To do so he imported large numbers of horses from western Asian countries to use on the local Tibetan stock. Chief among the breeds influencing the Hequ were animals imported from Dawan. Dawan was the ancient Chinese name for the kingdom that included Fergana, home of the Akhal-Teke breed. The Hequ breed's native area is at 11,000 feet in altitude where temperatures are low but the climate is temperate and moist during the summer. Mares mature at two years of age and are usually bred at three.
Mares sometimes produce twelve to thirteen foals during their lifetime.
The breed is classified as a draft-riding animal, solid but coarsely built. The Hequ may be black, brown or grey. There are three varieties of Hequ horses. The Jiaode type is found mainly in the southern parts of Gansu province. These horses are rougher in constitution and have a larger, courser head.