During a working meeting in the city of Arkadag, held on the 7th of October by the National Leader of the Turkmen people Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, preparations for the upcoming important events in the «smart» city were discussed, including the presentation of a certificate on the inclusion of the nomination «The Art of Ahal-Teke Horse Breeding and Traditions of Horse Decoration» in the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
As noted at the meeting, this event will become international recognition of the comprehensive work carried out in Turkmenistan - the ancient homeland of Ahal-Teke horses - to preserve the purity of the breed, increase the number and enhance the world fame of elite horses, as well as to properly care for them in accordance with traditional folk practice. The nomination dossier was prepared by Turkmenistan with the broad participation of research scientists, horse breeders, masters of horse decoration, as well as famous experts and connoisseurs of equestrian art.
The decision to include Turkmenistan's nomination «Ahal-Teke Horse Breeding Art and Horse Decoration Traditions» in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity was made by broad consensus, without a vote, at the 18th session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, which was held in December 2023 in Kasane, Republic of Botswana.
The session was attended by the delegation of Turkmenistan headed by the Executive Secretary of the National Commission of Turkmenistan for UNESCO Ch. Rustemova. The Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity includes forms of cultural expression that demonstrate the diversity of intangible heritage and help raise public awareness of its importance.