National Turkmen Horse Holiday, which was marked with numerous events with ahalteke horse as the main character, has been widely celebrated in our country, the State news agency of Turkmenistan reports.
International Ahalteke Equestrian Complex, where thousands of Turkmenistan citizens, foreign scientists, horse breeders and businessmen have gathered in the morning, became the centre of final events.
Decorated ‘yurtas’ have been installed on the way to the complex along the Kopetdag Avenue. Their number has increased on the approach to the complex where the participants were greeted by the youth with the flags of Turkmenistan.
Exhibitions of decorative and applied art, national crafts, museum values as well as modern paintings, sculptures, photos, printing production and other works have been expanded on the territory of equestrian complex. All expositions were united with one theme – ahalteke horse as a unique national heritage and pride.
There were the Deputy Chairmen of the Cabinet of Ministers, leaders of the Mejlis, military and law enforcement agencies, ministries and departments, public organizations, hyakims of the velayats and Ashgabat, heads of diplomatic mission accredited in Turkmenistan, foreign guests, members of the delegations who were on the visit in our country these days among the participants.
Everybody welcomed President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov arriving in International Ahalteke Equestrian Complex with enthusiasm. Old and good friend of our country, President of the Republic of Tatarstan of Russian Federation Rustam Minnikhanov, who arrived in our country these days on purpose, was an honoured guest of the celebration.
Warmly greeting the Head of Tatarstan, the Head of Turkmenistan expressed his gratitude for the participation in current events and for his personal contribution to the strengthening of centuries-old traditions of friendship and good neighbourliness between two fraternal nations.
Turkmen leader introduced the head of foreign diplomatic missions, which expressed the gratitude for the opportunity to take part in such bright events and share the pride and joy, love to beautiful horses with the nation, to his foreign colleague.
Presidents Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and Rustam Minnikhanov went together to the hippodrome along the path, which was framed by vernissages, concert grounds, plays by the motifs of folklore, national traditions and ceremonies.
Carpets and silk fabrics were shining with different colours as if in ancient oriental bazaar. Handmade embroidery, women jewelleries and neat horse harnesses, painted ceramics, woodcarving, musical instruments, souvenirs were pleasing the eye. All regional of the country have presented their expositions, national craftsmen demonstrated their unique works and the process of their creation, which require painstaking work.
Walking by the dutar players from Dashoguz Velayat, the Head of the State noticed a boy he knows and asked him to sing a song for the guest. Young bakhshy did it with pleasure. Young artist was singing with character features, which are typical only for the school of the northern region while the President was telling to the leader of Tatarstan about specific vocal techniques, which distinguish various singing styles of different regions of our country and abut the art of bakhshy.
Head of the State was speaking of it as an author of book “Music of Peace, Music of Friendship and Brotherhood”, in which he narrates about one of the most famous Turkmen musician, Shukur bakhshy, through the prism of peace-loving and goodwill policy of our state, about the influence of music and destans on the philosophy and world outlook of the nation, way of thinking and life of Turkmens.
Continuing their way, the heads of Turkmenistan and Tatarstan were looking around with interest the articles on national art, traditional household items, which were presented at the exhibitions. Their attention was attracted by the master making metal hand tools. The President noted that ancient crafts are carefully preserved in our country as a part of general heritage of the nation and they cannot be lost as they bear some kid of cultural and genetic code.
Indeed, there is no requirements today in artisan items for work of household needs, however, national crafts continue existing as an art and the names of such master making exclusive items are widely known among the people. They always have clients for making some items as well as apprentices, to whom they pass the secrets of rare profession.
Goods of skinner master like different headdresses and other items from silky astrakhan lambskin, including from the most precious skins of silver blue and golden shades, have raised keen interest of foreign guests. Turkmen leader explained to the President of Tatarstan about healing characteristics of this unique natural material, which supports treating radiculitis, arthritis and other diseases.
The attention of the participants of the event was caught by the fight of the wrestlers, which were supported by the fans. The winner of the fight in gyoresh national wrestling received traditional prize – a baby camel.
Having halted at the sculptural composition of horse, which was built on the territory of the complex, the heads of Turkmenistan and Tatarstan talked about the architecture of this facility, which became an exemplary object of equestrian infrastructure and attraction popular among foreign guests of the country.
The participants of the event were greeted with musical performance by popular singers and dance collectives. Songs and dances created an atmosphere of big and generous Turkmen celebration, which brought together many guests.
Finally, everybody gathered around the arena, which was installed on the territory of the complex, looking forward special performance, which the show of famous Galkynysh Equestrian Games group are always distinguished with.
Forestalling the show, boy and girl took out Rovach the foal, which was born on the first day of 2019 that is held in our country under slogan “Turkmenistan – Home of Prosperity”, to the arena. That is why, the foal received its symbolical name Rovach, which means the Prosperity, from the President.
The foal demonstrated how it learnt to gallop around the circle, to stop and beating the ground with hoof following the command of the girl, who is the youngest rider of the Galkynysh Group.
Turkmen riders and their excellently trained racehorses conquered the public of numerous countries. As for today, this Group is thought to be the best equestrian and acrobatic band in the world. It is only gold medals among their awards won at prestige contests and festivals. Their performances strike imagination by the art of equestrian stunning. But the main thing is not the complexity of effective acrobatic stunts performed on the back of riding horse but that outstanding understanding between a man and horse.
It was entirely felt by the spectator of the performance. Outstanding show, which makes the breath stop every time brave riders make unbelievable stunts, give true extreme emotions and unforgettable impression.
President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and his guest from Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov went to the stands.
After, the President of Turkmenistan had a meeting with Head of the Republic of Tatarstan of Russian Federation Rustam Minnikhanov in the President lounge. The meetings of the Head of the State with high-rank guests from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain who came to our country for participation in the events on occasion of National Turkmen Horse Celebration, were held in the same place.
Meanwhile, the start to celebration races has been given at the racing tracks and slim-legged fast racehorses started off from the sport gaining speed, having caught the attention of the tribunes. The main difference of our national school of sport horses is that Turkmens do not train but educate the horses. The President directs the specialists to the expansion of scientific foundation of pedigree work using modern methods of selection and genetic studies.
The competitions, which were watched with delight by overcrowded tribunes, hundreds of TV and photo cameras, including foreign reporters, continued for more than two hours. Legendary ahalteke horses not only presented all their beauty and perfectness but also visually demonstrated their valuable sport characteristics – the speed and endurance, to multi-thousands public.
There were seven different distance races with twelve horses in each in total. It was followed by the award ceremony of valuable prizes to the winners of celebration competitions, current races as well as the winners of equestrian marathon and show jumping competitions held last week on behalf of President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.
Expressing sincere gratitude to the Head of the State, the winners assured that they would put all efforts to make everlasting glory of ahalteke horses shine with new colours matching their beauty and grace.
Numerous foreign guests, heads of the leading international sport and equestrian organizations and companies took part in the award ceremony. According to them, the availability of relative training base and modern equestrian complexes of the world level give solid justification to think that Turkmenistan would turn into the world centre of equestrian sport where big competitions, equestrian festivals, youth games, open tournaments and world championships would be held in near future.
In the end of bright event in Internatioanl Ahalteke Equestrian Complex, President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov received the congratulations from the members of the Government and after, performed the song “Rovach” with his grandson Kerimguly at the stage of the hippodrome. Its lyrics are already known by Turkmenistan citizens – this is a poem with the same name by the Head of the State and music by the grandson of the President.
Celebration events and concerts on occasion of National Turkmen Horse Holiday were held all around the country.
