# Adaev (horse)

The Adai (Kazakh: "Адай жылқысы", Russian: Адаевская лошадь) is a horse breed utilized for riding and light draft work. It is indigenous to the desert regions of south-west of Kazakhstan and represents one of the two types of the Kazakh breed, along with the Jabe. The Adai is generally finer and less hardy than the Jabe, categorized as an "Oriental Turk" type. This breed is primarily employed in local equestrian sports and herding activities, and mares are also milked for their milk. While the Adai is occasionally slaughtered for its meat, this serves as a secondary purpose. Although relatively unknown outside its native region, the Adai has spread to neighboring Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, with a population of nearly 29,000 horses reported in 1990.

## History

The Adai, also known as Adaev and in Russian as Adaevskaya lochad, derives its name from the Adaï (Адай) military tribe, which has significance in Central Asian history.
The Adai may have been influenced by the Turkoman horse and has more recently experienced the influence of the Don horse, the Thoroughbred, and the Orlov trotter. The breed has suffered a population decline due to uncontrolled crossbreeding. At the end of the 20th century, a breeding program was set up to improve the quality of the herd, notably by increasing the size and fertility of the horses, through the provision of feed and the establishment of pedigrees. This "improver" breeding became established in the Guryev region.
In 2011, state tests were conducted on Adai horses at the Akbastau border in the Mañğıstaw oblys. From thousands of representatives of the breed, thirty-six horses deemed the most exemplary were selected to participate in the tests, which required them to cover 90 kilometers in a single day. Throughout the journey, jury members and veterinarians monitored the horses' health by measuring blood pressure, pulse, and degree of perspiration at every 15-kilometer interval.

## Description

The Adai is classified as a steppe horse and is locally regarded as a type of the Kazakh breed, adapted for riding rather than being considered a distinct breed. It is more distantly related to the original Kazakh horse than the Jabe and is categorized zootechnically within the Turkoman horse group, characterized as an "Eastern Turk" type due to its crossbreeding with Turkoman horses.
There are three types of Adai: massive, medium, and light. Overall, the model is rather light, with a dry constitution. Height ranges from 1.32 m to 1.43 m according to Hendricks (2007); 1.32 m to 1.44 m according to CAB International (2016); 1.36 m to 1.40 m according to the Great Soviet Encyclopedia and the Delachaux guide. Average weight is 360 kg for females and 370 kg for males, according to the DAD-IS database. The foal weighs between 39 and 50 kg at birth; growth lasts 5 years on average, and is strongest during the first six months of life.
The head is often Roman in profile, slender and light, with bright, wide-set eyes. Ears are straight and agile. The neck is long and fine, straight and set fairly high. The withers are well defined and prominent, the back generally straight. The topline is of good quality, the body deep and the ribs rounded. The croup is often swollen, but well muscled. The hind legs are of good quality, with well-developed joints and visible tendons. The skin is dense, and the coat grows thickly in winter. Some poorly bred or deficient horses have narrow chests and few bones.
Coat colors can be very varied, from bay to chestnut, black, gray, roan and palomino.
Adai horses are typically raised in herds, known as taboons, and are well adapted to the environmental conditions of the deserts of southern Kazakhstan. Their ability to withstand extreme breeding conditions and their overall endurance are recognized, though they are less resilient than the Kazakh and Jabe breeds. Fattening capacity during the summer months has been documented, with average daily weight gains for one-year-old foals ranging from 916 grams in May-June to 667 grams in October-November, while two-year-old foals show gains of 870 to 711 grams and adult females between 750 and 600 grams.
The breed is recognized for its high fertility, exceeding 90%. Mares start breeding at the age of two, and foals are usually born in April and May.
Some Adais have additional gaits. The best Adais are agile and have light gaits. The stride is rather short, with some elevation of the forelegs. Additionally, Adai horses are known for their gentle temperament and quick attachment to their riders.

## Uses

The Adai is primarily utilized in local equestrian sports, being better suited for riding than the Jabe, although it can also be harnessed for light draft work. The horse's pulling power is limited, but still considerable in relation to its size and weight.
These horses are also used to work cattle and guard sheep herds.
They are also slaughtered for their meat, a purpose that mainly concerns the massive type of the breed, as the meat yield of Adais is generally low.
Mares, on the other hand, are recognized for their milk production, which is processed into kumis, with an estimated yield of 11 to 14 liters of milk per day. The Adai has been used in crossbreeding with the neighboring Jabe breed.

## Distribution

The Adai is classified as a regional Asian breed, with its habitat situated between the Caspian Sea and the Aral Sea, historically corresponding to desert plains within the Mañğıstaw oblys administrative region. In 1985, around 27,000 horses were counted. A highly accurate population count was carried out in 1990, counting 28,949 Adai horses in Kazakhstan, with a trend towards stability. There were also 772 Adai stallions in operation that year, with 12,772 breeding mares, 44 of them purebred. In 2006, the Adai was considered one of the two most widespread horse breeds in Kazakhstan, along with the Jabe.
It is little known outside its native area.