The Szeged Research Institute of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences matched mitochondrial DNA “from horse skeletons found in graves dating back to the time of the Hungarian conquest” (~900 CE) most closely to the MtDNA of modern Akhal-Tekes (Federation of Hungarian Horse Breeders, n.d.). This evidence aligns historically “with the well-attested, continent-wide raiding habits of the early hungarians” and their use of turanian horses, a Turkoman-blood descendant, in military and by nobles (Priskin, 2010).
As a result of the above study and careful historic review, the Akhal-Teke gained unique protection in 2020 when its importance in Hungary’s cultural history was acknowledged. The breed was given “endangered” status within the country, and the Hungarian organization for the Akhal-Teke is currently recognized as one of only 16 horse breeding organizations under the Hungarian Ministry of Agriculture with The Federation of Hungarian Horse Breeders.
Pictured: (1) a photo we took of the Hungarian Minister of Agriculture, Istvan Nagy, at the Akhal-Teke European Championships in 2024 when he made an address about his country’s commitment to preserve the Akhal-Teke because of its Hungarian-Turkic roots; (2) an Akhal-Teke stallion in the free jump competition during the 2024 Akhal-Teke European Championships at Hungary’s Bábolna National Stud Farm.
Federation of Hungarian Horse Breeders, (n.d.). “Akhal-Teke”. https://mlosz.hu/en/breeds/akhal-teke
Priskin, (2010). “Archaeogenetic analysis of the avar and the early hungarian horses from the Carpathian Basin”. https://doktori.bibl.u-szeged.hu/id/eprint/911/3/thesis.pdf