Marwari or Malani is a rare type of horse from the Marwar (or Jodhpur) region of India. Known for the inner ear that goes in, it comes in all horse colors, although the pinto patterns tend to be most popular with buyers and breeders. It is known for its resilience, and is very similar to Kathiawari, another Indian descendant of the southwestern Kathiawar region of Marwar. Many breed members show a natural gait. Marwari is a descendant of a native Indian horse crossed with an Arabian horse, perhaps with some Mongolian influence.
The Rathores, the traditional ruler of the Marwar region in western India, were the first to cultivate Marwari. Beginning in the 12th century, they support strict breeding that promotes purity and resilience. Used during history as a cavalry horse by people from the Marwar region, Marwari is renowned for his loyalty and bravery in battle. This breed worsened in the 1930s, when poor management practices resulted in a reduction in nursery stock, but today has regained some of its popularity. The Marwari is used for light work and agriculture, as well as riding and packing. In 1995, a breeding community was formed for Marwari in India. Marwaris exports were banned for decades, but between 2000 and 2006, small amounts of exports were allowed. Since 2008, visas allowing Marwaris temporary travel outside of India have been available in small quantities.
Video Marwari horse
Characteristics
The Marwari average between 14.2 and 15.2 hands (58 and 62 inches, 147 and 157 cm) high. Horses from various parts of India tend to have different heights, with breeds that have an outer range of 14 to 16 hands (56 to 64 inches, 142 to 163 cm) tall. They can bay, gray, brown, palomino, sulfur, or skewbald. Although white horses were raised especially for the use of religion in India, they were generally not accepted in Marwari's stud book. The gray horse is considered to be profitable and tends to be the most valuable, with the second most favored piebald and skewbald horses. Black horses are considered unlucky, because the color is a symbol of death and darkness. Horses that have white marks of fire and four white socks are considered lucky.
The face profile is straight or slightly Roman, and the ears are medium size and curved inward so the ends meet; also, Marwari horse can rotate his ears 180Ã,º. The neck is arched and carried high, running to the spoken messenger, with a deep chest and shoulders that are muscular, wide, and angled. Marwaris generally have long croup back and tilt. The legs tend to be slim and nails small but well formed. Breed members are a formidable and easy caretaker, but they can also be a tenacious and unpredictable temperament. They are very similar to the Kathiawari horses, another type of Indian, having much of the same history and physical features. The main difference between Marwari and Kathiawari is their original geographical origin - Marwaris comes primarily from the Marwar region while Kathiawaris comes from the Kathiawar peninsula. Kathawaris have inward ears, short backs, and necks that are straight and slender and more like Arabs, but they are pure in offspring. Kathiawaris slightly smaller than Marwaris in general.
The Marwari often shows a natural, near-speed approach, called revaal , aphcal , or a reincarnation . Hair whorls and placement are important for Marwaris breeders. Horses with long circles in the neck are called devman and are considered lucky, while horses with circles under their eyes are called anusudhal and unpopular with buyers. Whorls on fetlocks are thought to bring victory. The horses are expected to have the correct proportions, based on the width of the finger, which is said to be equal to five grains of barley. For example, the face length should be between 28 and 40 fingers, and the length of the poll to the dock should be four times the length of the face.
Maps Marwari horse
History
Marwari is a descendant of a native Indian horse crossed with an Arabian horse. The pitch is small and tough, but with poor conformation; the influence of Arab blood improves the appearance without sacrificing the hardiness. The Arabs might land on a crushed cargo ship off the west coast of India. The legend in India states that the Arab ship, which contains seven Arabian horses from good breeding, washed ashore off the Kachchh District. The horses were then taken to the Marwar district and used as a blood storage for Marwari. There is also the possibility of some Mongolian influence from the north. This breed probably originated from northwest India on the Afghan border, as well as in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, and takes its name from the Marwar region (also called Jodhpur region) in India.
The Rathores, the ruler of Marwar and the successful Rajput cavalry, are traditional Marwari breeders. The Rathores were forced from their Kingdom of Kanauj in 1193, and retired to the Great Desert of India and Thar. The Marwari are vital to their survival, and during the 12th century they follow a rigorous selective breeding process, keeping the best horses for the use of their subjects. During this time, horses are considered divine beings, and sometimes they are only allowed to be driven by members of the Rajput family and the warrior warrior caste. When the Moguls captured northern India in the early 16th century they brought Turkoman horses that might be used to complement Marwari's breeding. Marwaris is famous during this period because of their courage and bravery in battle, as well as their loyalty to their riders. During the late 16th century, the Rajputs of Marwar, under the leadership of Emperor Moghul Akbar, formed a cavalry force of over 50,000 strong. The Rathores believe that Marwari's horse can only leave the battlefield under one of three conditions - victory, death, or bringing the injured lord to salvation. The horses are trained to be very responsive in battlefield conditions, and are trained in elaborate driving maneuvers. More than 300 years later, during the First World War, Marwar's men under Sir Pratap Singh helped England.
