Agile, athletic, tough and supremely responsive to the sympathetic rider, the Akhal-Teke is the world's most versatile sporthorse. From Grade I racehorse and marathon endurance horse ATAMEKAN, Kyzyl's foundation stallion, comes a line of exceptionally athletic, intelligent and resilient horses which have proved their ability in eventing, show jumping, endurance and showing, as well as hunting and natural horsemanship. Foundation mare GULARA is Elite-graded, hails from the world's leading Akhal-Teke Stavropol Stud, and is by Gaigysis,the best stallion of his generation in Russia. Arguably the oldest breed in the world, the Akhal-Teke possesses unique genetic stability which favours crossing with other breeds, together with the quality and refinement to "improve" the heavier mare. Breeding commenced with the generous loan by Viscountess Bury of brood mare Kunzita, who produced Kaan's first two foals. The arrival of the elite-graded mare Gulara from Stavropol Stud in 2000 expanded the gene pool, and her son Xanadu, by Kaan, is now Kyzyl's pure-bred stallion, alongside the part-bred Kyzyl Double or Quits (by a stallion from the famous Welton sporthorse line). Pure-bred foals are given Turkmen names, or names associated with Silk Road history. Part-breds carry the Kyzyl prefix that recognises their Turkmen descent. Kaan also covered a number of outside mares, siring foals that have been highly successful in eventing, show jumping, showing and endurance competitions. His own competitive life was severely limited by Gill's incapacity, but on just a few outings he won several show jumping classes, and competed up to Open cross-country, with tremendous enthusiasm for his new career. His talent and enthusiasm for jumping are apparent in all his progeny. His descendants number nineteen to date, covering three generations. Kaan has thus fulfilled Gill's dream: he has founded a line of Celestial Horses in this country.