6 Most Popular Horse Breeds Found in India
Four Indian horse breeds Bhutia, Manipuri, Spiti and Zaniskari are belong to separate group, while Marwari and Kathiawari are crossed with Arabian horses and influenced by the Mongolian horse.
Thoroughbreds and Arabian horses were crossed with native Indian ponies with some Mongolian influence. Polo ponies horses are used for the game of polo and crossed with Manipur ponies and mountain ponies.
Marwari Horse – Marwar Region of Rajasthan
Marwari horse is a rare breed from the Marwar region Rajasthan state and very easy to recognize by inward turning ear tips. Marwari Horse and Kathiawari Horse are quite similar in appearance and used by Indian military in the Jodhpur and Jaipur areas of Rajasthan.
Kathiawari Horse – Kathiawar Peninsula of Gujarat
Kathiawari horse from the Kathiawar peninsula of the Saurashtra region in Gujarat are desert war horse and closely related to the Marwari horses of Rajasthan. They are now used as a police horse in India, by the Indian Army and also used as a war horse and cavalry mount.
Bhutia Horse – Sikkim
Bhutia horse breed from Sikkim and Darjeeling have similarity to Mongolian and Tibetan horse breeds. The small mountain horse also found in the Himalayan regions of Nepal and Bhutan.
Spiti Horse – Himachal Pradesh
Spiti horse is a mountain horse or pony type from the Himalaya range of Spiti valley. The Spiti are mountain horse and well adapted to very high altitudes of Himalaya.
Zanskari – Jammu and Kashmir
Zaniskari are small mountain horse from Zanskar valley and very much similar to Spiti breed horse breed of Himachal Pradesh. The Zaniskari are strong and adapted to the high altitudes and challenging conditions of Ladakh.
Manipuri Pony – Manipur
Manipuri Pony was a cross between Mongolian Wild Horse and the Arabian Horse, now bred mainly for racing and playing polo in India. The Polo game was introduced into the area of Manipur state and ponies are also used to play sagol kangjei.
Three other breeds of horse found in India also include Deccani, Chummarti and Sikang, Current status shows on the verge of extinction.
– Foreign Horse Breeds Available in India-
The exotic horse breed found in India are Arabian horse, Thoroughbred from England, Waler horse from Australia,Gypsy horse from Ireland, Malopolski Polish horse breed, Connemara pony from Ireland and Haflinger breed of horse developed in Austria.
Arabian Horse – Arabian Peninsula
Arabian horse is the most popular horse breeds in the world, originated on the Arabian Peninsula. The Arabian horses from the Middle East are well known for speed, endurance and strong bone.
Thoroughbred – England
Thoroughbred is the most popular racing horse breed available in India, known for speed and spirit. The Thoroughbred also used for polo in India, show jumping and are considered hot blooded horses.
Gypsy Horse – British Isles
Gypsy horse from the British Isles are strong and muscular horse, used to pull the tradesman’s cart. The breed also known as the Irish Cob and traded at Appleby Horse Fair in Europe.
Waler Horse – Australia
Waler horse from Australia is a breed of riding horse used for cavalry duties by Indian Army. Australian waler horses was a trade to the British Indian Army.
Malopolski Horse – Poland
Malopolski Polish horse breed from Poland is versatile breed. They were also crossed with Thoroughbreds and Arabians as well as with Bhutia horse of India.
Haflinger Horse – Austria
Haflinger horse developed in Austria and Italy, have distinctive gaits. They were used in equestrian sports, endurance riding and dressage.
Breton Horse – France
Breton horse breed from France were used in India to produce mules. Equine Breeding Stud at Saharanpur and Babugarh in Uttar Pradesh were used for cross breeding with Thoroughbred and Arabian Horse.
Indian Half Bred – Polo Pony
Indian Half bred from the subcontinent of India are cross breed of Thoroughbred stallions and other various types of local and imported horses such as Arab horses, Waler horse, Malopolski, Criollo horse and Breton horse.
