ridecamp@endurance.net: [endurance] Russian akhal-Tkinsy -Reply

[endurance] Russian akhal-Tkinsy -Reply

Desiree Hanen (desiree.hanen@medtronic.com)
Fri, 22 Mar 1996 02:02:50 -0600

As you all might know by now I own and compete with Love over Gold
(studbook name Pelvan) a gold palomino Achal Teke gelding born in 1988 in
Turkmenistan (south of USSR).

He is tough, has brains and if you give him a finger, he will take your
whole arm (both ways!).

I competed him up to 75 Miles last year, ended up 84th position in European
ELDRIC trophy out of two rides.

He was a bargain as he was so hard to handle. After I gelded him he became
a hard worker but only if the rider is able to have him work for him/her.
(My groom, f.e. is very sweet, but he plays around with her and I have to
be very strict next time I ride him to get him back to work again).

We also take dressage classes twice a week to improve his gaites which are
short (not common for this breed, but unfortunately he hasn't been ridden
properly before , never learned to cover ground and is a bit lazy with his
hind legs. But he is improving now!

Pictures can be found on the endurance homepage!

Greetings,

Desiree Hanen - The Netherlands

(Still.... it takes Love over Gold & to finish is to win!)

Natalie Arnold & Richard Goodwin wrote:

<<National Public Radio's Anne Garrels did a piece the other morning on
"the rising popularity of the Russian akhal-Tkinsy [ah-KHALT-kihn-see]
horse. The breed has been around for four-thousand years and was the first
to be domesticated. The horses are believed to be the direct ancestor of
the Arabian and the English thoroughbred." {Quoted from the program
listing at www.npr.org)

Evidently, there are a few hundred here in the US. They are reputed to be
EXCELLENT endurance horses.

Does anyone @ endurance own one of these? or have you competed with one
in a ride?>>