Photo by Artur Baboev

Explore the Akhal-Teke’s ancient heritage and modern versatility at the 2023 Annual ATAA Conference.

For more than 3,000 years the Akhal-Teke has been treasured for its great stamina, personable nature, intelligence, and unearthly grace. As a horse of legends, famed for their metallic coat, this versatile breed has carried its riders to success in warfare and even to Olympic Gold. Today, the Akhal-Teke can be found worldwide in every discipline that requires athleticism and a good mind.

About the Event

A Unique Educational Experience for Horse Owners and Horse Lovers!

Every year we host this special, public event where Akhal-Teke horse owners, breeders, and admirers can gather to learn more about this ancient breed and its modern community–the Annual ATAA Conference! This year the conference will be hosted in Fort Collins, Colorado on November 3rd to 5th, 2023. We offer a variety of guest speakers who will share their wealth of knowledge on unique equine topics, and we have a fantastic clinician joining us for in-hand and ridden learning opportunities.


Join us to learn and connect with horse people from local Colorado and the Akhal-Teke community of America. This event is for everyone who is an admirer of, owner of, breeder of, or simply curious about Akhal-Tekes and shares a love of horses! The Akhal-Teke is an intelligent and personable true partner breed, with an ancient heritage but versatile modern scope. Topics covered during this event will help owners and breeders of Akhal-Tekes, and of similarly smart and sensitive breeds, to better build a working relationship with their horse and to learn about progressive care for maintaining whole body wellness and achieving greater success together. All proceeds of this event help us continue to promote and preserve the rare Akhal-Teke horse breed, and to offer more educational opportunities in the future. Come discover the magic of the Akhal-Teke horse with us!


We kick off on Friday with a Meet-and-Greet in old town Fort Collins with complimentary food and drinks. A fantastic selection of local dinner spots awaits within walking distance for those looking to dine out afterwards. Saturday we start the day with a seminar series on human-horse healing, integrative equine therapies, progressive hoof care, and stallion services. See more about our speakers below. Lunch will be provided. Saturday afternoon we hold our annual General Membership Meeting to discuss news, updates, and happenings within the Akhal-Teke community where everyone is welcome, followed by our fundraising Silent Auction and Awards Ceremony Banquet with provided dinner. For Sunday attendees, the morning begins with a special demonstration of and discussion on the power of healing with horses led by Equine Gestalt Coach Elisabeth Denizot. Then our clinic with Amy and Steve LeSatz from Bridle-Bit Horsemanship will dive into what it means to build a partnership with your horse, how to build clear communication, and foster mutual understanding. A group groundwork session and individual 1-hour lessons are available to participate in with your own horse! Space is limited, so register now. Auditing is included with Sunday registration.

Ready to Register? Sign Up Here!

Schedule of Events

Friday in Old Town Fort Collins

Meet-and-Greet, 4PM-6PM

Saturday at Iris & Michael Smith Alumni Center, Colorado State University Alumni Association, Seminar Room II

4-Part Seminar Series, 9AM-1PM
Coffee and Tea Break, 11AM
Catered Lunch, 1PM-2PM
General Membership Meeting, 2PM
Silent Auction
Awards Banquet Dinner 6PM

Sunday at Phantom Hill Farm

The Healing Power of Horses Demonstration with Elisabeth Denizot, 8AM
Bridle-Bit Horsemanship Group Groundwork Session, 9AM
Bridle-Bit Horsemanship Individual Lessons, 10AM-4PM
Catered Lunch 12PM
Silent Auction

Our 2023 Guest Speakers

4-Part Seminar Series

B.W. Pickett and Adam-Atkinson Arena Classroom

Philip Himanka
Practitioner, Mentor, and Clinician of Progressive Hoof Care
Not Only Barefoot LLC. – Performance Equine Services, Hoof Care, and Booting
Website

Katrina Ardiel
Owner of Akhal Valley Farms
Professional Stallion Services – Collection, Semen Freezing and Shipping
info@akhalvalleyfarms.com

