The Akhal-Teke Horse and its Breyer Models. The Akhal-Teke is a Turkmen horse breed. They are known for their speed, endurance, and intelligence. The Akhal-Teke is one of the oldest existing horse breeds, with a history dating back to at least 2000 BC. They are thought to be the descendants of the horses of the ancient Scythians. They are adapted to severe climatic conditions and currently there are only 6,600 of them in the world. Mostly in Turkmenistan, but also in Europe and North America.
Akhal-Teke’s are medium-sized horses, standing between 14.3h to 16h with the average height being about 15.2 hands and weighing between 900 – 1,000 lbs. Coat colors vary widely, but the most common are bays, duns, blacks, and chestnuts. Known as the Golden Horse, the Akhal-Teke coat is unique because the hair follicles are hollow giving the horse its characteristic metallic sheen, which in duns may produce an unusual golden effect.
Possessing natural athleticism and grace, they are intelligent and highly trainable horses, often used in endurance racing and other long-distance competitions as well as dressage and jumping. The Akhal-Teke is a beautiful and versatile horse breed. They are a popular choice for both recreational and competitive riders.
Breyer introduced the first Akhal-Teke model horse in 2020 when it was released to the Premiere Collection Club as a gorgeous dappled buckskin sabino with blue eyes and a faint dorsal stripe. He is named Altynai and he is quite rare to find.
The next release on this mold was at Breyerfest 2021 as a Special Run model. This time Breyer named him Uffington, after the white chalk horse in England. He was done as a pearly cremello. To sweeten the desire to own Uffington, they created a run of 200 models in a holographic black color, which is highly coveted by collectors.
In 2022, Adamek, a bay stallion, was introduced. A new color on the Akhal-Teke mold will be released as a Special Run during Breyerfest 2023. This one is a decorator model featuring Egyptian markings and paintings and named Nemea. I am not going to miss out on adding this one to my collection!
The Akhal-Teke model is well made and detailed. No matter which model you own, he is a beautiful representation of the Akhal-Teke breed, making him a popular choice for both collectors and horse lovers.
Happy Trails!
