Ridecamp: RE: [RC] FERA Member Debbie Parsons Deployed to an undisclosed location.

I always thought that Akhal-Teke's were supposed to be taller and thinner
than ordinary Arab types. I have a friend here with who says that the Akhal
Teke's claim of being the oldest pure breed is bunk because when the Mongols
were storming around the Middle East in the 1100's and 1200's or so (not
sure on the dates) at least one or two of them rounded up huge herds of
Arabs from the northern Arabian penninsula and packed them off to the
"stan's" (to quote Howard). To this day, a tall, thin, Akhal Teke-appearing
horse in Egypt is known as Iraqi, for the fast lanky horses that were bred
in southern Iraq and northern Arabia. These horses were imported into Egypt
along with other desert-bred horses and bred into the Egyptian lines, but
they tended to be used for racing and jumping. A friend of mine is caring
for a perfect example of this type, a retired 32 yr old stallion called
Gameel, who won more than his share of jumping cups and bred some lovely
foals. I think the dinky Egyptian Arabs that one usually sees are supposed
to be based on a more southern line of breeding. Hans Nagel's lovely book,
"Hanan" has a really interesting discussion of the different types of
Arabian horses in the Middle East.

Maryanne Stroud Gabbani
Cairo, Egypt
maryanne@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
www.ratbusters.net

Truman Prevatt wrote:
Don't tell her that. She just can't pass up getting another horse.
Besides Kramer would not be happy with her if she showed up back home
with another horse. She's worse that I am. BTW I saw an Akhal Teke at
the Kentucky Horse Park and it was not built like I had though it would
be. It was quite stocky. Is this common or was this unusual.

Maryanne Stroud Gabbani wrote:

>I've heard that a bunch of US and other national varieties of military
>personnel are in Khirgistan (sp???) which if Debbie is there, she should
>love. They breed Akhal Teke's. Cool. Would make it worthwhile to make
>friends with some locals.
>
>Maryanne Stroud Gabbani
>Cairo, Egypt
>maryanne@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>www.ratbusters.net
>





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