Kim Kizzier Sherrodd
Licensed Human & Animal Bodyworker
Creator and Director of The School of Applied Integrative Therapy – Equine (School AIT)
Website

Elisabeth Denizot
Equine Gestalt Coaching
Nuturing Strides, Horse-Human Healing
Website

Our 2023 Clinician

Bridle-Bit Horsemanship

Groundwork and Ridden Participant Slots Available for Registration
at Phantom Hill Farm

Married for almost 40 years with three grown kids, Steve and Amy LeSatz have spent what seems like a lifetime working with horses and the people that love them. Amy grew up on a Wyoming ranch and began riding when just a little kid. Steve grew up in town and didn’t begin his horse and ranching career until much later. They both met Ray Hunt when he was still giving clinics around the country. Ray offered his horses something that both Steve and Amy knew they needed. They’ve been pursuing it ever since.

Currently they reside between Wellington, CO and Cheyenne, WY on a small ranch where they keep horses, raise cattle, give riding lessons, ride horses for the public, teach clinics about horsemanship, trail riding, and cattle work and have a ranch to table beef business. It keeps them busy. Busy enough that their youngest son, Ben, has stuck around to keep the ranch looking good.

Working with lots of horses over the years has given Amy and Steve an opportunity to develop a sense of what a horse may need.Working with lots of people over the years has given them a sense of what a person may need to concentrate on to get the results they are seeking with their horse. Understanding how the horse thinks, moves, and reacts helps the student of the horse better prepare and respond to their horse. Refining the communication between horse and rider based on that understanding allows the rider to get more from their horse by doing less. Being a horseman is a lifelong learning journey. Amy and Steve continue to be students of the horse and love the journey of discovery they are on. They look forward to sharing what they believe helps horses and students of horses become better partners to enjoy their journey together.

Visit the Bridle-Bit Horsemanship Website

The Healing Power of Horses

with Elizabeth Denizot of Nuturing Strides

The Silent Auction

We are looking for auction item donations, of which all proceeds go to support our mission of promoting and preserving the Akhal-Teke horse while offering educational opportunities like this event. If you have any nice Akhal-Teke or horse related items you would like to donate to our silent auction, please email a description/photo to support@akhal-teke.org. All items will need to be brought to the event by 6PM November 3rd or delivered to Yorke McGillivray at 3225 South Danube Street, Aurora, CO, 80013 by November 1st, 2023.

Bring Your Akhal-Teke or Akhal-Teke Cross!

This annual gathering is a wonderful opportunity for people unfamiliar with the Akhal-Teke to meet representatives of the breed. We joyfully welcome your Akhal-Teke or Akhal-Teke cross to join us for the conference, participate in the clinic, and act as an ambassador for the breed. Boarding has graciously been offered by Phantom Hill Farm where our Sunday events will be held (7808 S. Lemay, Fort Collins, CO 80525). Horses are required to have a recent coggins test and vaccines/worming up to date. Contact Yorke McGillivray via phone/text at 480-234-0000 or email us at support@akhal-teke.org for more information and to make a reservation.

Register for the 2023 Annual ATAA Conference

2023 Annual ATAA Conference Limited Edition Products

As part of our continued efforts to partner with Akhal-Teke artists around the world, we are honored to feature Akhal-Teke fine art by talented Romanian artist Ruxandra Ionce for this year’s conference. The design is adapted from one of Ruxandra’s original ink works, “Monograph of the Akhal-Teke”, depicting a trotting Akhal-Teke stallion with gleaming coat and a great sun behind him. Ruxandra has been captivated by the surreal elegance of the Akhal-Teke horse since childhood. She strives to share her love for the breed through her art with delicate attention to form and an exquisite eye for timeless beauty. Visit Ruxandra Ionce’s website ClassicalOdyssey.com to see more about her works.

All proceeds help us continue to share the magic of the Akhal-Teke horse through promotion efforts and preservation strategies.