Name: Moskau (Pronounced Moscow)

Gender: Stallion

Breed: Akhal Teke

Color: Solid Seal Brown/Black. He fades to Seal Brown in the sun.

Height:  17.1 hh

Age: ??? He's a very seasoned stallion...

Linage

His sire and dam where both Turkmenistan bred Akhal Tekes. His sire was an endurance race regional champion.

Misc.

He has many mares in his herd. Gasolina is his lead mare, but their relationship differs from those in most herds. He speaks with a prominent Russian accent.

Personality:

Moskau thinks he’s got it all figured out. He believes that finding the best mares- and passing on his genetics are what his life should mostly consist of. It's not all about the number of mares he covers, it’s about finding 4-5 good ones, thus- he has set off to do so. This stallion won't be seduced by a mare; he much prefers to work his charms on her-just as he thinks it should be. He isn’t going to be a mare’s boyfriend or gentlemen caller; he’s going to be their stallion.

He's a bit rugged as he's seen a few years on the harsh plains- burning days and freezing nights all add to his experience and pride. He's not too prideful (as far as stallions go) but he has a bit of an ego. He wouldn't fight a mare (chauvinist that he is, he thinks of them as weaker) but if another stallion starts to bug him, he won't be hesitant to let them know when to back off. He is a bit harsh in terms of punishment, but with a territory and herd his size, he has to be. He has a lot to maintain.

History:

It is believed that he stemmed from a desert herd kept in Turkmenistan, but he must have gotten lost somehow in the importation process when the owners shipped their horses in the long voyage from Russia to the USA. He was built to survive, as most desert bred horses are, so the US west had little to challenge him with. He tried to run a Mustang herd when he was about 4 with but it was soon disbanded due to his inexperience. This experience may have left him a bit more insecure than he’d be willing to admit.  

He grew to be a formidable adversary to wild herds, and would run off with a mare or two. Those mares often would return to their original herds the following year- with his foal alongside them. These were the early days. He soon began to establish more long term relationships with his mares, and formed a more permanent herd. Some weaker stallions even joined in; to help him keep track of his expanding herd. He has a special preference for domesticated horses, so a US Cavalry horse in his herd isn’t an uncommon occurrence. Many of the horses freed by Spirit ended up in his herd. Spirit’s herd holds little interest to him, and Moskau has never actually seen it for himself, but he’s heard quite a bit about it.

 He has an on and off relationship with his lead mare: Gasolina. She’s a hot tempered mare and doesn’t hesitate to argue with him. He lets her roam as he does in terms of courting, which is very odd. But he didn’t choose her to be lead mare because he liked her best, he chose her because she is best at it. They disagree often. But she helps him maintain his large herd and territory and make sure the herd is safe and content. His herd is an excellent refuge for runaways because of its size and security.