DANVEER SINGH YADAV
Assistant Professor
Livestock Production Management
College of Veterinary Science & A. H. (NDVSU) MHOW
Breeds of Horse
The indigenous breeds of horses/ponies include Marwari,
Kathiawari, Manipuri, Spiti, Bhutia and Zanskari.
The exotic breeds of horses introduced in India include
English thoroughbred, Water, Arab, Polish, Connemera
and Hal flinger.
The Arab, the first to be introduced, is believed to have
contributed substantially for the evolution of Kathiawari,
Marwari, Sindhi, Malani and Manipuri horses.
Distribution of horse
1. Marwari Horses
Udaipur, Jalor, Jodhpur and Rajasamand
The predominant body colour is brown where as other
body colours are roan, chestnut, white and black with
white patches.
The Marwari horses have 130-140 cm long body, 152-
160 cm height and 47 cm tail length without switch.
The Marwari horses are longer and taller than
Kathiawari horses.
Marwari
2. Kathiawari Horses
Rajkot and Amreli.
The most prominent body colour is chestnut followed
by bay (body chestnut, Foreleg up to knee and
fetlock are black, Keshwali black, Hairs of tail and
neck are black), grey (complete white colour) and
dun (light chestnut).
Concave profile, long neck, short leg and squared
quarters.
Face is dry and short, triangular from pale to
forehead and small muzzle.
Big nostrils, edge of nostril is thin.
Small, fine and curved upright ears on 90 degrees
axis that can rotate at 180 degrees.
Broad forehead
Large expressive sensitive eyes.
Tail is long, not bushy, curved well and touching to
the ground, foot round and broad.
Kathiawari Horses
3. Spiti Horses
Kullu and Kinnaur
These horses are smaller in height.
The Spiti ponies have two strains, Spiti pure and
Konimare.
The Konimare ponies are comparatively taller.
Body is well developed with fairly strong bones.
The predominant body colour is grey (complete white)
followed by black, black flay bone (white body with
black patches), brown and bay.
The legs are thick and covered with long coarse hairs.
The mane is longer having 20 to 30 cm long hairs.
The horses are nervous in temperament.
4. Zanskari Horses
Leh and Laddakh
The predominant body colour is grey followed by
black and copper.
The horses are known for their ability to work, run
adequately and carry loads at high altitude. Horses
are medium in size, well built and 120 to 140 cm
high.
The body hairs are fine, long and glossy.
The Zanskari horses have predominant eyes, heavy
and long tail and uniform gait.
(Endangered this breed)
The Animal Husbandry Department,Jammu and
Kashmir has recently established a Zanskari horse
Breeding farm at Padum Zanskar in Kargil district of
Ladakh for breed improvement and conservation
through selective breeding.
Zanskari Horses
5. Manipuri Horses
Manipur and Assam (Asian type pony).
Mane is generally coarse and upright.
It has small pointed pricked ears, eyes are alert and
slightly slant .
The area between the nostrils is flat not crispy.
Withers are not prominent.
Face is concave and tail is well set and
commensurate with height.
Manipuri ponies are intelligent and extremely tough, and
have tremendous endurance.
Perhaps all these good qualities made it suitable for polo
game for which it is globally famous.
The breed is available in 14 different colours viz Bay,
Black, Gray, Mora white, Leiphon white, Sinai White,
Stocking, liver chestnut, Roan, light gray, Reddish brown
and dark bay.
As per latest data the population of Manipuri pony is
2327 only.
6. Bhutia Horses
Sikkim and Darjeeling.
They are usually grey or bay coloured and similar to
the Tibetan pony.
6. Bhutia Horses
Exotic Breeds
Arabian Saddle back
Barb Quarter horse
Morgan Paint
Belgian Pinto
Hal finger
Domestic Donkey
Wild Donkey
Donkey
Mules
The mules are most useful pack and transport
animals as they play important role in the military
establishments as well as in civilian occupations
particularly in hills.
The mule combines some of the superior qualities of
both horses and donkeys.
It has size, speed strength and spirit of the horse,
along with the surefooted-ness, lack of excitability,
endurance and ability to thrive on poor feed.
Mule
Thank you
