Kathiawari

Kathiawari
Distinguishing features Unique ears curved inward to touch and sometimes overlap at the tips. Hardy, light riding horse type with good endurance
Alternative names
Country of origin India
Breed standards
Indigenous Horse Society of India Breed standards
Equus ferus caballus

The Kathiawari or Kathiawadi is a breed of horse from the Kathiawar peninsula in western India. It was originally bred as a desert war horse for use over long distances, in rough terrain, on minimal rations. It is closely related to the Marwari horses of Rajasthan; both breeds have been influenced by imported Arabian horses. It is found in all colours except for black, and is most commonly chestnut. Numbers diminished after Indian independence, and today there are few Kathiawaris left. In the past it was used as a war horse and as a cavalry mount. Today it is used for riding, in harness and for sports;[3] it may be used as a police horse and for the sport of tent-pegging. A breed register is kept by the Kathiawari Horse Breeders' Association, which also organises annual shows.

Characteristics

This Marwari horse shows the same inward curving ears as the Kathiawari

The average height at the withers is 147 cm (14.2 hands).[4] Height should not be more than about 152 cm (15 h); taller horses may seem coarse.[5]:161[lower-alpha 1] The breed is found in all colours, except for black. Chestnut is the colour seen most often, followed by bay, grey and finally dun. Many dun horses exhibit primitive markings, which shows a possible connection to the Tarpan.[5][6] Pinto patterns do exist, but are extremely rare. The breed has a concave facial profile, with a broad forehead and short muzzle. The neck and body are proportional and relatively short, while both the head and tail are carried high.[7] Although well-proportioned, many Western breeders consider them to be lacking in bone in the legs. However, soundness is an inherent characteristic of the breed.[5] One of the breed's most distinctive features is its ears, which curve inward to touch and sometimes overlap at the tips. The Kathiawari has the most extremely curved ears of any breed of horse.[7] At some points in the breed's history, breeders focused on the preservation of these curving ears, to the detriment of some other, more important, physical characteristics.[5] Like many desert breeds, the Kathiawari can subsist on minimal rations and water and is more resistant to the heat than breeds developed in colder climates. As well as the usual gaits, the Kathiawari also performs a swift, lateral pace, called the revaal.[5]:161 They are known as high-spirited, intelligent and affectionate horses.[7]

They are quite similar to the Marwari, another breed from India, having much of the same history and physical features.[3] The main difference between the Kathiawari and the Marwari is their original geographic origin – Kathiawaris are from the Kathiawar peninsula while Marwaris are mainly from the Marwar region. Kathiawaris tend to have slight facial differences from the Marwari, and are slightly taller in general.[8] The Kathiawari also resembles the Arab horse, which contributed significantly during the development of the breed.[5]

History

Although the earliest origins of the breed remain unknown, horses inhabited the western coast of India well before the Mughal Emperors of 1536 to 1857. Beginning during the Mughal reign, and continuing during the British Raj, Arab horses were imported to India and crossed with the native stock, creating the ancestors of the modern Kathiawari breed.[5] The Kathiawari may have also been influenced by the Mongolian horse.[5]:196 Traditionally, noble households specialised in their own strain of horses, naming their lines of horses after a foundation mare; 28 of these lines still exist.[5] These noble houses selectively bred horses that could withstand extreme temperatures and minimal rations, carry a man with weapons and armour for long periods in rough terrain, and still be swift and nimble. They bred for wiry, sleek horses that were ideal for war, and Kathiawaris were noted for their loyalty and bravery in battle, often defending their riders even when wounded themselves. This breeding was maintained until the Independence of India.[7]

Although still mainly bred in the Kathiawar peninsula, it is also found in the Maharashtra and Rajasthan states. The Kathiawari Horse Breeders' Association maintains a register.[5] The Gujarat government maintains stud farms in eleven different locations; one in Junagadh holds both mares and stallions and is tasked with preserving the breed, while the other ten hold Kathiawari stallions that are used for improving the local stock of other or mixed breeds. In 2007, only about 50 Kathiawaris were held by private breeders. Today, the Panchaal region is renowned for its Kathiawari horses, often producing the most beautiful horses of the breed.[7] In early 2010, the UK-based Friends of Marwari/Kathiawari Horse asked for donations of used bits. These would be given to owners of horses, including Kathiawaris, in India in place of home-made bits, which often have sharp edges that can injure the horse.[9]

In 2007 the conservation status of the Kathiawari was listed as "not at risk" by the FAO.[10]:61 No breed numbers have been reported to DAD-IS since 1997, when there were about 7500.[2]

Uses

In the early 1800s, the Kathiawari was used by the Maratha and British cavalries, and was considered superior to other breeds in this capacity.[5] The use by the cavalry was maintained until the end of the First World War,[7] but they are used little by the Indian army in modern times, despite being a native breed. Many Indian mounted police units make use of the Kathiawari.[5]:159 The Kathiawari is also used extensively for the sport of tent-pegging. Annual breed shows are hosted by the breed association.[5]

Notes

  1. ↑ Size ranges are as follows: Average height (male): 149 cm, Average height (female): 147 cm[3]. Average weight (male): 325 kg, Average weight (female): 275 kg[2]

References

  1. ↑ Breed Standards of Kathiawadi Horse. Indigenous Horse Society of India. Accessed December 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Kathiawari/India. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed December 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 R.K. Pundir, R.K. Vijh, R.N. Shukla, A.S. Vyas, B. K. Bhavsar, A. E. Nivsarkar (1997). Characterisation of Indian Kathiawari horses. Animal Genetic Resources Information 21: 71–80.
  4. ↑ Equines in India: Horses: Kathiawari Horse. Indian Council of Agricultural Research: National Research Centre on Equines. Accessed December 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Elwyn Hartley Edwards (1994). The Encyclopedia of the Horse. London; New York; Stuttgart; Moscow: Dorling Kindersley. ISBN 0751301159.
  6. ↑ "Breed Information". Friends of Marwari/Kathiawari UK. Retrieved 22 January 2011.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Hendricks, Bonnie (2007). International Encyclopedia of Horse Breeds. University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN 9780806138848. Pages 250–252
  8. ↑ About Indian Horses. Indigenous Horse Society of India. Accessed December 2016.
  9. ↑ The Horse Staff (15 February 2010). "Used Snaffle Bits Requested by UK Group". The Horse. Retrieved 19 February 2010. (registration required (help)).
  10. ↑ Barbara Rischkowsky, D. Pilling (eds.) (2007). List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources, annex to The State of the World’s Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9789251057629. Accessed December 2016.

External links

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