The word “horse” comes from the Old English word “hors”. We know it as the domesticated, hoofed mammal portrayed in novels like Black Beauty (1877) and Seabiscuit (1999), painted by numerous artists including Leonardo da Vinci and Pablo Picasso, and photographed immensely throughout the years.
Horses have had many uses since being domesticated (circa 2200 BC) and bred for transportation, warfare, labor, sports, therapy, and as pets. They come in various sizes and temperaments. The world’s smallest horse on record, a dwarf miniature from Missouri, USA named Thumbelina, was 17 inches (43 cm) high. Thumbelina died in 2018. At the other end of the spectrum was a Shire gelding from Bedfordshire, England born in 1846 named Sampson (renamed Mammoth). He was the tallest horse at 7 feet (219 cm) high, and the heaviest at 3360 lbs (1524 kg).
Horses are grouped according to their traits and used accordingly. For example, the Akhal-Teke is classified as hot-blooded because of its endurance, speed, and reactive temperament. There are breeds of horses that have become extinct for two main reasons. One, they have died out. Or, two, they have been integrated into another breed. The Akhal-Teke falls into the second category. According to the Akhal-Teke Foundation, there are 300 registered purebreds in North America.
If you’ve ever considered owning a horse, the Akhal-Teke will set you back $8,000 for a foal, and that’s the cost-effective option. After that, prices range from $13,000 to $135,000, increasing with the horse’s age.
You can still appreciate the beauty of the Akhal-Teke at a fraction of the cost, in the form of pictures. Here’s the bonus – they make great gifts for any occasion.✿