shirin Giz gave birth to a filly out of Pan Tau. Not sure what color she actually is!!!!!
she is as cute as can be!

as the days went by, and due date passed, I got anxious I would miss this birth! Due to go to the Akhal-Teke convention in Turkmenistan, the morning before getting on the plane I did an early morning check and there she was! So relieved to see that all is well!!!
​a much better way to start the long trip!

Every year the international Akhal-Teke conference is held in Ashgabat.  About 25 or so of guests are chosen to be at the meeting. The night before we get to practice how the procedures will go and we are shuttled off to the meeting room. first we all get a place in line to shake the presidents hand and tell him our name and association. Then we all stand on a determent spot and have our picture taken. After that we proceed to the round table meeting room and find our seats.
The president of Turkmenistan sits at the head of the round table. We have headphones for translation, someone is doing their best to translate on the go...

Here are my notes:

The president welcomes everyone and declares the official language for the meeting will be Russian.
"welcome to the birthplace of Akhal-Teke horses, the Association now has 137 members from 32 countries, membership is growing. There is an increase of interest in the Akhal-Teke horse, and the breeding of AT horses the hart of horse breeding world wide.
Turkmenistan is bringing equestrian sports to the highest level. All 5 provinces of Turkmenistan are now developing equestrian sports and youth now learn about equine sports. An Equine quarantine center has been build. New specialties of horse breeding is introduced to the Turkmen culture. Development of top level equine athletes to compete at world level. The Heavenly horse magazine and website educates the world.
The objective is to popularize the Akhal-Teke world wide and make a registry of Akhal-Teke horses in all countries and improvement of training techniques.
Our task is to test our horses by participating in sports and experience new professionals to improve.
Sports such as endurance, Show jumping to be developed in Turkmenistan. The Asian Games in September will have show jumping competitions. The opening ceremony of the Asian Games will be in honor of the Akhal-Teke horse.

Soon the Akhal-Teke horse will be competing at the world class level. This will help the people physically and health wise.
Soon dressage will be added.

The Akhal-Teke is a miracle of nature and I wish you success in your noble efforts."

From the horse festivale in Iran, Tehran September 2016.
The 3rd day we were to watch a jumping competition and give the winners their ribbons. Some of the riders and horses were well trained, and some where more like watching a bowling game...at least no one got hurt.

We had a lot of spare time and did a lot of sight seeing! Woman have to be completely covered yup visiting a mosque.
We visited several riding stables.
The last day was at the race track. There were a few Akhal-Teke horses racing, and one very handsome AT stallion won the race of his class. There were Iranian Arab classes, Yomut, Iranian TB's...and the crowds just went crazy! A very fun day!
Again we were to give the winners their winnings. At least by now we had learned that woman do not shake men's hands while being televised...like I did with the show jumping prize giving...oops!!!
We were all given a copy of their first studbook! I was so excited! And why did I not think of it...al in farcy!
Our flight out was at 2 in the morning that night, so we did a lot of tea drinking and talking...it was great to get to know the faces behind Face Book friends! It was a wonderful trip.

We don't always get snow...so we enjoy it while it lasts...

Megasus is making a clip on or glue on plastic horse shoe, one can put studs in if needed!
Available April 2017...
Can't wait to try them out!

Today is the horse grading. Mr. Kilmuk, Nadja Terasova and Clara de Vos van Steenwijk are the judges, I took it upon myself to photograph and film.
Every horse gets evaluated by all 3 judges individually, score sheets are collected, points are calculated by a team, and the results are announced.
At first the whole class enters the ring, and then they come in one by one to be graded.

The day started with Turkmen dancing and music.

Foals and mares were graded first, and classes worked up in years.

Like every morning, drinking coffee in my office and reading the morning emails...appears an email from Iran! To all the board members of the American Akhal-Teke Association, we are invited to come to Tehran for their first Turkoman horse Festivale!
Only Cathy and I replied we were delighted to come, but in the end, because I am still a Dutch citizen, I was the only person they could get a visa for.
Tickets bought, and receiving the email with the official letter that visa's would be granted only the afternoon before leaving...I arrived in Tehran at 2 am in the morning. I was greeted by out lovely guide for the next 4 days, taken to the hotel and slept a little. That morning Shohreh picked me up, by then Calra de Vos van Steenwijk from the Netherlands had arrived as well, and we went to the race track.
They were setting up for the horse grading the following day.

We discussed the set up, Alexander Kilmuk and Nadja Taressova were flying in this night to be the grading judges including Clara, so I became the photographer.
Our biggest difficulty was the fact that every class was of mixed breed...some with more AT blood than others, and some seemed pure Yomud. They asked us to grade with the emphasis on the AT.
We walked the stables of the race course, there are Iranian TB, Iranian Arabs and Yomud  horses in the stables.

It was nice to see how the horses were walked for long time around the track, ponying another to maximize time. Hay seemed of very good quality. And most horses had layers of blankets wrapped on quite tight.

Born in the early morning of June 16, this filly is our latest addition.
Her name, Ak Hadysa means "white phenomenon" in Turkmen.
Her sire is Kambarbay and her dam is Ahlie rhatan.