Lifespans as per studbook registered data*

 * These data are not final

One of the  most important indicators of the general health and fitness status of a breed is the median age it achieves. Several factors are known to influence median life expectancy, the most important non-circumstantial ones are inbreeding depression, size, genetic  and reproductive health status. Of course more factors exist and play a role.

Rather than having the life expectancy of the other oriental hotblood, the Arabian, the Akhal Teke lately closely emulates the English Thoroughbred, in fact its life expectancy is even lower than that of the Thoroughbred. Arabians have a median lifespan of 25 to 30 years, many are fertile well into their third decade. Even warmbloods are today not considered old with 15 or 16 years, quite regularly the best competitors in dressage or show-jumping start their highest level career at that age. A pony dying under its 20th year is considered to be an exception, the majority live well into their 2nd decade, with many of them achieving ages similar or surpassing those of the Arabian.

Recently a breeder searching for a replacement sire among the horses registered as foals born in the 9th and 10th studbook fetched up in shock when 4/5ths of the horses he inquired about turned out to be dead, most of them after a very short career in sports or breeding. He brought this to our notice and further research uncovered that quite many of the Akhal Teke born after 1985-1990 are already dead. In fact, once past 20 years the chances of discovering that horse to still be alive and healthy were minimal. Now, we are not talking of horses born in the "bad years" of famine and slaughter, these are horses living a well-maintained life in plentitude, owned by well-off studfarms and private breeders. 

The above statistical evaluation represents a cross survey of Teke from the 3rd to the 10th studbook, including the most recent not yet registered horses. As is clearly visible, already now the low lifespans of recent horses have had an influence on the better values of horses born earlier. According to this statistic more than a third of the Akhal Teke die between 10 and 15 years and another third between 16 and 21 years. The current sheer median age an Akhal Teke will achieve is around 16-17 years, the age when warmbloods are considered just well enough schooled to start a Grand Prix career.