Find Out What Makes This Horse the ‘Most Beautiful in the World’

Meet the Akhal-Teke, an ancient breed of horse that comes all the way from Turkmenistan. The Akhal-Teke is sleek, slim, and sporty. We love all horses at Your Daily Dish, but this horse is basically the living embodiment of all of our princess dreams: Its coat shimmers in the sun.

The breed comes in many different beautiful colors, from chestnut to palomino, and many Akhal-Tekes have the signature metallic sheen to their hair. Still, maybe the most striking color of Akhal-Teke is the “perlino” horse. This cream-colored steed has a glittering coat that resembles woven gold. If you prefer a darker horse, though, chestnut Akhal-Tekes also have an incredible, lustrous color.

Because of the satin look of its coat, people often name the Akhal-Teke one of the most beautiful horses in the world. This metallic quality is almost found exclusively in Akhal-Teke genes; horses with this beautiful coat have hollow hair shafts that allow light to prism, creating an iridescent effect. Although other horse breeds may develop shimmering coats, no horse looks as vibrant and sparkling as an Akhal-Teke. This also has made them striking dressage horses, and the famous Akhal-Teke Absent won a team gold medal at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City.

The history of the Akhal-Teke goes way back. The breed is at least 3,000 years old, and tribes used them mainly for riding, (rather than as workhorses. It’s no surprise, then, that Akhal-Teke’s are one of the world’s oldest breeds and one of the first domesticated horses. Although they look dainty and elegant, the breed was able to survive the harsh desert conditions in what’s now known as Turkmenistan. The Turkmen people are proud of their national horse breed, and the Akhal-Teke appears on everything from Turkmenistan’s official coat of arms to its stamps and banknotes. And why not? It’s a picture-perfect horse!

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(H/T shareably)