Creating a new breed of gaited Akhal Tekes

[Gaited Akhal Teke]

Hi Guys, 

Being new to this outstanding forum let me first introduce myself; I'm a Swede of 59, living in London UK, but I'm planning to move to Turkey, there to buy a Horse Farm near the Mediterranean. My background is training and showing and breeding (small scale) Icelandics since 36 years. The climate in Turkey being too hot for Icelandics I have a dream, which is to create a new gaited breed founded on the Akhal Teke. Whilst retaining the vital characteristics of this beautiful breed, its catlike agility and superior stamina and hardiness, not forgetting the beautiful golden sheen to its fur, I would like to change their conformation to one more suitable to gaited horses.

Mainly the back should be shorter and the croup should be more slanted. I would start out by building a flock of gaited brood mares that fit the description and then crossbreed them to one or two stallions with rock solid gait genes that would also add a bit more mass to the bodies and more mane and tail as well. I would be more than grateful for any suggestions on suitable breeds for cross breeding; I've been thinking about Peruvian Pasos, TWHs and RMH sires. Any thoughts?

[GHWebmaster]

In looking at the Akhal-Teke online photos, the horse has a shoulder closer to the breeds that would perform a racking gait. The metallic sheen appears to be what has been found to be the pearl gene. IF it is, it is a recessive gene, so you are subject to loose the color in out crosses.

IMO the back would have to be shorter, the loin more of a tighter angle to increase coiling ability to sustain a racking gait. A bit bias, as I have these types and have been doing 1st generation crosses to get appaloosa patterned gaited, but I would pull your stock from the Paso Fino for your strongest chance of getting a gaited offspring in first generation crosses.

LOL if you want to really spice em up, I have some appaloosa patterned gaited colts from Paso Fino heritage for sale! Do they even HAVE appaloosa patterned in Turkey?

Beverly

[Gaited Akhal Teke]

Hi Beverly,

From what I have seen there are are a number of gaited horses who carry the pearl gene, among them the McCurdies, a variety of TWH I believe. Are there Paso Finos who sport this metallic sheen too? Now there are individual Akhal Tekes that I have seen in real life, who do a very fine rack that looks incredibly smooth and, obviously those are the sort of brood mares I would look for.

The sires would simply strengthen the gaitedness and hopefully produce an offspring of more suitable conformation. Then, within a few generations of line breeding, a new and consistently gaited subset of Akhal Teke should have been established. Tempting though it may be to introduce the Pinto genes into the AT breed I believe this is not a colour that's accepted with ATs so perhaps better not. Thanks for the offer though. I'd love to own a Spanish Jennet...I take it they're rather pricey?
 :

[Winged_Cowgirl]

I own two arabians, a Qh and a Peruvian Paso.....

I would absolutely love to have one of the horses you are looking to breed. That would be a dream come true.

My Peruvian was bred to a TWH....which from what I learned from his previous owners was an interesting outcome gait wise. I often wonder about how breeding him to my Arabian mare would have went (but he's gelded now, so no go there). Glad I am not the only one that thinks of these things.

Peruvian crossed with an Akhal Teke...interesting It would make for some interesting personalities and attitudes. Not to mention some great mounts!