AMBLING TURKS

This painting, done by James Seymour, in about 1740 shows the size of the horse (greater than 14 hands) relative to his groom. The DMRT3-STOP gene came to the Thoroughbred population not only from Hobbies but from this type of Turkmene horse, which is shorter and more compact than the Akhal-Teke.

Three Ottoman officials travel together on ambling Turkmene horses in this late 18th century watercolor by an artist of the court of Sultan Selim III. This is the type of Turkmene horse, bred for riding, not racing, that arrived in England either as booty of war or in the form of diplomatic gifts.

The Turkish Rahvan is an ambling breed from northern Turkey that has been in existence since at least the 16th century. Today they are used as travelling horses and in under-saddle pace races.