The Lokai Horse

Tajik rider

Tajiks playing polo like game with a headless goat carcass

Tajiks riders/horses

    The Lokai horse was bred by the tribe Lokai in the central and southwestern Tajikistan, mainly in the Tajikistan and Kunguz mountains and in the valleys of their rivers. The terrain is rocky, everywhere is the lack of fresh/sweet water, and even the rivers have for most part salty water. Horses get fresh water from very few wells with fresh water. The mountainsides are covered with mountain flora.

    The Lokai horse is a crossbreed of the Mongolian horse with the more refined Turkmen horse, Yomut, Achaltekin, Karabair and Arabian; the Mongolian elements are dominant in him. The height of the stallions is on the average 145 cm (14'1) and by the mares 142 cm (14 H); the length of the body is 143,5 – 145 cm. The circumference of the thorax is 161 – 162 cm, and of the “shin” is 18 – 19 cm. From the measurements this horse is obviously shorter with wide and deep chest, and with strong legs. Chitenkov is stating that these horses have well developed, long and wide pelvis, the head is wide, often “Roman head profile”. The neck is of normal length and the hind and front legs are often toed out. The Lokai horses are of various colors, grays, chestnuts and chestnut bays. Have roomy gates, going well in the gallop, but have short trot. They are late “bloomers” maturing in their fifth year.

    The Lokai horse is bred for versatile uses as a riding horse, as a packhorse (soumar), even as light draft horse.

    Assiduous at work, obedient and careful in crossing dangerous mountain terrains are very valuable characteristics that need to be preserved in pure breeding with his ability to adjust to the domestic climate/lifestyle.