Ashgabat, September 30, 2026 – The Europe Today: The 16th meeting of the International Association of Ahal-Teke Horse Breeding (IAATB) was held on September 28 under the chairmanship of President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov.
Welcoming the participants, President Berdimuhamedov noted that the meeting was being held during celebrations marking the 35th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s independence.
The President emphasized that the preservation and international promotion of the Ahal-Teke horse, regarded as a national heritage of Turkmenistan, remains one of the priorities of the country’s state policy.
He described the Ahal-Teke horses, which are a source of pride for the Turkmen people, as a valuable part of world cultural heritage. He noted that Turkmen ancestors attached great importance to breeding the distinctive horses and maintaining the purity of the breed, which is renowned for its grace, speed and loyalty to humans.
The President also highlighted the efforts undertaken to establish a strong foundation for the development of the horse-breeding sector in Turkmenistan.
Noting that 2026 has been declared the year of “Independent Neutral Turkmenistan — Homeland of Purposeful Winged Horses,” President Berdimuhamedov said a range of horse-breeding and equestrian events had been organized in Turkmenistan and abroad throughout the year.
He stressed the important role of the International Association of Ahal-Teke Horse Breeding in preserving and increasing the population of purebred Ahal-Teke horses and promoting the breed internationally. According to the President, the association, established at the initiative of Hero-Arkadag Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, has developed into a respected international organization.
The association currently comprises 213 representatives from Turkmenistan and around 40 foreign representatives. The President also noted that an open meeting of the International Association of Ahal-Teke Horse Breeding had recently been held at a high level in the Netherlands with the participation of Hero-Arkadag.
He further highlighted the contribution of the World Championship in equestrian sports and the beauty contest for Ahal-Teke horses to enhancing the international reputation of the breed.
President Berdimuhamedov said that the grand opening of a modernized Ahal-Teke equestrian complex, fully meeting contemporary requirements, would take place on September 29 at the foothills of the Kopetdag Mountains. He stressed that efforts to increase the Ahal-Teke horse population and further promote its international reputation would continue.
During the meeting, the President signed documents aimed at further improving the activities of the International Association of Ahal-Teke Horse Breeding, as well as documents on awarding honorary titles to citizens of Turkmenistan and foreign countries.
A ceremony to confer the honorary titles was subsequently held.
Participants of the meeting expressed gratitude to the leadership of Turkmenistan for the recognition of their work and emphasized the significance of the major events being held in 2026 to further develop Ahal-Teke horse breeding.
