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TheTurkoman horse, or Turkmene, is anOriental horse breed from the steppes ofCentral Asia. It influenced many modern horse breeds, including theThoroughbred horse. Modern descendants include theAkhal-Teke,[1] theIomud, the Goklan and Nokhorli.[2]The Turkmen is only bred in north-eastIran,[3] with only around 3000 left, leaving the population at risk.[4]
The Turkoman horse has a slender body, a straight profile, long neck, and sloping shoulders. They have long and muscular legs. The horses range from 15–16 hands. The Turkoman is noted for its endurance and good resistance to diseases. They are used for racing.[3]
The Turkoman horse has influenced the EnglishThoroughbred,[1] most probably via theByerley Turk. Turkomans were brought to England by soldiers stationed in various parts of the East. The best known was a stallion named Merv, who was brought to England by Baker Pasha[who?] in the 19th century. A very high stud fee was charged for Merv's services, £85, which was considered excessive for any stallion at that time. Unfortunately, other Englishmen did not esteem Merv the way Baker Pacha did. Sidney[who?] quotes a correspondent who had seen Merv and stated: "He looked to me about 16 hands high, fine shoulders, good head and neck, fine skin, good wearing legs, bad feet and leggy. I thought him unsuited to breed hunters ... he looked to me about an 11stone horse, and did not like going through dirt." In this context, "11 stone" referenced rider weight, thus such a horse would be one expected to be able to carry about 150 pounds (68 kg). Merv covered no mares in England, and in 1877, he was sold to the Earl of Claremont's stud in Ireland.[citation needed]
Turkoman horses, aside from being occasional gifts of state, were often brought into Western Europe by various individuals, mostly connected with the military in some way. Some of these horses have profoundly impacted various European warmblood breeds.
Gervase Markham, Master of Horse toJames I of England, preferred the EnglishThoroughbred first among all breeds of horses; the Neapolitan second, and the steppe-bred Turk third. He had seen Turks racing on English race courses circa 1566–1625. He also noted that the Turks he had seen were: "Naturally in they desire toamble, and, which is most strange, their trot is full of pride and gracefulness."[citation needed]
