 | |
| Conservation status | FAO (2007): not at risk[1]: 61 |
|---|---|
| Other names | |
| Country of origin | India |
| Distribution | Kathiawar peninsula |
| Standard | Indigenous Horse Society of India |
| Use | |
| Traits | |
| Weight | |
| Height | |
| Colour | |
| Distinguishing features | unusual in-curved ears |
TheKathiawari orKathiawadi is an Indianbreed ofhorse. It originates in theKathiawar peninsula ofGujarat in western India, and is associated with theKathi people of that area. It was originally bred as a desertwar horse for use over long distances, in rough terrain, on minimal rations. It is closely related to theMarwari horses ofRajasthan; both breeds have been influenced by importedArab horses.[6]: 479 It is found in allcolours except forblack, and is most commonlychestnut. In the past it was used as a war horse and cavalry mount. Today it is used for riding, in harness and forsports;[5] it may be used as apolice horse and for the sport oftent-pegging. Astud-book is kept by the Kathiawari Horse Breeders' Association, which also organises annual shows.
The origins of the Kathiawari are unknown. There were indigenous horses on the western coast of India before the arrival in the early sixteenth century of theTurco-Mongol invaders who later established theMughal Empire.[7]: 160 During the Mughal period, and later under theBritish Raj, Arab horses were imported to India and crossed with native stock, creating the ancestors of the modern Kathiawari breed. There may also have been someMongolian influence.[7]: 196
The horses werebred as a desertwar horse for use over long distances, in rough terrain, and on minimal rations. They were wiry, sleek, agile and fast, and could carry an armed man for long periods. According to tradition, they were loyal and brave in battle, often defending their riders even when wounded themselves.[citation needed] Some noble families bred their own line or strain, twenty-eight[8]: 117 or thirty-six[6]: 479 of which still exist.[7]
The Kathiawari is bred mainly in the Kathiawar peninsula, but is found also inMaharashtra andRajasthan. Abreed society, the Kathiawari Horse Breeders' Association, keeps thestud-book.[7] Thegovernment of Gujarat maintains a conservation herd atJunagadh, and has a number ofstallions standing atstud in other parts of the state.[8]: 117 TheIndigenous Horse Society of India is also involved in conservation efforts.[6]: 479 In 2007 no more than fifty Kathiawaris were in private hands.[9]
Abreed standard was drawn up in 2008.[6]: 479 In 2010 the Gujarati government commissionedSaurashtra University to research the options for recovery of the Kathiawari breed, and also the extent to which it is related to theMarwari.[6]: 479
In 2007 theconservation status of the Kathiawari was listed as "not at risk" by theFAO.[1]: 61 No breed numbers have been reported toDAD-IS since 1997, when there were about 7500.[3]
The average height at thewithers is 147 cm (14.2hands).[10] Height should not be more than about 152 cm (15 h); taller horses may seem coarse.[7]: 161 It may be anycolour but black;[6]: 479 Chestnut is the most common colour, followed bybay,grey anddun. Dun horses may haveprimitive markings, adorsal stripe andzebra stripes on the legs.[7]Skewbald patterns can occur.[6]: 479 The Kathiawari 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.[9] 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.[7] 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.[9] 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.[7] 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 usualgaits, the Kathiawari also performs a swift, lateralpace, called therevaal[what language is this?].[7]: 161 It is a high-spirited, intelligent and affectionate horse.[9]
The Kathiawari is closely related to the Marwari breed from theMarwarregion ofRajasthan, which borders with northern Gujarat.[5]Genetic diversity analysis groups the two breeds, while the other four Indian horse breeds – theBhutia, theManipuri, theSpiti and theZaniskari – form a distinct and separate group.[11] The Kathiawari and the Marwari are alsophenotypically similar; in particular, they have the same unusual in-curved ears. The Kathiawari is not as tall as the Marwari, and has a smallerthoracic circumference;[4]: 53 it is most commonly chestnut, while the Marwari is usually black.[5]: 71 Kathiawaris tend to have slight facial differences from the Marwari.[12] The Kathiawari also resembles the Arab horse, which contributed significantly during the development of the breed.[7]
In the past, the Kathiawari was considered a goodcavalry mount. It was used byMaratha cavalry, and later – until the end of theFirst World War – by theIndian Army.[7]: 161 [9]: 252 In modern times it is used as ariding horse or as aharness horse. Some are used by Indian police forces, sometimes fortent-pegging, to which the Kathiawari is well suited.[7]: 161 In 1995, annual breed shows were hosted by thebreed association.[7]: 161