A market for stallions, studs and colts

SARANGKHEDA/DHULE: Sarangkheda, a small village 70 kms from Dhule, is in news presently for being host to the second largest horse market in the country.

The currently ongoing fair on the occasion of Datta Jayanti, which began on December 15, attracts people from far and near, not only for its religious significance but also for a serious dealing into buying and selling of horses.

This year, 1400 horses have been brought into this market. "The fair here is being held since ages but the organised horse market came into being only in 1964," informs Dynesh Sonar, an official of the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) in Shahada, the body that organises and supervises the horse market activity. The fair is central to the identity of the place as according to a local farmer-turned-horse dealer Khanderao More, it gets the name from the association with horses. "Sarang means horse and this place gets its name as horses were being sold here since the times of Shivaji Maharaj."

Kannubhai Timbewale, a horse dealer who came from Amrali in Kathiyawad, has brought 17 horses for sale. "I have brought colts (baby horses) mostly. I sold one today for Rs 20,000," he says.

On earlier occasions, Kannubahi has also sold colts to be groomed as race horses.

However, he is only a dealer; he does not groom the horses himself. "We sell horses at Pushkar and Sarangkheda markets," he informs. His only complaint is that "taking horses from one place to the other is tedious and in addition we are harassed en route by the police, in spite of having proper papers for this trade."

Tukaram Madekar from Sholapur, buys horses and breeds them too. One is a black beauty, named Raja, which he has brought to be sold. "A Punjab breed, Raja will fetch me more than a lakh," he is confident. Madekar has trained him and as the master pulls his reins and beats the drums, Raja, with ghungroos in his legs, starts dancing. These skills won't go uncounted in the final bid.

"Having a horse is a sign of prosperity, it is considered to bring good luck," says Dadasaheb Jagtap, who has come from Bhainder to buy a horse for his farm. "While buying, one has to look for the most of the 71 characteristics. An ideal horse has 71 characteristics and one who sits on it has 72," he states.

Most of the horses here are spotless white as they are on high demand and unfailingly fetch a good price. Horses are being bought for different reasons like hobby, for farms, training institutes, marriage processions, and for horse rides at beaches, parks or hill stations. While traders have come from MP, UP, Kathiyawad, Karnatak, Gujrat, Maharashtra, etc, the buyers are from all over the country too, including Mumbaiites buying a horse for pleasure. The breeds available here are Punjab, Kathiyawad, Sindh, Marwad, Tattus, etc. "You will find excellent quality horses in this market," says Parag Pimple, a pharmacist from Worli who as a horse lover frequents other horse markets as well. "Importantly, this is a very trustworthy market apart from the fact that it offers good breeds.  Punjab breeds are best bought here," he says.

Till Sunday, about 400 horses were sold in this market. While last year the recorded turnover was above Rs 1 crore, this year the APMC expects more.

The highest bid, till Sunday morning, was a female horse, a black beauty, sold for Rs 1.5 lakhs. "These are official figures, usually the actual deal is double the official figure, so one can assume that the horse must have been sold for around Rs 3 lakhs," a market watcher said.

The fair continues for another 10 days.