Lokai Horse

The Lokai horse breed is a breed from Tajikistan that exists in an area that has forest, hills and grass steppes. The breed has changed little over the centuries and the horses are still milked as was done when the peoples were nomadic.

The Lokaihasten is a typical mountain horse being sure-footed and sturdy.

The Lokaihasten breed was developed during the 1500s by the lokaifolket, an Uzbek tribe, when they moved Eastward, from the Aral Sea beaches.

Originally the breed was a mixture of the Central Asian blood, which was improved by breeding with an ancient Persian horse called the Iomud Karabairhasten and also from Uzbekistan.

After the Russian Revolution of 1917 the Soviets encouraged the breeding of local horse breeds, adapted to the environment and the economy. The breed was cross bred with other breeds using the Terskhastar, the Akhal-Teke and the noble breeds of the Arabian and English thoroughbred.

The Lokaihasten is a very important asset to many local tribes in Tajikistan and is used in many different areas including transport, harness, farming and as a riding horse.

The Lokaihasten is also popular as a mount in a game common in the area called “Buzkashi”, where men on horseback fight over a dead goat.

The Lokaihasten are tough and hardy, with very hard hooves. The herds are outside all year round and moved in spring up to the mountains.

Then Lokaihastarna are mountain horses, and they are sure-footed even in rough terrain.