The Marwari is an interesting, unique looking breed. Its long history dates back to the 1100's, making today’s breed an important part of Indian culture.

History

The Marwari breed originated in the Marwar region of India. It is believed that the Marwari is the result of Indian ponies which were crossed with Arabians. The Marwari was first bred in the 1100's by the Rathores, the people who ruled the Marwar region at that time. They used the Marwari as a cavalry mount, and prized the breed for its bravery and strength in battle.

The Rathores considered their horses to be divine, bred them selectively, and honed the traits that would make the Marwari horses valuable mounts in battle: loyalty, endurance, and the ability to withstand both extreme heat and cold.

By the 1900’s, though, the Marwari breed was endangered. India had been liberated, and the Marwari breed had lost the vital breeding support of the Rathores. As the British invaded India, they brought with them their preferred Thoroughbreds, viewing the Marwari horse as inferior. As Indian natives lost their farmlands and the role of the cavalry horse became obsolete, the Marwari declined in numbers and was in danger of going extinct.

In 1995, Francesca Kelly, a woman from Britain who sought to preserve the Marwari, began a group which she called Marwari Bloodlines. The Indigenous Horse Society of India, founded in 1999, furthered the effort to promote Indian horse breeds such as the Marwari. Slowly the breed gained popularity, its numbers increased, and the creation of breed standards improved the quality of the breeding programs.

The Breed Today

The Marwari today typically stands between 15 and 16 hands high. While the cavalry horses of the past were heavier, today’s Marwari horses are leaner and lighter, bred to produce a more versatile horse. The Marwari’s ears are characteristic: the tips of their ears curve inward, often touching each other in the middle, giving the breed an exotic look. Marwari horses come in all coat colors, and those horses with grey or pinto coats are highly valued.

Today the Marwari horse is used as a riding mount, as well as for light packing and farm work. These horses have a natural ambling gait, similar to a pace, and thanks to their endurance and stamina they make popular dressage and polo mounts.

If you've ever been lucky enough to see a Marwari horse, then you've had a glimpse into the past history of India.

Original Source: The Marwari