“Heavenly” horses have been given special honors throughout all periods of the glorious five-thousand-year history of our people. The Akhal-Teke horse, for its unique grace and beauty, has become an invaluable treasure not only of our country but of all humanity.

The State Museum of the State Cultural Center of Turkmenistan hosts an exhibition titled “High Honors to the Horse” on the occasion of the National Holiday of the Turkmen Horse. The first visitors were representatives of the Aba Annaev International Horse Breeding Academy, as well as teachers and students of higher education institutions. The exhibition features paintings by famous artists that have immortalized the beauty and grace of these horses, which are rightly called “heavenly horses” by the people.

Our ancestors considered the horse’s saddle more honorable than a throne and adorned horses with jewelry and carpet products. Special attention from the exhibition organizers was given to the demonstration of skillfully crafted antique equipment of the Akhal-Teke horse. Here one can see horse accessories: saddles, stirrups, whips, bridles, a case for the rider’s bowl, and horseshoes—all these museum exhibits are carefully preserved in the storerooms. Also presented are horse decorations: breastplates, blinkers, headbands, collars, and amulets.

The exhibition is further enriched by a separate group of exhibits—woven horse blankets decorated with fringes, saddle pads, felt blankets, horse bags, pack saddles, and items made from koshma.

Horse breeding enthusiasts showed great interest in each of the valuable exhibits with which the Turkmen people have adorned their faithful friend—the Akhal-Teke horse—for thousands of years.

A separate exposition presents jewelry for horses created by modern masters. The luxurious horse accessories testify to the rapid development of Turkmen jewelry art and to the long-standing desire to dignify the Akhal-Teke horses. At the exhibition, the Turkmen horse is also represented in carpet weaving and sculpture. Traditionally, the opening of the exhibition was accompanied by speeches from guests who emphasized that the horse is the heart of the Turkmen, the decoration of celebrations, the pride and glory of our people. Its unique image is depicted on the State Emblem of the country.

The annual celebrations of the National Holiday of the Turkmen Horse, observed on the last Sunday of April, are a sign of the honor bestowed upon Akhal-Teke horses at the state level.

Jahan Nazarova,  
Senior Researcher at the State Museum of the State Cultural Center of Turkmenistan