Akhal-Tekes

[truepenny]

So one of the other things I did while I was in Michigan was visit Freedom Run Farm to meet some Akhal-Tekes. Anne-Marie Rasch very kindly showed me around and answered my questions. Thank you, Anne-Marie! The pictures I took--before my camera batteries died--are here, with annotations.

My interest in Akhal-Tekes is mostly matociquala's fault, but they are lovely, friendly horses with a fascinating history. (You can learn more about Akhal-Tekes at the Akhal-Teke Association of America. Argamak Stud Canada has a blog with absolutely stunning photographs. I also found Akhal-Teke: A Differentiated View very interesting.) Aishet showed some disposition to follow me home, and I only wish I could have let her.

Comments

[dd-b.livejournal.com]

They look fascinating.

I would like to know the support for the claim "they are even able to respond to mental suggestions of humans", though :-).

[joycemocha.livejournal.com]

I suspect that's just verbiage meaning "they are really, really sensitive and perceptive." That would match what I learned from talking to a local Akhal-Teke owner. Extremely sensitive and perceptive horses will react to the slightest muscle twitch of a rider, which can seem like "responding to mental suggestions of humans" to the uninitiated. And it's a heckova lot easier to explain it that way, because it is almost that. But there are most definitely muscle cues involved.

For ex, my reining-bred mare will stop dead from a canter if I position my seat just so. Not visible to an observer. Or she'll stop when I've been thinking about stopping, or pick up a change of gait, or so on--reading the slightest shifts of weight, where I direct my gaze, tightening up my stomach muscles, or the like.

[dd-b.livejournal.com]

Yes, that's probably what they are referring to, and I have no trouble believing in that (I've seen plenty of little bits, I can easily believe in significantly more).

But I wanted to ding them just slightly on the phrasing, still.

[jamjar.livejournal.com]

I'm very fond of Icelandic horses (http://content.yudu.com/publishing/Freedom/Ai8q5/TheicelandichorseNEW/resources/index.htm?referrerUrl=). I think they look they look gorgeous (http://www.google.co.uk/images?q=icelandic+horse&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=0hjfS-WYD8zz_Abn76ijBw&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CBUQsAQwAA), in a short and solid kind of way, I like their crinkly mane and the five-gaited thing is just pretty cool.

Also, they're hilarious in their winter coat (http://www.hedweb.com/animimag/icelandic-horse.htm).

[pixel39.livejournal.com]

Icelandics are nifty. I want one, but the husband says there isn't enough room in the back yard. :-(

[midnightsfall.livejournal.com]

Akhel-Tekes are my favorite, too. <3 They're so lean and shiny and graceful.

[batwrangler.livejournal.com]

Yay, ponies! And coos!

[truepenny.livejournal.com]

The coos were unexpectedly charming.