An exhibition entitled «Taryhdan taryply türkmen bedewi» dedicated to the Day of the Turkmen Horse was organized at the Historical and Local Lore Museum of the city of Arkadag. At the opening of the exhibition it was noted that the national holiday, which is celebrated on the last Sunday of April, is a modern continuation of the worldwide glory of the Ahal-Teke horse - the oldest of the cultivated breeds of horses.
Ahal-Teke horses have always been the decoration of celebrations, one of the main national treasures passed down from generation to generation. And today, horse breeding and horse decoration traditions are included in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The enormous importance and place of Ahal-Teke horses in the life of the Turkmen people led to the emergence of a whole layer of traditions - from naming rituals to equestrian competitions and wedding ceremonies, which continue to be enriched in our days. These included the annual international beauty contest of Ahal-Teke horses, which this year will be held for the first time on the 27th of April in the city of Arkadag.
The exhibition also presents horse jewelry and accessories stored in the museum's collection, saddles and horseshoes, horse capes and saddlebags, carpets, ancient vessels and paintings depicting the rapid running of horses. Of great interest to visitors were the national treasure artifacts of the Middle Ages - a bowl and fragments of ceramics depicting a horse, as well as a bronze horse and stone finds depicting a horse and a warrior from the ancient period.
The historical and cultural exhibits of the exhibition are complemented by photographs capturing interesting moments of exciting horse racing and illustrating the modern development of Ahal-Teke horse breeding. Among them are photographs of the international horse breeding academy named after Aba Annayev, which serves as a base for the development of equestrian sports and tourism, circus art, training of horse riding masters and national equestrian games. A scientific and production center for horse breeding and the State Equestrian Circus named after Gorogly were built next to the academy.
