Lokai
Introduction: If you have any comments or suggestions, please click here.
Names: Lokai. Named for the tribe that originally bred it.
Origin: Bred in central and southern Tajikistan, the Lokai is classified as a saddle breed of Oriental lineage. The breed was developed by the horse-loving Uzbek Lokai tribe through improvement of local medium-sized horses using various Central Asian breeds, such as the Iomud and, to a lesser extent, the Akhal-Teke and the Karabair. Subsequently it was influenced by Arabian stallions brought from Bukhara.
Breeding: A new breed of saddlers is now being bred in Tajikistan by mating Lokai mares to Arabian and Thoroughbred stallions.
Description:
Back: Straight, wide, and short.
Chest: Deep and broad.
Color: Bay, grey, and chestnut are the most widespread colors.
Croup: Long, often sloping, and well muscled.
General: Not sufficiently uniform in type. Large horses often have coarse joints and general flabbiness.
Groin: Short.
Hair: The surface hairs are characteristically S-shaped.
Head: Short; sometimes coarse and bulky; sometimes lacking breed character.
Hooves: Hard.
Legs: Solid, but not always properly set; the forelegs are often splayed, and the hindlegs are often cow-hocked or bowed.
Loin: Prominent with well-developed muscles.
Neck: Medium in length, lean, often low set, with a prominent throat-latch.
Ribs: Rounded.
Size: The shortest in stature among the Central Asian
breeds, they can be larger if well cared for, as seen below. According to
the first measurements below, they average about 14 hands.
The average measurement (in centimeters) of Lokais
are: stallions - height at withers 145, oblique body length 145, chest girth
162, cannon bone girth 19; mares: 142, 144, 162 and 18 respectively. When
purebred Lokais were reared in good stable conditions, by the age of 2 1/2 years
they surpassed their contemporaries reared in taboons by 6 cm in height at
withers.
Withers: Medium in height and broad.
Temperament:
Features: Rich mountain pastures and selective breeding, based on natural aptitude for the rough, fast sport of "goat snatching," has produced tough, sure-footed horses. Lokai horses are characterized by good action and extreme hardiness. They have great endurance under saddle and pack and in national games, particularly in kok-par. They reach maturity late, but respond well to improved feeding and management
Uses: Equally useful for agriculture or harness, or for riding and toting packs on narrow, precipitous mountain trails. The Lokai stallions are in demand for improving other breeds in the south Tajikistan.
Accomplishments:
Curiosities:
Profiles:
Conclusion: