...]
Hippodrome – backstretch
There wasn’t much going on at the track as it was the middle of the day. Again, as seems typical for the Turkmen people, there were lots of smiles and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves with the horses. Also, the horses were all very well behaved and calm. Most of the riders were exercise [...]
Ashgabat Hippodrome
We visited the racetrack in the afternoon. One of the stables presented some of their horses to us. It was not a planned visit so they just brought them out as they were. The ones shown have finished their racing career and are currently in training for jumping. This hippodrome is not just set up [...]
Ashgabat, day 1 cont.
Everyone I asked consented to having their photo taken and there were always smiles everywhere. They are a well dressed and beautiful people. I totally fell in love with them. They are outwardly very beautiful and seem inwardly so much as well. Never once when I was there was there a raised voice or even [...]
Ashgabat, day 1
Ashgabat is a new city of white marble that entirely personifies a modern oasis. There is flowing water everywhere and even the buildings seem to flow together. At night the lights flow down the buildings like huge waterfalls as well. It is hard to understand from a western standpoint where we are now trying to [...]
Amazone of Peace
Laurence Bougault is planning her trek, the Amazone of Peace, from Ashgabat to Paris, starting in April of 2009. Her plan is to cover the 7,000 km in six months, traveling through Turkmenistan, Iran, Turkey, Greece, Italy and through France by September. You can buy her book, “Sous l’œil des chevaux d’Afrique“, where she chronicles [...]
