Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, National Leader of the Turkmen people and Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan, was presented with the honorary award “For a Major Contribution to the Development of Horse Breeding” and a certificate “For Contribution to the Development of Akhal-Teke Horse Breeding” at an open meeting of the International Association of Akhal-Teke Horse Breeding in Kronenberg, Netherlands. The prestigious international award ceremony took place Sept. 5 during the open meeting of the International Association of Akhal-Teke Horse Breeding, held as part of the world championship in equestrian sports and the Akhal-Teke horse beauty competition in Kronenberg, Netherlands, a representative of the Business Turkmenistan online publication attending the event reported.
The decision to present Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov with the certificate was made by the International Association of Akhal-Teke Horse Breeding in recognition of his contribution to preserving equestrian traditions and the development and promotion of Akhal-Teke horses worldwide. The award and certificate were presented by Marian Weltevrede, president of the European Akhal-Teke Horse Association, after speeches by participants at the meeting.
In her opening remarks at the conference held at the Pilbergen equestrian sports complex, Marian Weltevrede noted that the world championship for the beauty of Akhal-Teke horses was being held in Europe for the first time in history. She also highlighted that the open conference of the International Association of Akhal-Teke Horse Breeding was being held in Europe for the first time and said the participation of Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan, demonstrated the special importance attached to preserving and promoting the unique heritage of Akhal-Teke horse breeding.
Marian Weltevrede particularly emphasized Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov's role in the development of international Akhal-Teke horse breeding. She said the International Association of Akhal-Teke Horse Breeding was established in Ashgabat in 2010 on Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov's initiative, bringing together horse breeders, scientists and horse owners from dozens of countries. She also noted that Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov led the organization for more than 10 years and laid the foundation for common breeding practices and unified rules.
The president of the Akhal-Teke Horse Association also highlighted the establishment of Turkmenistan's modern equestrian sports infrastructure, the scientific and production center for horse breeding, and the Aba Annayev International Academy of Horse Breeding in Arkadag city. According to her, the academy uses genetics and molecular biology methods to preserve the purity of the breed. She also recalled that the Galkynysh national equestrian games team was established on Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov's initiative and that the Akhal-Teke breed has become more widely known around the world through its promotion and annual beauty competitions.
Marian Weltevrede also highlighted the importance of Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov's books about Akhal-Teke horses, saying they systematize the knowledge and traditions of Turkmen horse trainers. She said this was also linked to the international recognition of years of work to preserve the equestrian heritage. In December 2023, the art of Akhal-Teke horse breeding and the traditions of decorating horses were unanimously included on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. According to her, Akhal-Teke horses are currently bred in Europe, America and China, while interest in the breed continues to grow.
Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, the National Leader of the Turkmen people, receiving the award, said he accepted it as a great honor and noted that the high award was, first and foremost, a symbol of respect and gratitude to the Turkmen people and Turkmenistan, the homeland of the world-famous Akhal-Teke horses. He said the history of the Akhal-Teke horse is inseparably linked to the history of the Turkmen people and that horses have for centuries been the people's faithful friend, companion, support and source of pride.
During his remarks at the meeting, the National Leader of the Turkmen people noted that the Akhal-Teke horse is an inseparable part of the history and national identity of the Turkmen people. He spoke about ongoing work to increase the number of purebred horses and develop the breed, conduct scientific research, introduce DNA testing and create an electronic database. He also stressed that preserving and developing the Akhal-Teke breed has been included among the priorities of Turkmenistan's state policy.
At the conclusion of his remarks, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov expressed gratitude for the prestigious award and thanked the organizers for their hospitality and contributions to holding the event. The National Leader of the Turkmen people stressed the importance of further expanding international cooperation in Akhal-Teke horse breeding, noting that such cooperation enables joint efforts by different countries and generations to preserve and develop the unique breed.
