View source for Akhal-Teke

=== Turkmenistan ===
[[File:Akhal-Teke-Racing.JPG|thumb|From a race at the national horse-racing stadium in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. Normally all horses competing here are Akhal-Teke horses.]]
[[Turkmenistan]] has a separate agency, Turkmen Atlary, responsible for the breeding, training and maintenance of Akhal-Teke horses.<ref>[http://www.turkmenatlary.gov.tm official website of Turkmen Atlary, the State Department for horses in Turkmenistan]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140516233109/http://www.turkmenatlary.gov.tm/ |date=May 16, 2014 }}</ref> However, the agency's work has been the focus of criticism from the President of the country, who holds the agency responsible for decreasing numbers of horses and inadequate facilities for their breeding, training and management.<ref>[http://www.eurasianet.org/node/66574 Turkmenistan's President Rages at Poor Horse Industry] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131114105544/http://www.eurasianet.org/node/66574 |date=November 14, 2013 }}</ref>  At present, Akhal-Teke horses in Turkmenistan are not registered with any other studbook. The main reason for this are allegations of a heavy infusion of Thoroughbred blood into the breed to create faster horses for racing in Turkmenistan.<ref name=Purity>[https://web.archive.org/web/20100811060949/http://www.akhaltekeuk.com/Purity.html Purity – fact or fiction? Archived from the original Aug 11, 2010. Retrieved on Feb 21, 2014]</ref>  There are estimates that as many as 30% of the horses in the Ashgabat hippodrome were not purebred.<ref>[http://www.turanianhorse.org/yesterday.html The History of the Akhal-Teke Horses, Yesterday And Today, Retrieved on Feb 21, 2014] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120822141335/http://www.turanianhorse.org/yesterday.html |date=August 22, 2012 }}</ref>

When the first horse minister of newly independent Turkmenistan, [[Geldi Kärizow]], a lifelong advocate for the Akhal-Teke and former chair of the International Association of Akhal-Teke Breeders, began utilizing DNA to establish an Akhal-Teke studbook, he uncovered the pattern of adding in Thoroughbred blood. His decision to go public with this information was viewed as a threat to the profits of the horse-breeding establishment and he fell out of favor with the Turkmenistan government,<ref name="Putz">{{cite web|last1=Putz|first1=Catherine|title=Turkmenistan Holds 14-Year Old Hostage|url=https://thediplomat.com/2015/09/turkmenistan-holds-14-year-old-hostage/|website=The Diplomat|access-date=30 August 2016|date=September 22, 2015}}</ref> and in particular, then-President [[Saparmyrat Nyýazow]].<ref name="Sharipzhan">{{cite web|last1=Sharipzhan|first1=Merhat|title='Torture By Hunger': Horse Breeder Describes Desperate Days In Turkmen Prison|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/turkmenistan-tortured-by-hunger-prison-kyarizov/27408793.html|website=RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty|access-date=30 August 2016|language=en|date=5 December 2015}}</ref>
He was charged with abuse of office and negligence in 2002, convicted and sentenced to six years in prison.  He was ultimately pardoned in October 2007,<ref name="Amnesty">{{cite web|title=Urgent Action |url=http://www.amnestyusa.org/actioncenter/actions/uaa03512.pdf |website=Amnesty International |access-date=30 August 2016|date=3 February 2012}}</ref> when Nyýazow died and his successor, [[Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow]], took control of the country.<ref name="Sharipzhan"/>  By 2012, Kärizow's health, which had been poor since his arrest and subsequent imprisonment, had deteriorated to the point he needed to go abroad for medical care, but was initially prevented from leaving the country.<ref name="Amnesty"/> By 2015, he was allowed to travel to [[Moscow]] for medical care, but family members, including his 14-year-old daughter, were forced to remain behind to "guarantee" his return. In September 2015, the entire family was allowed to leave.<ref name="Putz"/>

Turkmen Atlary, in its capacity as the administrative arm of the International Akhal-Teke Horse Association, hosts a meeting of the association once or twice a year upon invitation in Ashgabat. Most of the bigger breeding farms and national Akhal Teke associations as well as Akhal Teke owners and representatives of the horse industry from around the world attend.<ref>[http://www.eurasianet.org/node/66992 Turkmenistan: Arkadag's Day at the Races Redux] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408182149/http://www.eurasianet.org/node/66992 |date=April 8, 2014 }}</ref>  There is a horse racing organization called "Galkynyş" <!--hiding this until it is explained:  with a unique equestrian program-->.<ref>[http://www.sb.by/files/MT/12/N46/10.pdf Heavenly horses canter around ring]</ref> In [[Ashgabat]], the "Akhal-Teke equestrian complex",<ref>[https://archive.today/20130706130817/http://tdh.gov.tm/?id=4586 Президент Туркменистана посетил Ахалтекинский конный комплекс]</ref> one of the largest in [[Central Asia]], is a horse-breeding center. A holiday celebrated on the last Sunday in April was renamed from "Akhal-Teke Horse Holiday," to "Turkmen Horse Day."<ref>[http://www.turkmenistan.ru/en/articles/17162.html Turkmenistan marks Fair and Conference marking Turkmen Horse Day opened in Ashgabat] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131108115847/http://www.turkmenistan.ru/en/articles/17162.html |date=November 8, 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.chronofhorse.com/turkmenistan-akhal-teke?page=3 |title=Turkmenistan: Land Of The Akhal Teke |access-date=August 21, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140529062504/http://www.chronofhorse.com/turkmenistan-akhal-teke?page=3 |archive-date=May 29, 2014 }}</ref>