Akhal Teke Horses in the United States.

♘امیرحسین♞

♘ مدیریت انجمن اسب ایران ♞
Not so long ago, the leading countries in the breeding of Akhal Teke horses were Turkmenia, the traditional home of the breed, followed by Russia and Germany. Not many changes were expected in the near future, but then Tito Pontecorvo appeared unexpectedly. With a strong will, and great energy, he established the Tito Pontecorvo Stables during the era of "depression" in Russia, and began breeding Akhal Teke horses, which were then dismissed by Soviet farming authorities as "non-productive".

The beginning of the saga took place in Ratmino, a small but cozy stables. With the growth of the business, Tito Pontecorvo needed more space, enough to keep several hundred horses. So a new, large, Horse Complex has appeared bordering a rather small Russian village outside the town of Dubna, and some 100 kilometers from Moscow on the banks of the Volga River.

This new stables has attracted many people who are interested in Akhal Tele horses, and led to the organization of the growing number of breeders, riders and owners into the International Association of Akhal Teke Breeders (MAAK) which was born in the conference rooms of Tito's new horse complex, which contains 250 stalls, a hotel, indoor manage, conference rooms, staff quarters, a mill, a power plant and everything needed for a large horse operation, as well as extensive pastures along the river.

Tito decided to open a new Akhal Teke stud farm in the United States in 1997 while maintaining his operation in Russia. In Russia he has continued with the Fakir-Pelvan line through the stallions Tagir and Helvar, as well as the Kaplan line through the stallions Amanat, from Kerzi, and Alabahar.

Foals of these stallions are consistent winners in differents divisions in the annual Akhal Teke World Championships in Moscow.

In the United States, the following work has been done:

Karlavach line – through Kogan (Koshili-Girel). Kogan has shown very good results in jumping during a competitive career in California under a top American rider, and is an extremely handsome black stallion.

Gelishikli line, - through Gigant (Gektor-Akbella 14), Gigant, a large grey stallion of exquisite conformation stands 17 hands, and has produced a group of well built foals with correct conformation, excellent movements and talent for jumping.

Gigant is an exceptional jumping horse.

Aksakal Line – through the children of of Munir to include Maruk (Munir-Ataka), Mamuk (Munir-Abray). Foals from this line are not so large but have excellent movements and talent for jumping. Foals of this line represent classical Akhal Teke types.

Sere line through Aad who comes from Angar-Azochka.

El line – through Arim (Melesur-Abray) and Helm (Melesur-Han Bibi). Foals from these stallions are exceptional quality, large, well built, wonderful movements and rather typical of the best of the Akhal Teke breed.

Kaplan Line – Through Pan (Amanat – Pergazel).

The production of the Pontecorvo Stud in the United States has been quite successful. The work over the last ten years has produced larger, show quality Akhal Teke horses who are competing successfully in the classical events against the traditional breeds of show horses.

The establishment of the Pontecorvo Stud in Texas has pushed the United States into third place among the Akhal Teke producing countries of the world, now only surpassed by Russia and Turkmenia.

Tito holds the largest group of Akhal Teke horses in the United States, and the quality is the best. His breeding stock is carefully chosen, and benefits from his many years of working with the Akhal Teke. The best offspring of elite horses were brought to America, including Abray, Sona, Gumri, Aksona, Enegul, Duygurgush (Turkmenia), Gerel, Han Bibi, Ataka, Stallions Gigant and Amelit (Kazakhstan), Munir (Northern Caucases), and the mares Magnolia, Mumme, and Galateya.

I would like to thank everyone who has done so much to preserve and improve this magnificent breed of exotic horse, the Akhal Teke. We often talk about preserving historical values, but actions speak much louder than words. And, with that in mind, I look forward to meeting Tito Pontecorvo on "Planernoy" again, as he will be full of ideas and plans for the future of the Akhal Teke in the USA.

Dr. Tatyana Ryabova, Konevodstvo i Sport, #3, 2006

Translated by W. Askins & D. Cole​
 
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