Today, the country has celebrated the National Holiday of the Turkmen Horse on a grand scale, on the occasion of which the main events with the participation of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov took place at the International Akhalteke Equestrian Complex.

Today, the International Akhalteke Equestrian Complex in the Kopetdag foothills has been the center of the final festivities, where an exciting atmosphere of the holiday reigned, combining scale and grandeur with a single spiritual burst of the people, a high state level with the expressiveness and color of national traditions, and the generosity of the Turkmen celebration.

Everyone welcomes President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, who arrived at the International Akhalteke Equestrian Complex, with great enthusiasm.

The guest of honor at the holiday was President of the Republic of Tatarstan of the Russian Federation Rustam Minnikhanov, who is specially visiting our country these days.

Congratulating everyone on the wonderful holiday, Presidents Serdar Berdimuhamedov and Rustam Minnikhanov walked on the path of the complex, along which colorful vernissage, improvised concert and sports grounds were arranged, and scenes from folk life were shown.

There were yurts representing all the velayats and the capital, and recreating the way of life of the ancient Turkmen village with its essential attributes, and ancient traditions and rituals revive. Women were weaving carpets, embroidering and making felts, and bakhshi were singing to the accompaniment of national instruments.

Vernissages were arranged along the path, where the main characters of fine and decorative artworks were the incomparable Akhalteke horses. This gallery included products of folk arts and crafts such as original pieces of jewelry and needlework, carpet, textile, silk, felt, leather and wood products, national musical instruments, and various souvenirs.

There were also traditional samples of clothing and headdresses of the Turkmens, household utensils, tools, etc. All that made it possible to reflect the richness and diversity of the national heritage of our people, show their generosity and talent.

In a kind of open-air vernissage, the works performed by the winners of the competition for the artistic embodiment of the beauty of the Akhalteke horses were designated the place of honor. Beautiful horses were featured in carpets, original sculptural compositions, engravings and photographs, and splendid jewelry sets for ceremonial horse tack testify to the great love of the Turkmens for their horses.

Competitions in various sports, including national games, were also organized. Goresh wrestling competitions were the most captivating.

Head of State Serdar Berdimuhamedov, together with the guest of honor, watched the palvans (strong men) demonstrating unique goresh techniques.

All this adds a bright color to the celebration on the occasion of this holiday. Awards were intended for the best palvans, including special prizes and “holiday share”. According to the ancient Turkmen custom, a colt was presented to the winner palvan, which is an expression of the continuity of primordial noble traditions in the modern epoch.

In front of the main building of the International Akhalteke Equestrian Complex, pop soloists and dance ensembles greeted the celebration participants with festive musical compositions.

The guests were pleased with the performance of the group of national equestrian games “Galkynyş”, the winner of cups and prizes at various international festivals of circus art.

President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and the guest from Tatarstan entered the building of the equestrian complex, and proceeded to the presidential box.

As the head of Turkmen state said at the 12th meeting of the International Akhalteke Horse Breeding Association, the glory of the splendid Akhalteke horses has been thundering all over the world for thousands of years. Our legendary horses made a great contribution to the emergence of world horse breeding culture.

The moderator announced the start of the holiday races, the most prestigious competitions of the season.

The starting signal sounded, and thin-legged fast horses rushed off, quickly picking up speed, attracting the attention of spectators.

In total, there were seven heats at various distances, in which dozens of horses raced, demonstrating their best qualities.

In the first 1200 meters heat, the competition was for the “Polatly” prize of the financial and economic complex.

The best, showing the result of 1 minute 18.4 seconds, was the bay horse Dagbedev from the Akhalteke Horse Breeding Complex of the President of Turkmenistan, ridden by jockey R. Agamyradov.

In the second 1200-meter heat for the “Meleguş” prize of the oil and gas complex, the bay horse Artyk, presented to the competition by the Akhalteke Horse Breeding Complex of the President of Turkmenistan, was the winner. He covered the distance with master jockey M. Mammedov on its back in 1 minute 18.9 seconds.

In the third 1200-meter heat for the “Gelşikli” prize of the trade complex, the dark-dun horse Arka, also owned by the Akhalteke Horse Breeding Complex of the President of Turkmenistan, was the first to finish. The horse, ridden by master rider M. Agamyradov, finished on 1 minute 20.5 seconds.

The race distance for the “Ýanardag” prize of the transport and communications complex was 1400 meters. The bay horse Yagmyr from the “Baherden” horse breeding farm of the oil and gas complex of Turkmenistan with jockey J. Hydyrov on its back was the best, showing the result of 1 minute 31.8 seconds.

