Allegra Steck, President, email: allegra.steck@gmail.com
Owner of Central Asian Equines in Buena Vista, VA, breeding purebred and part-bred Akhal-Teke and Caspian horses. Discovered the breed in 1987, I managed the first Akhal-Teke stud based in the United States and have been actively breeding and competing Akhal-Tekes since that time. Our goal is to produce national-caliber competition Akhal-Tekes in the FEI disciplines while continuing to support breed preservation and genetic diversity.
Anne-Marie Rasch, Vice President, email: info@freedomrunfarm.com
Owner of Freedom Run Farms in South East MI. I have been in love and involved with horses for as long as I can remember. My passion is for the sport of Eventing although I have ridden and competed in many disciplines including Dressage, Hunter/Jumper, Saddle Seat and Stock Seat. My love of eventing brought me to the Akhal-Teke breed. It was time to retire my fantastic Thoroughbred Gelding Ben and my wonderful husband came up with the idea to look into the Akhal-Teke, he thought they were the ultimate sport horse. So one year later we imported 6 purebred Akhal-Teke horses from Akhalt-Service Stud Farm in Russia, and he was right, they are the most wonderful sport horses they are very passionate and loving and their sports ability is unmatched.
Mindy Beebe, Newsletter Editor and Conference Organizer , email: mindy.beebe@gmail.com
I was first introduced to Akhal-Tekes the summer of 1988, I think - it was so long ago, when I did a summer internship with Allegra Steck at Shenandoah Farm in Virginia. I found the breed to be fascinating and then in November 2002 I acquired Ginseng (Gindarkh 13 x Jamais Se Rendre (Selle Francais)). He has been a great ambassador for the breed for the breed and is a barn favorite for his personality and talent. This is my first endeavor working with an Akhal-Teke association but am looking forward to promoting the breed and working with other fans of the breed
Jacque Munn, Special Project Coordinator, email: jacquemunn@aol.com
Owner of Oasis Akhal-Tekes breeding purebred & part-bred Akhal-Tekes. My first exposure to the Akhal-Teke came in the form of a single photo in a 1974 horse calendar I purchased while living in Germany. Since my interest was piqued by the uniquely beautiful qualities of the horse pictured in the calendar, I searched for information but was unable to determine anything more than the breed. Several years later, in 1979, I found a small article in EQUUS magazine that chronicled efforts to import the first Akhal-Tekes into the United States. Nothing more was heard about the breed from that point until late 1996 when another article, this time in SPUR magazine made it possible for me to attend the 1997 Akhal-Teke conference in Staunton, VA. Several years were spent afterward learning as much as possible about the breed through the contacts made at the conference and a thirty year dream was finally realized in 2002 with the purchase of my first purebred Akhal-Teke in the form of a weanling filly. That purchase was followed in 2006 by the purchase of two more purebred
Lyn Busacca, Marketing & Public Relations and Membership Coordinator, email: nyakhalteke@yahoo.com
owner of Cypress Grove Akhal-Tekes in Poughkeepsie, NY. I became acquainted with Akhal-Tekes in early 1987, when I took care of a group of more than 40 on a ranch in northern Colorado after the sudden death of their owner, Eberhard Sprandel. Eberhard had begun importing Akhal-Tekes to the U.S. in the early 1980's, including purebred stallions Asal, Madras, Melechan, and Arik and dams Forgona, Pelenli, Gavan, Marishka, and Marenka. I had worked with numerous other horse breeds, but while taking care of this group of over 25 mares and foals, and the 15 stallions and colts, the Akhal-Tekes captured my heart. I moved to New York state in late 1989 and spent most of my time working in New York's racing Thoroughbred industry, but also bred and raised several Akhal-Teke foals- which I couldn't bear to sell! I have purchased several other Akhal-Tekes since which I train and show. For three years I have published the "Friends of the Akhal-Teke" news page in the Equine Journal magazine, as a source of breed news and information, as a service to Akhal-Teke owners, and to help promote the breed.
Terri Fender, at large, email: tteke@connections-etc.net
Owner of Shah‘Zadeh Akhal-Tekes in Osakis, MN. I got involved with Tekes after reading a magazine article that discussed Akhal-Tekes, rare genetics and endangered breeds. I acquired my first Akhal-Teke, Martina, in 1999 and since then have been breeding promoting and selling Tekes
