Lokai

Found in the region of Tajikistan, Russia, the Lokai falls between the definition of horse and pony. Its height averages 14.3 hh, technically putting it into the horse bracket, but invariably they are smaller than this. Their characteristics tend to be more horse-like, especially around the head. They are mountain-bred from 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 developed by the nomadic Uzbek-Lokai people.

The Lokai was based on the local steppe horses which were improved by infusions of Arab, Karabair and Iomud blood as well as some Akhal-Teke and Turkmene. In recent years, Thoroughbred and Tersk blood has been introduced. They are often kept in herds out at pasture all year round, which has helped develop  extremely tough and enduring small horses. They are fairly quick and are regularly performance tested on the racetracks at Dushanbe and Tashkent as youngsters. 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 endurance riding.

Some Lokai 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 to find out more about the curly coat gene. Generally the Lokai have excellent temperaments being quiet and willing, and also have great stamina and endurance.

In appearance, they have a plain head with a straight profile set to a short and muscular neck. The shoulders are reasonably sloping, with a broad and deep chest, wide withers, a short compact back, and muscular hindquarters. They tend to have strong legs often have conformational defects such as cowhocks and splayed front feet, which do not appear to unduly affect the horse. They vary in color from chestnut, gray, and bay, to occasionally black or palomino,

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