In the fifth 1400-meter heat, where competition was for the prize “Pereň” of the construction and industrial complex, the winner was the horse Gadam (Turkmen Agricultural University named after S.A. Niyazov), overcoming the distance in 1 minute 34 seconds with jockey O. Berdiyev.

The award in the sixth 1400-meter heat was the “Garader” prize of the agro-industrial complex. The first place in this competition was taken by the bay horse Dordepel, presented by the forestry enterprise of the Ministry of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations. Its rider was Y. Saparov, and the result was 1 minute 29 seconds.

In the final seventh heat, there was a tense competition for the main prize of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, the “Akhan” prize and the Challenge Cup. The horse Bezirgen, owned by the Akhalteke Horse Breeding Complex of the President of Turkmenistan was first to overcome the distance of 1600 meters. The horse, which was ridden by master rider B. Agamyradov, came to the finish in 1 minute 44.4 seconds.

Song and musical performances were organized between the heats. The audience could enjoy the melodies and songs of the bakhshi and artists, celebrating the glorious past and the grandiose transformations of the present.

During his stay at the International Akhalteke Equestrian Complex, the President of Turkmenistan held a number of bilateral meetings with foreign businessmen who arrived in our country to participate in the celebrations on the occasion of the National Holiday of the Turkmen Horse.

Among them were Chairman of the “Altkom” Financial and Industrial Group Alexander Tislenko, Chairman of the Board of the Ukrainian Construction Association “Interbudmontazh” Vladimir Petruk, and Director of the Company “Yugneftegaz” Igor Burkinsky.

During bilateral meetings, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, greeting the businessmen, thanked them for their constant participation in festive and other events held in Turkmenistan, a country of peace, friendship and mutual understanding.

During a bilateral meeting with Chairman of the “Altkom” Financial and Industrial Group Alexander Tislenko, priority areas for further partnership were touched upon, which, taking into account many years of successful experience of joint work in development of the transport sector, have great prospects.

Thus, during a meeting with the leader of the Ukrainian Construction Association “Interbudmontazh”, the head of state stressed that the concept for further development and improvement of Ashgabat opens up wide opportunities for continuing close joint work, focusing on the invariable requirements of the Turkmen party. The priority in this regard is strict compliance with the terms and quality of constructing facilities, the building of which requires using innovative engineering and technical solutions.

During the meeting with Director of the Company “Yugneftegaz” Igor Burkinsky, an exchange of views took place on promising areas of mutually beneficial cooperation in the context of specific projects and programs being carried out in our country in the oil and gas sector.

The businessman also confirmed the readiness of the company headed by him to share with Turkmen partners all its experience and potential, including in seismology.

At the end of the bilateral meetings, the businessmen expressed their sincere gratitude to President Serdar Berdimuhamedov for the all-round support provided for their work, assuring that the largest companies headed by them will continue to make every effort to fulfill their responsible undertakings in a quality and timely manner, contributing to the economic growth of Turkmenistan.

As part of today’s festivities, a ceremony was held to present valuable prizes on behalf of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov to the winners of festive competitions held this week such as the marathon and show jumping competitions.

The winner of the marathon was the horse Meshgur owned by the Akhalteke Horse Breeding Complex of the President of Turkmenistan, which, with rider O. Annaev, showed the best time of 2 hours 41 minutes 58 seconds. The first place in competitions in show jumping, the equestrian sport which is gaining popularity, was taken by the horse Toychi, owned by the Equestrian Sports Federation of Turkmenistan. Its jockey was N. Beglaryan.

Then the ceremony was held to award the winners of today’s races, who were presented with prizes, valuable gifts and large sums of money. In addition, the challenge Cup of the President of Turkmenistan and a diploma were awarded to the winner of the final heat.

Expressing sincere gratitude to the President of Turkmenistan for paying attention to the development of national horse breeding and equestrian sports, the jockeys assured that they would make every effort to preserve the famous national horse breeding traditions and further popularize the Akhalteke breed.

The festive races came to the end, but music was still sounding in the International Akhalteke Equestrian Complex, and the audience was exchanging opinions and sharing impressions.

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Festive events on the occasion of the National Holiday of the Turkmen Horse have been held today in all cities and villages of the Homeland. The program included concerts, exhibitions, literary, musical and poetry evenings, honoring horse breeders, trainers and riders of the country.

With the current celebrations and the large-scale consistent work being carried out under the leadership of President Serdar Berdimuhamedov to develop the national horse breeding school, Turkmenistan confidently declares itself as a major international horse breeding center that has given the world the beautiful Akhalteke horses, still preserving this heritage of world culture for future generations.