The Vice-premiers, heads of the Mejlis, ministries and departments, military and law enforcement agencies, hyakims of the velayats and Ashgabat, diplomatic missions accredited in Turkmenistan, members of International Ahalteke Equestrian Association, foreign guests, representative of foreign and national mass media. Famous horse breeders from all parts of the country have also been among the participants.
All participants have warmly greeted the Head of the State. Popular Turkmen artists and dance bands demonstrated musical performance before the main events.
Each velayat and the capital’s administration have presented ahalteke horses to President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov as a sign of recognition of the merits for the development of equestrian industry, preservation and increment of the livestock of pure ahalteke breed, its popularization in the world. Hyakims of the velayats, elders and representatives of younger generation came out together with horses. Having handed over the passport of the horse, they were expressing the gratitude on behalf of the residents of Ahal, Balkan, Dashoguz, Lebap, Mary Velayats and Ashgabat.
An excellent racehorse and its passport have been presented to President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov on behalf of military and law enforcement agencies.
Another gift was presented from all horse breeders of the country. An excellent racehorse has been brought out to the demonstration ground. As per tradition, the President of Turkmenistan has tied an ‘alaja’ as a token charm and a symbol of new friendship around the horse neck, then saddled the horse and made a circle riding the horse in calm pace. The horse recognized skilled and sensitive rider at once and following his command, accelerate the pace changing to trot. The Head of the State took out the horse to the track and ride along it under loud applauses of the participants and went to the tribunes afterwards.
After, the racing competitions among master jockeys took place. This spectacular equestrian sport is very famous among Turkmen people and from the ancient times, it was used as a method of testing the horse and development of its speed characteristics, which are the most outstanding merits of ahalteke breed. It defines the destiny of the breed, its internal breed lines, founders and continuers of which are the fastest horses, the wines of the races.
Current competitions allowed again seeing the endurance and speed of Turkmen horses, which are the results of work of Turkmen coaches, and demonstrated filigree technique of skilled jockeys.
Pygy Bayramdurdiyev, who is known not only in our country but also abroad as a leader of famous Galkynysh Equestrian Group and who is the winner of high prizes of prestige international festivals and contest, won the first place in the races among master jockeys. It was him, the Honoured Culture Personnel of Turkmenistan Pygy Bayramdurdiyev, who was entrusted with great honour to lit up the flare of the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, which were successfully held in Ashgabat in September, 2017.
