The price of an Akhal-Teke: 12 rules

The price of an Akhal Teke varies widely but here are 12 “rules” to help you navigate the current market:

• Sex – fillies generally sell at a premium to colts.  However super colts with the potential to become sires are the exception to this rule.

• Colour – gold, palomino and black Akhal Tekes typically command a premium. Some colours instead are more market sensitive.

• Metallic/chrome coat – the more metallic a horse is the more the market will offer.

• Typicality – the price of highly exotic looking horses with potential for the show market can be extremely high.  What makes a horse “typical” is an arcane topic over which fierce debate rages.

• Prizes – horses who have won prizes at show competitions can command very large prices in the international market.

• Size – bigger horses command higher prices, the magic height that buyers are focused on seems to be 160cm+. However, any sports Akhal Teke below 151cm - which will therefore qualify for pony classes - has potentially an even greater value.  If you would be happy with a horse between 152 and 158cm you will certainly save money.

• Trained horses – horses already trained under the saddle will be worth more than unbacked horses.  In general the more training a horse has had the more valuable it will be.  Of course this assumes that the training has been careful and professionally conducted: a horse ruined by inappropriate, amateur handling could be worth very little.

• Health – obviously health problems and injury will impact negatively on the price of a horse – injured horses bought as pets or breeding stock can represent exceptional bargains if you do not need to ride demandingly.

• Movements – beautiful gaits, an important feature of the breed, add significant value to a horse.

• Jumping ability – Akhal Tekes have great elasticity but often jump flat.  Those that show a good bascule are in demand and will fetch high prices.

• Speed – sadly there are no race series organised for the breed anywhere in the western world.  However, racing ability is a crucial selection criterion in traditional Akhal Teke breeding policy and we are convinced of the absolute necessity of selecting for blood.  We place a premium on blood and all other serious breeders will too.

• Age -  Young horses will increase in value until around 4 or 5 years of age.  After this their value will not increase unless they are trained.  The exception to this rule relates to proven breeding stock. Top, proven sires and broodmares will be at their price peak around 10-14 years of age.

These rules do not indicate the true value of an individual horse but merely reflect the market as it exists now.  So, if you want a beautiful and typical 6-year-old golden palomino mare standing 162cm with fine movements and a big jump under the saddle, be prepared to pay very substantially more than if you want a 6-year-old untrained 157cm flat-bay gelding with good but not exceptional movements.