President Serdar Berdimuhamedov chaired on 28 September 2026 the 16th meeting of the International Akhal-Teke Horse Breeding Association (IAHBA) in the capital. The meeting was held during celebrations of the 35th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s independence.
Address to the Association
In his address, the President described the preservation and promotion of the national heritage as a priority of state policy. He called the Akhal-Teke horses a priceless asset of world culture and said their prestige and fame were reaching unprecedented heights. He credited the efforts of Arkadag, the Hero, for laying a solid foundation for the country’s horse-breeding sector.
The President noted that 2026 has been declared the year of “Independent Neutral Turkmenistan – the Homeland of Aspiring Winged Steeds”. He said a number of horse-breeding and equestrian events had been held during the year, at home and abroad.
He said the Association, established on the initiative of Arkadag, the Hero, has become an authoritative international organisation. It has a major role in preserving and increasing the purebred Akhal-Teke population and in promoting the horses worldwide. Its membership currently comprises 213 domestic and about 40 foreign representatives.
The President also referred to an open Association meeting held recently in the Netherlands with Arkadag’s participation. He added that the world equestrian championship and Akhal-Teke beauty contest had played an important role in spreading the horses’ fame.
He announced that on 29 September, at the foot of the Kopetdag mountains, he and the participants would attend the opening of the modernised Akhal-Teke Equestrian Complex, which he said fully meets modern requirements. He said work to increase the Akhal-Teke population and spread their fame would continue.
Honorary titles
The President signed documents on improving the Association’s work and on awarding honorary titles to citizens of Turkmenistan and foreign countries. Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers T. Atakhallyev, who oversees the agro-industrial complex, read out the decrees at a ceremony.
The title “Türkmenistanyň at gazanan atşynasy” went to three foreign citizens:
- Marian Veltevreden, President of the European Akhal-Teke Association
- Liu Shuqing, head of the Chinese horse-breeding company Daqing Huiyou Breeding Co., Ltd.
- Kaido Puusepp, a private horse breeder from Estonia and an internationally qualified veterinarian
A separate decree awarded titles to citizens of Turkmenistan. Durdymyrat Kanayev, head of a group in the equestrian sport and marathon department of the Presidential Akhal-Teke Equestrian Complex administration, received “Türkmenistanyň halk atşynasy”. Jockey Begenchmyrat Agamyradov of the same complex and Ashgabat private breeder Berdimuhammet Berdimuhammedov received “Türkmenistanyň at gazanan atşynasy”.
The decrees cited contributions to breeding, preserving breed purity and increasing the world fame of the Akhal-Teke, which they described as a national treasure.
Veltevreden and Berdimuhamedov spoke at the ceremony. Both called the award a great honour and thanked the President and Arkadag, the Hero. The President then congratulated the recipients and left the venue.
Discussions after the President’s departure
The meeting continued after the President left. Veltevreden thanked the hosts for their hospitality and praised the initiatives of Arkadag and the President to preserve the breed. She described the world championship and beauty contest at the Pilbergen equestrian complex in the Netherlands as one of the year’s key events for international cooperation. More than 100 horses and representatives of over 35 countries took part over three days. She said the event showed that Akhal-Tekes can act as “ambassadors of peace”, promoting cooperation in sport, science and culture.
Liu Shuqing described the Akhal-Teke as a standard of beauty, speed and loyalty, and said the Chinese people have long revered the horses and call them “heavenly”. He said friendly ties dating from the Great Silk Road were taking on new content, and that the horses serve as a bridge of lasting friendship between the two peoples.
Puusepp said his career had long been tied to horses, in particular Akhal-Tekes. He said taking part in events in Turkmenistan, the breed’s ancient homeland, offered a chance to learn about modern possibilities in horse breeding. He called the championship and beauty contest, held in the Netherlands for the first time, an unforgettable event. He said he was ready to keep sharing his experience with specialists.
Turkmen breeders who spoke also thanked Arkadag and the President for recognising their work.
Resolutions signed
President Berdimuhamedov, who is also President of the IAHBA, signed a series of resolutions setting out the Association’s future direction:
- Championship cycle: The world equestrian championship and Akhal-Teke beauty contest will be held once every five years. Their time and place will be approved at Association meetings.
- Olympic and international sport: Specialised training programmes will be developed to prepare Akhal-Tekes for show jumping and other disciplines under international requirements. Special IAHBA prizes and cups will be established at major equestrian competitions for Akhal-Tekes. The stated aim is to strengthen the breed’s role in world equestrian sport, including its participation at Olympic venues.
- Horse tourism: Equestrian tourism on Akhal-Tekes was named a development priority. Proposals will be prepared on exchanging experience, training specialists and running joint international projects. Cooperation with foreign horse-breeding and tourism organisations will be established to create new routes combining historical, cultural and environmental attractions. The resolution links this to promoting the heritage of the Great Silk Road.
- International Breeding Council: An International Breeding Council of Akhal-Teke Horses will be created. It will coordinate breeding work, exchange breeding information, protect the genetics of purebred horses and improve breeding standards. It will also centralise data on purebred Akhal-Tekes bred in different countries.
- Science and veterinary research: Research programmes will cover genetics, breeding traits, feeding, health, veterinary care and production potential, using modern scientific methods and other advanced biotechnologies. Veterinary research on health protection and disease prevention will be carried out, and innovative projects to preserve the gene pool will be supported.
- Membership: Citizens of Turkmenistan and foreign countries were admitted to the Association, in line with a protocol of the Association’s Board.
- Next meeting: The 17th IAHBA meeting will be held in Ashgabat in April 2027, also under a Board protocol. /// nCa, 29 September 2026