The XVI Meeting of the International Association of Ahal-Teke Horse Breeding was held under the Chairmanship of the President of Turkmenistan

On 28 September 2026, the XVI Meeting of the International Association of Ahal-Teke Horse Breeding was held under the chairmanship of President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov.

Welcoming the participants of the meeting, the Head of State noted that the XVI Meeting of the International Association of Ahal-Teke Horse Breeding is being held during the days of the widely celebrated main national holiday – the glorious 35th anniversary of the sacred Independence of Turkmenistan.

It was emphasized that the careful protection and promotion of this national heritage throughout the world is one of the priority vectors of the state policy.

The “heavenly” horses, which are a source of pride for the Turkmen people, represent an invaluable heritage of world culture. Our ancestors attached great importance to the breeding of the “heavenly” horses and the preservation of the purity of the breed. These horses are distinguished by their grace, speed and devotion to humans.

Thanks to the efforts of the Hero-Arkadag, a solid foundation has been laid in Turkmenistan for the development of the horse-breeding work.

Noting that 2026 has been declared the Year of “Independent Neutral Turkmenistan – the Homeland of Purposeful Heavenly Horses”, the Head of State emphasized that a number of horse-breeding and equestrian sports events have been held both in the country and abroad throughout the year.

“The International Association of Ahal-Teke Horse Breeding plays an important role in preserving and increasing the number of purebred Ahal-Teke horses, as well as in promoting the heavenly horses throughout the world. The International Association of Ahal-Teke Horse Breeding, established at the initiative of the Hero-Arkadag, has today acquired the status of a reputable international organization,” the Head of State noted.

At present, the international organization includes 213 domestic and around 40 foreign representatives. Recently, with the participation of the Hero-Arkadag, an open meeting of the International Association of Ahal-Teke Horse Breeding was held at a high level in the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The World Equestrian Championship and the beauty contest of Ahal-Teke horses also played an important role in enhancing the worldwide fame of the heavenly horses.

Concluding his speech, the President of Turkmenistan noted that on 29 September, the inauguration of the modernized Ahal-Teke Equestrian Complex, fully meeting modern requirements, will take place at the foothills of the Kopetdag Mountains. He also emphasised that efforts to increase the number of Ahal-Teke horses and further enhance their worldwide fame will continue.

The Head of State signed documents aimed at further improving the activities of the International Association of Ahal-Teke Horse Breeding, as well as documents on conferring honorary titles upon citizens of Turkmenistan and foreign states.

This was followed by a ceremony for conferring honorary titles.

During the meeting, the speakers expressed their gratitude to the leadership of Turkmenistan for the high appreciation of their activities and noted the significance of the grand-scale events being held this year and aimed at the further development of Ahal-Teke horse breeding.