Nisean Horse oil on gesso 24" x 30"
These were the horses from Nisa, the Parthian citadel close to Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. The ancient breed of Turkmen horses, the Ahal Teke as they have evolved over the centuries are bred by the Teke tribe in the Ahal oasis. Agile and brave cavalry mounts, they enabled the Parthians to withstand Alexander the Great's forces, thier superior cavalry defeated the Romans and eventually found thier way as prized booty of wars to Aleppo where they were imported to Europe in the seventeenth and eighteenth century to become the root stock of the English Thoroughbred Racing Horse.
Ahal Teke Mare with Ostriches oil on gesso 10" x 12"
The Ahal Osasis is a fertile region close to the Kopet Dagh mountains. Turkmens have dachas there where they breed horses and other farm animals, for example, these ostriches.
Sunchili and companion oil on gesso 10" x 12"
This golden horse was champion of breed in Ashgabat. I have painted him several times. In this picture he is depicted close to the Kopet Dagh mountains in the stony scrubland of the Karakum Desert.

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