Marwari horses

Profile: The most amazing feature about the Indian horse called the Marwari (mar-wah-ree) is its curved ears. They often touch or cross in the middle, giving an appearance of a spectacular headdress. No one knows why the animals have this feature, but cave paintings show that horses with curved ears were in existence in 2000 B.C. Indian warriors, called Rajputs, lived in the Marwari’s birthplace of Rajasthan and used the horses as cavalry horses. Today, the Marwari is used in rural India for farming and transportation. In the cities, these horses pull tourist carts and are ridden by police. They are also the centerpiece for festivals, particularly weddings.

Characteristics: The Marwari is more full-bodied than the other desert breeds--somewhat similar to the Spanish breeds. The Marwari’s gracefully arched neck is often described as a scimitar. Many are born with a pacing gait called either the apchal or revall.

For more information: www.horsemarwari.com