Horses have a special place in Indian society. There are certain places in India where people worship horses. Because of this admiration and love for horses, the various breeds of horses in India have flourished and evolved into strong animals. Read about them in this article in detail.
Kathiawari
Kathiawari horse breed is related to the Kathiawar peninsula in Gujarat, a state in Western India. These are desert warhorses and have a very close resemblance to the Marwari horses and the Arabian horses. Known for being faithful and brave, these horses are growing more and more in popularity in India and all over the world.
- Height: 14.5 – 15.2 hands
- Weight: 600 – 750 pounds
Manipuri Pony
This is a crossbreed between the Arabian Horse and the Mongolian Wild Horse. It is found in the states of Manipur and Assam in northeastern India. They are extremely fast and strong.
- Height: 12 – 13 hands
- Weight: 400 – 500 pounds
Marwari
Originating from the Marwar region of Rajasthan in India, this horse breed is used by the Indian military forces in the border areas of Jodhpur and Jaipur in Rajasthan. They are genetically resembling the Kathiawari breed which comes from the same region.
- Height: 14 – 16 hands
- Weight: 750 – 1,000 pounds
Spiti
Spiti is a mountain horse found in the Himachal Pradesh in northern India. Its name is derived from the Spiti river which flows through various parts of the state. It is a small-statured breed with a compact body and strong features.
- Height: 11 – 12 hands
- Weight: 350 – 450 pounds
Zaniskari
This is a small mountain horse from Ladakh, a region in the northern part of India. Its name is derived from the Zanskar valley, a region in the Kargil district of Ladakh. It is very similar to the Spiti horses. One major difference is that unlike Spiti horses, it can survive in high altitude.
- Height: 11 – 12 hands
- Weight: 350 – 450 pounds
Bhutia
This beautiful horse breed has its origin from Sikkim and Darjeeling. They are very similar to the breeds that come from Mongolia. You can find these horses in gray or bay colors. They have shorter legs which make them suitable for mountains.
- Height: 12 – 13.2 hands
- Weight: 700 – 760 pounds
Chummarti
This horse breed is developed for surviving high altitudes and cold temperatures. They had their origin in the Chummarti valley in Tibet. They can be found in Himachal Pradesh and they have a lot in resemblance with Spiti horses.
- Height: 12 – 13 hands
- Weight: 350 – 450 pounds
Deccani
Found in the Deccan plateau in India, this horse breed is used as a farm horse and for other heavy tasks. They are very hard working.
- Height: 12 – 13 hands
- Weight: 350 – 450 pounds
Those were some of the most common horse breeds in India today. There are a lot of other horses that are not considered to be formal breeds. We will discuss about them in another article.
Frequently Asked Questions about Horse Breeds in India
Which is the best horse in India?
Most Popular Horse Breeds Found in India are Marwari Horse, Kathiawari Horse, Bhutia Horse, Spiti Horse, Zanskari, Manipuri Pony
How much does a Marwari horse cost?
In India, an adult pure-bred Marwari costs around $5500 to 15000. A foal’s price ranges from $1500-$3000.
How much does a horse cost per month in India?
The monthly maintenance of INR 15,000-20,000 includes stable costs and medication.
Is it legal to buy a horse in India?
Yes, it is legal to buy horses in India. As such, there are no laws preventing anyone from buying a horse anywhere in India.
Can Marwari horses do dressage?
Marwari horses are multipurpose and can do dressage, which is a lower-level form of the sport. They excel at endurance competitions but also have other uses like polo or trail riding in India.
Can I ride a horse on the road in India?
Horses and other animals are banned on roads, so it is illegal to ride your horse on the road in India. It is legal to ride your horse off-road, though!
How fast can a Marwari horse run?
The Marwari horse is known for its beauty and strength. In addition, it has a reputation of being the fastest breed in India, with some claiming they can run at speeds up to 40 mph.
Are horses native to India?
Wild horses used to roam the Indian plains. But since 9700 BCE, there have been no wild ones living in India. That’s because domestic horses arrived on this continent about 4500 years ago, according to some experts, or as early as 6200 BC by others—so that makes them natives of India.
How many horses are there in India?
Uttar Pradesh had the highest horse and pony population across India, at about 76 thousand in 2019. The other Indian states with high numbers of these animals were Jammu & Kashmir (63 thousand), Rajasthan (34 thousand) Bihar- (32 thousand).
What is the best male horse in Rajasthan?
The Marwari breed is one of the best male horse breeds in the world. They are known for their smartness, stamina, and endurance.
Why do Marwari horses have curled ears?
In general, long-eared breeds of horses are susceptible to fly maggots that nestle and feed on their ears. This is because the hair at the base of a Marwari’s ear naturally curls inwardly. This produces a snug fit that prevents slow lerp from entering.
Who introduced horses to India?
Few thousand years ago, the Indo-Aryans migrated to India and introduced horses. This made it so much easier for them to trade goods because they could use their new transportation faster than before!