|
 |
| Kaan
after his arrival in Herefordshire |
July
1999
|
(Kaan)
Atamekan
at stud
Atamekan on the 2001 Odyssey for M.E. The Incredible Journey
During 1999,
Atamekan, a stallion of a
rare and ancient breed, arrived in Herefordshire in the UK after
a 4,000 mile journey - to save him from starvation in his native Turkmenistan.
I
formed a close bond with ex-racehorse Kaan when I travelled with him
in this remote part of Central Asia. But he was more than just a travelling
companion. For, having ME, I have
very limited mobility. Quite simply, Kaan was my legs. Without
his help, I couldn’t have seen the country widely enough to write the
book for which I had gone there. I owed him a debt of gratitude, and
couldn’t simply leave him in a country where horses frequently starve
to death.
 |
| Kaan
in Mari, Turkmenistan |
April
1996
|
Finding
a way to bring him home has taken three years. During that time he was
badly ill-treated and nearly died from malnutrition.
 |
| Kaan
in Anau, Turkmenistan |
April
1998
|
The
nine year old stallion is special in more ways than one. For his breed,
the little known Akhal-Teke, dates back nearly three millennia - the
warhorse of ancient history and the incentive for establishing the Silk
Road. Kaan joins an elite group of only thirteen in the UK; one, a gift
from Turkmenistan’s president and a former “Elite” racehorse, belongs
to John Major, the former prime minister.
The
Akhal-Teke is the most versatile of all sporting horses, excelling in
jumping, dressage, and, most of all, long-distance riding. Kaan’s survival
of three years’ vicissitudes bears witness to the iron-hard toughness
of these desert-bred horses. |