1900 to this day
The period of Raj Britain accelerated the destruction of Marwari, as did India's ultimate independence. The British colonists favored other types, and tried to get rid of Marwari, along with Kathiawari. Instead, the British preferred perfect horses and polo ponies, and reduced Marwari's reputation to the point where even the inwardly turned ears of the breed were mocked as "indigenous horse signs". During the 1930s Marwari deteriorated, with less stock breeding and becoming a worse quality due to poor breeding practices. Indian independence, along with the obsolescence of warriors on horses, caused a declining need for Marwari and many animals that were later killed. In the 1950s many Indian nobles lost their land and therefore much of their ability to care for animals, so many Marwari horses were sold as horses, castrated, or killed. This breed was on the verge of extinction until Maharaja Umaid Singhji's intervention in the first half of the 20th century saved Marwari. His work was done by his grandson, Maharaja Gaj Singh II.
An English horseman named Francesca Kelly founded a group called Marwari Bloodlines in 1995, with the aim of promoting and preserving Marwari horses around the world. In 1999 Kelly and Raghuvendra Singh Dundlod, the descendants of the Indian nobility, led the group that founded the Indigenous Horse Society of India (where the Marwari Horse Society is a part), a group that works with governments, breeders, and communities. to promote and conserve breeds. Kelly and Dunlod also entered and won a resilience race in India's national equestrian race, convincing the Equestrian Federation of India to impose sanctions on the nation's first indigenous horse performances - the first in the country. The couple worked with other experts from the Indigenous Horse Society to develop the first breed standards.
The Indian government initially banned the export of indigenous horse breeds, though not polo ponies or Thoroughbreds, in 1952. This ban was partially repealed in 1999, when small numbers of indigenous horses could be exported after receiving a special license. Kelly imported the first Marwari horse to the United States in 2000. Over the next seven years, 21 horses were exported, until, in 2006, the license ceased granted on concern that the native breeding population is being threatened. One of the last Marwaris to be exported was the first to be imported to Europe, in 2006, when horses were given to the French Horse Life Museum. In 2008, the Indian government began licensing for "temporary exports" up to a year, to allow horses to be exhibited in other countries. This is in response to breeders and breed communities, who feel they are not given a fair chance to show off their animals.
In late 2007 a plan was announced to create a stud book to breed, a collaborative effort between the Marwari Horse Society of India and the Indian government. The registration process began in 2009, when it was announced that the Marwari Horse Club had become a government agency, the only official government registration agency for Marwari's horse. The registration process includes a horse evaluation of breed standards, where unique identification and physical dimensions are recorded. After evaluation, the horse was branded cold with registration number and photographed. In late 2009, the Indian government announced that Marwari's horse, along with other Indian horse races, would be commemorated on a set of stamps issued by the country.
Genetic studies
As a direct result of indiscriminate breeding practices, in 2001 only a few thousand Marwaris races were alive. Research studies have been conducted to test Marwari's genetics and its relationship to other Indian and non-Indian horse races. Six different breeds have been identified in India: Marwari, Kathiawari, Spiti pony, Bhutia horse, Manipuri Pony, and Zanskari. These six are different from each other in terms of unique performance characteristics and different agroclimac conditions in different parts of India where they originate. A 2005 study was conducted to identify genetic congestion in Marwari. The study found that, in the DNA of the tested horses, there is no evidence of genetic barriers in the history of the breed. However, as the population has declined rapidly in recent decades, bottlenecks may have occurred that were not identified in this study. In 2007, a study was conducted to assess genetic variation among all Indian horse breeds except Kathiawari. Based on microsatellite DNA analysis, Marwari was found to be the most genetically different breed of the five studied, and farthest from Manipuri; none of the breeds were found to have a genetic relationship close to the Thoroughbred. The Marwari is distinguished from other breeds in terms of both physical characteristics (especially high) and environmental adaptability. Physical differences are associated with different ancestors: Marwari is closely related to Arabian horses, while four other offspring are thought to have come from Tibetan ponies.
Usage
The Marwari is mainly kept for the show, horse safari, sport, ceremonial & amp; religious purposes, and during the early days of the war. Marwaris is often crossed with Thoroughbreds to produce larger horses with more flexibility. Despite the fact that these breeds are native to the country, Indian military cavalry units do not use horses much, although they are popular in the Jodhpur and Jaipur areas of Rajasthan, India. They are perfect for clothing, partly because of the natural tendency to perform. Marwaris is also used to playing polo, sometimes playing against Thoroughbreds. In Marwari's descendants is a strain known as Natchni, which is believed by local people to be "born to dance". Decorated with silver, gems, and bells, these horses are trained to perform complex moves and jumps at many ceremonies, including weddings. Although the Natchni strains have become extinct today, the horses trained in those skills are still in demand in rural India.
References
Further reading
-
Kelly, Francesca & amp; Durfee, Dale (2000). Marwari: Indian Horse Legend . New Delhi: Prakash Book Depot. ISBNÃ, 81-7234-032-X. .
External links
- Indian Indigenous Horse Society
- The Marwari Bloodlines website
- Marwari/Kathiawari Horse UK friends, UK chapter IHSI
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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