The Horse Road (30 page)

Today, no one knows the true origin of the Persian horse (also known as the Turkoman) or the location and name of the besieged city in Ferghana written about by Chinese chroniclers – this information has been lost to history. However, the modern Akhal-Teke horse is believed to be the closest and most direct descendant of the Persian horse from Ferghana. The nomads relied on oral tradition to record the genealogy of their horses, but the modern Akhal-Teke stud book was first printed by the Russians in 1941. Akhal-Tekes are a hot blood, dry type of horse with a genetic difference in the structure of their hair; their coats have a distinctive and beautiful golden, metallic shine. With high-set neck, long slender legs clearly showing the tendons,
large expressive eyes and a narrow body, the Akhal-Teke has been called the greyhound of the horse world. Its endurance is still considered phenomenal. In 1935, a group of Akhal-Tekes participated in a ride from Ashkhabad to Moscow, a distance of 2,600 miles completed in 84 days, including 3 days crossing 225 miles of desert with almost no water.

DNA studies from the University of Kentucky suggest that the Akhal-Teke is the oldest domesticated breed of horse. Throughout its history, the breed's development has been shaped by the nomads' practices. They let the mares run in semi-wild herds which must protect themselves; they begin training horses for racing at age one, and use layers of felt blankets to induce sweating and keep the horses lean. The horses are given high-protein feeds every few hours both day and night, and are bred selectively for speed and stamina. Celebrated in Chinese paintings and Tang dynasty ceramic statues, the Persian horse also contributed directly to the foundation of the modern Thoroughbred through the stallion the Byerley Turk.

Although now found on stud farms in various countries, especially in Russia, Germany and the USA, the Persian Akhal-Teke remains a rare breed with fewer than 3,000 horses worldwide. It continues to be a highly athletic horse, excelling at dressage and jumping, with its lean elastic body and floating stride. The Teke named Absinthe was one of the top
Olympic horses of the twentieth century, winning medals in 1960, 1964 and 1968. Tekes are easily aroused and need sensitive training from a person with whom they've bonded; they can be difficult for strangers to handle. They still prefer a loose rein, and a rider with soft hands and strong legs who will fully appreciate their bold intelligence, just as their nomad masters did so many centuries ago on the great grasslands of Asia.

With thanks to my wonderful agent, Dr Eckhart Prahl in Munich, for taking a chance and enthusiastically backing a dark horse. And with thanks also to my wonderful editor, Dorit Engelhardt, for being a pure pleasure to work with. The encouragement and support you both have given to me is much appreciated!

Copyright © 2011 by Troon Harrison

All rights reserved. You may not copy, distribute, transmit, reproduce or otherwise make available this publication (or any part of it) in any form, or by any means (including without limitation electronic, digital, optical, mechanical, photocopying, printing, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the publisher. Any person who does any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages

Originally published in Germany as
Kallisto: Reiterin der Wüste
in March 2011 by

Bloomsbury Verlag

First published in the United States of America in August 2012

by Bloomsbury Books for Young Readers

Electronic edition published in August 2012

www.bloomsburyteens.com

For information about permission to reproduce selections from this book, write to
Permissions, Bloomsbury BFYR, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10010

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Harrison, Troon.

The horse road / by Troon Harrison. — 1st U.S. ed.

p.   cm.

Summary: In ancient central Asia, thirteen-year-old Kallisto, a superb equestrian, and her friend must warn their families and protect the Ferghana horses from invading Chinese armies.

[1. Horsemanship—Fiction. 2. Horses—Fiction. 3. Fergana Valley—History—Fiction.

4. Central Asia—History—Fiction.] I. Title.

PZ7.H25616Ho 2012     [Fic]—dc23     2012014010

ISBN 978-1-59990-927-1 (e-book)