- Lokai -

Found in the region of Tajikistan, Russia, the Lokai falls somewhere between the definition of a horse and a pony.  Its height averages 14.3 hands high, technically putting it in the horse bracket, although they are usually smaller than this.  Their characteristics are usually more horse-like, especially around the head. They were bred in the mountains of Central Asia and are exceptionally strong and sturdy. They can be used for a variety of purposes from being a pack animal, to working the land, or for riding. It is believed that they date back to around the 16th century when the breed was first developed by the Uzbek-Lokai people.

The Lokai was based on the the local steppe horses, which were improved by infusions of Arabian, Karabair, and Iomud blood, as well as some from the Akhal-Teke and the Turkmene. In recent years, though, Thoroughbred and Tersk blood has been introduced. They are often kept in herds out at pasture all year round, which had helped in developing them into extremely tough and enduring small horses.

They are pretty quick and are regularly performance tested on the racetracks at Dushanbe and Tashkent when they are young. They are also widely used in the hair-raising game of Kokpar, which requires speed and agility as the riders fight over possession of a dead goat carcass, as well as becoming popular horses for use in the sport of endurance riding.

Some of the Lokai horses have a particularly curly coat which can be traced to the stallion Farfor, a curly-coated sorrel who was used for breeding from 1955 to 1970. There are currently experimental breeding projects going on to find out more about the curly  coat gene. Generally, the Lokai have excellent temperaments. They are quiet and willing and also have a great deal of stamina and endurance.

In appearance, they have a plain head with a straight profile set to a short and muscular neck. Their shoulders are reasonably sloping, with a deep, broad chest, wide withers, a short, compact back, and very muscular quarters. They tend to have strong legs with well-defined tendons, although the les often have conformational defects such as cow hocks and splayed front feet, which do not appear to have any undue affect on the horse. They vary in color from chestnut, bay, and gray to the occasional palomino or black.

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