A Russian expert praised the development of Ahal-teke horse breeding in Turkmenistan
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The grand opening of the Ahal-teke Equestrian Complex of the President of Turkmenistan was attended by numerous fans of the Ahal-teke breed from various countries. Among the guests of honour was Yuliya Nikolayevna Kuznetsova, Honoured Horse Breeder of Turkmenistan, research fellow at the RSAU – MAA named after K.A. Timiryazev, author, photographer, and horse breed enthusiast.
The grand opening of the Ahal-teke Equestrian Complex of the President of Turkmenistan was attended by numerous fans of the Ahal-teke breed from various countries. Among the guests of honour was Yuliya Nikolayevna Kuznetsova, Honoured Horse Breeder of Turkmenistan, research fellow at the RSAU – MAA named after K.A. Timiryazev, author, photographer, and horse breed enthusiast.
For Yuliya Nikolayevna, Turkmenistan is, one might say, a second home, a place she wants to return to again and again, because there is so much interesting and unexplored here. A graduate of the first specialised group in horse breeding at the MAA named after K.A. Timiryazev, she was a keen horse rider in her youth, and thanks to her enthusiasm and indefatigable thirst for adventure, she participated in three long-distance horseback rides across Turkmenistan in 1983, 1984, and 1986.
Each of these marathons has its own unique history, but none of this would be possible without our loyal comrades in Moscow and Turkmenistan.
–It all started with an idea, – says Yuliya Nikolayevna. – In 1983, we – two Muscovites and two local Turkmens – started a horseback riding trip. I wrote a letter to the commander of the cavalry regiment asking him to give us saddles. By great luck, we were given saddles, and with them we arrived in Turkmenistan. Here they helped us get four of the best stallions for the race along the route Ashgabat – Garrygala (now the city of Magtymguly) – Gerkez and back.
– In 1984, Volodya Valteran became my partner, and the two of us rode along the route Ashgabat – Gokdepe – Baherden – Ashgabat. And in 1986, a large horse race took place: Ashgabat – Koneurgench – Ashgabat. This is my wild youth, if I may say so, – smiles Yuliya Nikolayevna.
Her biography included horse racing and even victories in it. Although she was born in Volokolamsk, near Moscow, where in her circle of friends – neither at home nor at school – they did not even talk about horses, for some reason she dreamed about them. For over 20 years, a Russian specialist has been popularising Ahal-teke horses.
As the editor-in-chief of the annual information and analytical almanac «Ahal-teke Inform», dedicated to the purebred Ahal-teke breed, Yuliya Nikolayevna oversaw the publication of materials covering historical archival information about Ahal-teke horses, scientific and breeding developments, chronicles of relevant events, as well as articles about outstanding racehorses, trainers, horse breeders, and artists who have dedicated their lives to this breed.
The almanac and its editor have been repeatedly recognized with professional awards, including the International Literary Prize «Golden Pen of Russia». In 2018, for her contribution to the popularization of the Ahal-teke breed of horses, Yuliya Kuznetsova was awarded the title of «Honored Horse Breeder of Turkmenistan» (Türkmenistanyň at gazanan atşynasy).
In 2024, a special issue of the Ahal-teke Inform almanac, «We and They», was published, which became a kind of culmination of many years of journalistic activity. Today, Yulia Nikolayevna continues to work at the Horse Breeding Museum of RSAU - MSAA named after K.A Timiryazev in Moscow – the largest in Russia and only collection of fine art and materials entirely dedicated to horses in the world.
During her visit to Ashgabat, the member of the International Ahal-teke horse breeding association visited the Art Gallery of Contemporary Art and presented the Chairman of the Union of Artists of Turkmenistan, Charymyrat Yazmyradov, with an album entitled «Through the Halls of the Horse Breeding Museum». This illustrated edition reveals for the first time the treasures of the largest collection of equestrian art of the world.
– In Turkmenistan, all areas of breeding are developing at the highest level. I was deeply impressed by the new Ahal-teke equestrian complex of the President of Turkmenistan. The racing track, spacious stables with comfortable stalls, excellent stands and a modern hippodrome are all impeccably designed. But the main decoration of this space is, of course, the magnificent Ahal-teke horses. I wish the country continued success in developing this noble industry, – noted Yuliya Kuznetsova.