Marwari horses in registration race

The All Gujarat Horse Breeders Association (AGHBA), apex body of all the horse breeders in Gujarat, has initiated the process of registering all the purebred Marwari horses of its members with the Marwari Horse Stud Book Registration Society of India, a government body which is also the only body in the country authorised to register the legendary Marwari breed of horses which was nearing extinction.

A grand function was organised on Tuesday to celebrate the registration of the first award-winning Marwari Stallion of Gujarat, Humayun, owned by Virendra Kankariya, joint secretary of Gujarat Horse Breeders’ Association.

Marwari or Malani is an Indian breed of horse known for its inward-turning ear tips. Pintos, especially, are more popular among horse-lovers. It is a hardy breed, similar to the Kathiawari and a number of members of the breed have a natural pacing gait. The Marwari breed is a descendant of native Indian ponies crossbred with Arabian horses, and also possibly having some Mongolian influence.

This registration is the first scientific initiative to map, identify and register horses that are classified as pure Marwari stock. This initiative is being supported by HH Maharaja Gajsinghji II of Jodhpur, who also played a vital role in the revival of this breed in India. This breed has produced legendary horses like Maharana Pratap’s Chetak and Vir Durgadas’ Arbud.

The registration process involves evaluation of horses by a panel of experts who certify if the horses conform to the breed standards specified by the Marwari Horse Society of India. The horses are then categorised on the basis of its physical characteristics, unique identification marks like whorls, its physical dimensions like girth, length and width of ears, length of the head, etc. It is then photographed from several angles, and finally, allotted a registration number which is ‘cold branded’ onto the animal carefully. “Cold branding is a unique painless and animal-friendly procedure whereby numbers are dipped and chilled in Liquid Nitrogen canisters and pressed onto the skin of the animal for 10 seconds. And the animal carries the unique number marking for its entire life,” said Virendra Kankariya.

This registration is voluntary and carried out by the panel of experts for a nominal fee as specified by the society. In the first day of registration of Gujarat, Kankaria organised a camp at the stables of HH Mahipendrasinghji, who is also the chairman of the executive body and owner of various stables at Banaskantha district. He has registered about 30 purebred Marwari horses. The registration team is headed by Col. Umaidsinghji Rathore and supported by Gajendrapalsinghji Poshana; both are renowned breeders and horsemen.