Marwari Horse brings glory to Rajasthan


Rajendra Bora

Jaipur. The world’s largest sculpture of a horse head, created by acclaimed sculptor Nic Fidian-Green in England, has made Rajasthan proud.

The 25 ft long bronze, created for a wealthy Gloucestershire couple, is an image of Marwari horse, an indigenous breed of the sandy desert of Western Rajasthan.

The equine enthusiasts who are trying to resurrect the breed from deterioration from more than a century of neglect during British rule are thrilled to receive the news of creation of the sculpulture depicting image of Marwari horse recognized by the animal’s inward turning ear tips.

The sculpture, commissioned by Sir Anthony Bamford and his wife Lady Bamford, was recently erected at Wintershall Estate near Bramley in Surrey. However, Surrey is the sculpture’s temporary home while the couple is seeking permission from town planners for its permanent installation in Gloucestershire.

The Marwari horse breed is believed to have been developed by crossing Arabian horses, possibly with some Mangolian influence, with locals like Kathiawari horses. . As early as in the beginning of 12th century the traditional rulers of Marwar took up Marwari horse breeding in a professional manner promoting strict quality control for breeding to maintain purity and hardiness of the breed.

The breed, which comes in all colours – the most popular being pinto colour – was used as cavalry horse in the past and is famous for its loyalty and bravery in battle field. It lost its identity and turned into an endangered breed due to small effective population size mostly after 1930s as the British with their penchant for purity of breed rejected it on the ground that it was a cross breed.

Although some rulers, particularly Rathores, continued breeding the horse during British rule but the horse went into oblivion after Independence and with the end of princely era.

However, there has been renewed interest and enthusiasm among some breeders to save the indigenous breed from extinction. Their efforts have succeeded and there have been demands for Marwari Horse from all parts of the globe and a stud may fetch for its breeder half a million rupees in international market.

The sculpture of Marwari horse head is likely to create bigger enthusiasm for the desert breed among equine lovers all over the world.

The National research Centre on Equine at Hissar and its sub centre in Bikaner, are currently making studies using using DNA testing to establish purity of the breed and find genetic bottlenecks. It has already been established that Marwari breed of horses can be differentiated from other exotic breeds and there had been no genetic deformities or diseases in the breed.

The Marwari horses are reared currently for breeding, sports, ceremony and tourism by stray enthusiasts but state patronage for comprehensive measures for conservation of the breed is lacking.

The news that the world’s largest horse head sculpture is the image of Marwari Horse, therefore, rekindles the hope for survival of the breed from extinction.

(The story appeared on June 18,2009 in Jaipur Live suppliment of The Hindustan Times)

Comments

Unknown said…
marwari horse are pride of rajasthan and india.
but still they are not much highlighted,
as marwar horse breeding and research institute is working for the conservation and development of this vanishing breed ,with joint efforts of central govt,the center is situted in jodhpur.if you write sumthing abt the present devlopment in this regard it will give help to this breed.
Unknown said…
I am big lover of MARWARI Horse's .Because my forefathers have Won many Wars on its Back . Hat's off to MARWARI BREED .
Islaking said…
The Marwari Horse I must say in a very nice breed. You have given very good information about this breed of horse. Thanks for contributing. It is very helpful.

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