Iomud
Encyclopedia
The Iomud is a light horse
breed that developed in Turkmenistan
as a natural descendant of the ancient Turkmene horses
. It is used for riding and light draft work, and is known for its endurance and ability to withstand desert
conditions.
, and descendant from the old Turkmenian horses. The Iomud was developed in southern Turkmenistan by the Iomud tribe in the Tashauz oasis. During the 14th century, Arabian
stallions were used to influence the breed. Over the centuries the breed has also been influenced by infusions of Kazakh, Mongolian, Turkmene, and more recently Akhal-Teke
blood.
In order to preserve the breed, stud farms were established in Turkmenistan in 1983 and given the responsibility of establishing a breeding nucleus of 240-250 mares, up from early 1980s numbers of 140. A conservation farm was also established in the Kyzyl-Atrek district of Turkmenistan.
, but can also be chestnut
, bay or black
. They have a light head with a straight or slightly convex profile, set on a well-formed, rather thick neck. The shoulders are sloping, the chest deep and the withers prominent. The back
is long and straight, usually with a slight depression towards the withers, and the croup
is sloping. The legs are muscular, with clean joints, clearly defined tendons, and strong, well-formed hooves.
The breed has been strongly influenced by the desert and semi-desert conditions in which it was developed. Their desert upbringing has resulted in breed that is adapted to an ecosystem there is little water available. This endurance, combined with their natural jumping abilities, has made them a horse that is well-suited to eventing
. The Iomud contributed significantly to the creation of the Lokai
breed in Tajikistan.
Horse
The horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today...
breed that developed in Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan , formerly also known as Turkmenia is one of the Turkic states in Central Asia. Until 1991, it was a constituent republic of the Soviet Union, the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic . Turkmenistan is one of the six independent Turkic states...
as a natural descendant of the ancient Turkmene horses
Turkoman Horse
The Turkoman horse, or Turkmene, was an Oriental horse breed from the steppes of Central Asia, now extinct. Modern descendants include the Akhal-Teke and the Yamud horse breeds. Horses bred in Turkmenistan are still referred to as Turkoman, and have similar characteristics...
. It is used for riding and light draft work, and is known for its endurance and ability to withstand desert
Desert
A desert is a landscape or region that receives an extremely low amount of precipitation, less than enough to support growth of most plants. Most deserts have an average annual precipitation of less than...
conditions.
Breed History
The Iomud is an ancient breed, closely related to the Akhal-TekeAkhal-Teke
The Akhal-Teke is a horse breed from Turkmenistan, where they are a national emblem. They are noted for their speed and for endurance on long marches. These "golden-horses" are adapted to severe climatic conditions and are thought to be one of the oldest surviving horse breeds...
, and descendant from the old Turkmenian horses. The Iomud was developed in southern Turkmenistan by the Iomud tribe in the Tashauz oasis. During the 14th century, Arabian
Arabian horse
The Arabian or Arab horse is a breed of horse that originated on the Arabian Peninsula. With a distinctive head shape and high tail carriage, the Arabian is one of the most easily recognizable horse breeds in the world. It is also one of the oldest breeds, with archaeological evidence of horses...
stallions were used to influence the breed. Over the centuries the breed has also been influenced by infusions of Kazakh, Mongolian, Turkmene, and more recently Akhal-Teke
Akhal-Teke
The Akhal-Teke is a horse breed from Turkmenistan, where they are a national emblem. They are noted for their speed and for endurance on long marches. These "golden-horses" are adapted to severe climatic conditions and are thought to be one of the oldest surviving horse breeds...
blood.
In order to preserve the breed, stud farms were established in Turkmenistan in 1983 and given the responsibility of establishing a breeding nucleus of 240-250 mares, up from early 1980s numbers of 140. A conservation farm was also established in the Kyzyl-Atrek district of Turkmenistan.
Breed Characteristics
The Iomud usually stands high, and is usually grayGray (horse)
Gray or grey is a coat color of horses characterized by progressive silvering of the colored hairs of the coat. Most gray horses have black skin and dark eyes; unlike many depigmentation genes, gray does not affect skin or eye color Their adult hair coat is white, dappled, or white intermingled...
, but can also be chestnut
Chestnut (coat)
Chestnut is a hair coat color of horses consisting of a reddish-to-brown coat with a mane and tail the same or lighter in color than the coat. Genetically and visually, chestnut is characterized by the absolute absence of true black hairs...
, bay or black
Black (horse)
Black is a hair coat color of horses in which the entire hair coat is black. Black is a relatively uncommon coat color, and novices frequently mistake dark chestnuts or bays for black. However, some breeds of horses, such as the Friesian horse, Murgese and Ariegeois are almost exclusively black...
. They have a light head with a straight or slightly convex profile, set on a well-formed, rather thick neck. The shoulders are sloping, the chest deep and the withers prominent. The back
Back (horse)
The back describes the area of horse anatomy where the saddle goes, and in popular usage extends to include the loin or lumbar region behind the thoracic vertebrae that also is crucial to a horse's weight-carrying ability. These two sections of the vertebral column beginning at the withers, the...
is long and straight, usually with a slight depression towards the withers, and the croup
Rump (animal)
The rump or croup, in the external morphology of an animal, is the portion of the posterior dorsum that is posterior to the loins and anterior to the tail. Anatomically, the rump corresponds to the sacrum....
is sloping. The legs are muscular, with clean joints, clearly defined tendons, and strong, well-formed hooves.
The breed has been strongly influenced by the desert and semi-desert conditions in which it was developed. Their desert upbringing has resulted in breed that is adapted to an ecosystem there is little water available. This endurance, combined with their natural jumping abilities, has made them a horse that is well-suited to eventing
Eventing
Eventing is an equestrian event comprising dressage, cross-country, and show jumping. This event has its roots in a comprehensive cavalry test requiring mastery of several types of riding...
. The Iomud contributed significantly to the creation of the Lokai
Lokai
The Lokai, a mountain horse bred in Tajikistan, is used as a riding horse, a packhorse, or even sometimes a light draft horse. Although small, the breed is agile and hardy...
breed in Tajikistan.