Great interview with Mihály Kocs, owner of Siculus Invincius Stud, on the subject of breeding Akhal-Tekes - featured in the Hungarian Culture magazine. The original article is written in Hungarian so I have shared the translated version below for English readers.
English Translation:
The Golden-Haired Steed of Our Folk Tales
Krisztina Lippai / February 1, 2023.
Its wonderful structure, exceptionally graceful movement, fantastic stamina and extraordinary intelligence make the Akhal-Teke unique, the breed of horse on which our conquering ancestors arrived in our country. Mihály Kocs, veterinarian, horse breeder and musculoskeletal specialist, told us about the golden- and silver-haired heroes of our folk tales.
You have been breeding Akhal-Teke dogs for eight years. Where does your love for the breed come from?
When I felt as a veterinarian that I had the financial means to fulfill my childhood dreams, we started breeding Dobermans. Within ten years, we had established the world’s most successful Doberman breed based on our own research. This was the first project. When we had achieved everything, I thought that I wanted to continue working with horses. I was fifty-four years old, and by then I had ridden a horse maybe five times, but I still thought that the time had come to devote the last 25 years of my life to breeding Olympic-winning horses. The Akhal-Teke provided the basis for this, which is the closest living relative of the Hungarian Conquest-era horse, so it is closely related to our ancestors. The first motivation was that horse breeders say that if you want to breed a very good horse, you should not breed it to the champion, but to the champion’s father. In today’s world, equestrian sports are dominated by sport horses, all of which are based on English Thoroughbreds, but recent genetic studies have shown that the English Thoroughbred is a pure Turkmen horse on the paternal side, meaning that the stallions of the three founding sires were Turkmen. That’s why we decided to try this breed.
How did you learn about the breed’s existence?
We also studied horse breeding during university, and even then I really liked the special form of this breed. This horse has a completely different constitution than its relatives known in Europe. We basically distinguish two types: one is the Western, the other is the Eastern horse type. The latter has a respiratory constitution, which means that it does not have a large belly, its lungs are more developed, it has long, elegant legs, and a deep chest. In contrast, the Western horse is a gastroenteric, digestive type, with a larger belly. Horse breeders have always used the Eastern type for breeding purposes. On the other hand, I generally do not like to follow the mainstream.
I have been looking for something special all my life, and these horses are truly special. They do divide people, because some people love them, while others say they are useless in sports, but I want to refute this. With the right attitude and management, very serious sporting results can be achieved with this breed. Eight years ago, I established my farm called Siculus Invincius in Tata-Ágostyán, Komárom-Esztergom County, in the jewel box of the area, in order to make the Akhal-Teke – which should be pronounced as ahal – known as widely as possible and to introduce it to the sporting world at the highest level. The breed had already achieved very serious results before, as it also won the dressage event at the Roman Olympics in 1960.
What criticism do those who oppose the Akhal-Teke have, and what prejudices have spread about it?
The aforementioned Western-style synthetic sport horses have been bred in such a way that they are almost considered just sports equipment. Like a bicycle, they can be put down and taken out freely when needed. These horses are bred to tolerate this treatment. They are kept in a box twenty-two hours a day and are handled for two hours a day. The Akhal-Teke, on the other hand, would require a completely different attitude based on its ancient temperament. The Turkmen, for whom this breed is a national symbol, still consider their horses as family members. They are not kept in huge stud farms, but in smaller groups and almost live with them. I like to say that the Akhal-Teke is a transitional form between a dog and a horse in terms of behavior. It is much more attached to humans than modern sport horses, which their owners try to keep relatively away from them. The Akhal-Teke, on the other hand, seeks constant contact, which can make it seem as if it does not respect the rider, and if this approach is repelled by the animal, it will become rude. As God gives, so God receives. This breed returns what it receives many times over. It responds to love with love, aggression with aggression. They cannot be broken into, but if we gain their trust, the sky is the limit, and they are capable of anything. It is not by chance that there were war horses in the past, and even Chinese emperors launched campaigns to acquire them.
There was a saying among the Turkmen that if an Akhal-Teke goes home without its owner, that person is no longer alive. This is true. For example, when I sit down on the ground near my horses, they immediately react and come to me to find out how I am feeling. They smell me, they want to be near me. There is a much closer connection between us than is usually typical, which many people think does not fit into sport riding. However, this breed of horse is extremely versatile. From hobby riding to long-distance riding, from dressage to eventing, and its old name, military, it excels in all areas. Even in driving, although it is only recently starting to be tested there. Its movement is also extremely harmonious and graceful, it almost flies in the air, and it provides a uniquely comfortable ride. However, it requires more personal attention than the common types of horses.
Those who are introduced to this breed usually look up to it with awe. What could be the reason for this?
I always warn anyone who comes to our farm to be very careful, because the “Akhal virus” is absolutely contagious. You can fall in love with this breed at first sight. Even people who are otherwise afraid of horses feel at ease around them, they approach them so openly and kindly. I often say in my lectures that kissing their velvety noses, smelling their ripe fruit-scented breath and riding their fur is an incomparable heavenly experience.
Besides their attractive nature, what else makes Akhal-Teke special?
They are considered the most beautiful horses in the world. Their metallic sheen is impressive in itself. When the sun shines on them, they sparkle beautifully. Some say that there are tiny air bubbles between their hairs, others say that special proteins are embedded in the hairs that refract light. In any case, this unique feature, which characterizes about forty percent of the breed, probably evolved as a kind of desert mimicry, which was an essential part of protection against predators in their original habitat, the Ahal oasis of Turkmenistan, where the Teke tribe began to breed them.
They are also referred to as fairy horses. Where does this name come from?
When I look at an Akhal-Teke, I don’t see an ordinary horse, but rather the fairy tale world of my childhood with its golden-haired steeds comes to life. Like all legends, this one has some basis in reality. Genetic samples taken from graves from the Hungarian Conquest period show a more than thirty percent similarity to the Akhal-Teke. In addition, Hungarian folk tales have bronze, silver, and gold horse motifs, which are unique in Europe, and I can show this to anyone who comes to me in real life.
In addition, the appearance of these horses is almost otherworldly. A friend of mine said that my horses are almost otherworldly. When I look into the eyes of an Akhal-Teke, a window opens to history and I feel the power of our ancestors as they galloped on their horses and kept Europe in check. At that time, this type of horse gave the eastern tribes a huge combat advantage, because at that time information was spread on horseback, these horses could cover long distances, sixty to a hundred kilometers a day, with very little food and water, which was a huge advantage at that time. Even during the reign of King Matthias, Hungarian horses were under embargo, and stealing them was punishable by death. When King Matthias’ father-in-law sent beautiful Andalusian horses, the king sent them back, saying that he did not need dancing horses, but fighting steeds.
The name of your farm is Siculus Invincius, which means invincible Szekler. What is the origin of the name?
I am a Székely, I came to Hungary through marriage, and I have fought many battles in my life, most of which I have emerged victorious, which is why I am this invincible Székely. Putting aside all modesty, I named our farm after myself.
