It looks as if it were made of gold, but its appearance is not the most extraordinary thing about this horse. The Akhal-Teke is one of the oldest horse breeds in existence, and fewer than 7.000 remain in the world today. Originating in Turkmenistan, it was bred for thousands of years to survive in one of the harshest environments in Central Asia, developing exceptional endurance and speed.
Its most striking feature is its coat: in the light, it can take on a golden metallic sheen, almost as if it were wearing a layer of gold over its body. This effect is related to the structure of its hairs, which reflect light in a particular way.
But this horse is more than just a visual rarity. Akhal-Tekes were historically used as war horses and developed an extraordinary reputation for their ability to travel long distances. In 1935, a group of them and their riders covered some 4.150 kilometers between Ashgabat and Moscow in 84 days, including the Karakum Desert.
And one of its most famous representatives was Absent, an Akhal-Teke stallion who won individual Olympic gold in dressage at Rome 1960, took individual bronze at Tokyo 1964, and competed again at Mexico 1968, where he won team silver.
So behind that horse that seems to shine like metal is something much more impressive: an ancient, rare breed, bred over centuries to endure where few horses could.
