The Marwari is a horse breed native to the Marwar region of India. They’re known for their bravery and loyalty on the battlefields. The breed shares a rich history with the Rathores, a Rajput warrior clan from the 12th century. The native Marwari horses proved to be strong companions for the warriors and helped them resettle their land, a harsh place that only a rugged horse could handle.
Read on to find out about the Marwari horse’s traits, average lifespan, and general temperament.
What Is a Marwari Horse?
The Marwari horse is an elegant, medium-height horse known for being a great battlefield companion. The breed has strong feet and hooves to travel long distances and the stamina to withstand desolate and harsh desert-like terrains. The Marwari call the Malani area home. It is part of the Barmer district of Marwari that includes the villages of Bagar, Gudha, Jasol, Sindhari, Bakhasar, and some areas of Sanchor Tehsil.
Today, the Marwari horse is used for breeding, travel, marriage ceremonies, and personal interests. However, as the days of battle with horses came to an end, there was a huge drop in the number of Marwari horses around the world.
Arabian horse vs. Marwari horse
Arabian horses and Marwari horses share some traits — after all, this breed may have originated when ponies in the Marwar (or Jodpur) region of India bred with Arabian horses. Both of these medium-sized breeds are intelligent and energetic. Marwari horses aren’t as fast as Arabians, as they were bred to travel long distances in the desert.
Both breeds are lean with refined heads, and they come in many colors. Marwari horses and Arabian horses each usually stand between 14 and 16 hands tall. The most distinct physical difference is that Marwari horses have curled ears that point inward.
Due to strict exportation limitations, it can be hard and pricey to bring a Marwari horse to the U.S., while Arabian horses are much easier to buy.
Marwari Horse Characteristics
The modern Marwari horse has an average height of 14-15.2 hands (about 57-61 inches). A hand is a unit of length mainly used to measure the height of horses from the ground to the top of the shoulders. Traditionally, the Marwari horse has been smaller in size, with males averaging 14.3 hands and females 13.3 hands.
The average Marwari horse lifespan is 25-30 years. The coat of Marwari horses comes in a range of colors, including dark brown, bay, chestnut, gray, blue roan (a mixture of black and white hairs), and piebald (a spotted look due to the pigmentation of the coat).
The Marwari breed has long been thought to share genetics with Arabian and Mongolian horses. Native Marwari horses were likely bred with Arabian horses brought to the region. This genetic link was confirmed in 2014 when the Marwari became the first horse of Asian ancestry to have its entire genome mapped.
The Marwari is a sturdy breed able to tolerate the harsh desert climate. Their thin skin allows them to adapt well to thirst and heat. They’re also able to survive on very little food. The Marwari's strong hooves and legs make traveling long distances in the desert possible. The smaller slant in their shoulder bones allows them to walk in deep sand. This physiological structure also gives them a gait that makes this breed very comfortable to ride. Although the Marwari is not the fastest horse out there, their build allows them to travel very long distances at a medium pace.
Marwari horses have necks that are finer toward the head and more muscular near the base. Their shoulders are long and broad, leading to a medium-length back and muscular, rounded quarters. One of the breed’s most defining parts is the ears, which can rotate 180 degrees and even touch together at the tips. The Marwari’s eyes are round and far apart, and their nostrils look flared.
Marwari breed horse personality
Marwari horses are intelligent and eager to learn, making them an ideal breed to train. They are generally friendly and enjoy interactions with humans and other horses. Marwari horses are naturally competitive, making them good horse companions on the battlefield and in competitions. Many of them enjoy performing in front of an audience.
Marwari horses are known for their homing instinct and exceptional hearing, which have saved many riders’ lives. They’re credited for bringing back lost riders in the desert and for noticing sounds from further away than most other breeds. That ability to sense early warning signs of danger has helped both horses and riders to avoid serious situations.
What Is the Marwari Horse Origin?
The origins of the Marwari horse are unclear, with many stories connecting them to local folklore. Rathores, the rulers of the Marwar region in the 12th century, bred the Marwari horses as cavalry horses. They were trying to resettle what was known as Maru Pradesh, which translates to “the land of death.” It was a desolate land that the native Marwari proved to be well suited for.
When the Mughals captured that part of northern India in the 16th century, they may have introduced Turkoman horse blood into the Marwari line. That may explain why the modern-day Marwari and Akhal-Teke horses have so many similarities.
Unfortunately, the political and economic shifts in India in the early 20th century caused a drop in the Marwari population. The warrior culture was quickly being replaced by the needs of modern society, and the hardy horses once valued for the battlefields were no longer needed. Close to extinction then, the breed has since seen support from the likes of Maharaja Umaid Singhji, his grandson Maharaja Gaj Singh II, as well as Francesca Kelly, a British horsewoman who founded the Marwari Bloodlines group.
What to Know About Marwari Horse Care
Habitat. The Marwari breed can be kept in desert climates with extreme temperatures due to their hardiness and thin skin. Although the Marwari’s thin skin is perfect for hot desert climates, it is more sensitive to insect bites. So, try to keep them away from pests.
Grooming. Marwari horses need extra care and grooming because of their very thin skin, especially during spring and summer. Make sure to groom and detangle their manes and tails regularly. With good nutrition and regular grooming, you can help your Marwari's coat develop a beautiful metallic sheen.
Diet and nutrition. Marwari horses are known to keep moving even on little water and food. They usually don’t do well with diets high in carbohydrates or fat. Instead, the Marwari thrive when they’re allowed to forage for food. The breed also requires the right amount of exercise to stay healthy.
Common health and behavior problems. Common health issues aren’t widely known, as Marwari horses are pretty rare today. The Marwari is believed to be generally healthy, with notably strong hooves.
Marwari Horse FAQs
Why are Marwari horses’ ears curled?
Although their curled ears may have been the result of a genetic mutation, Marwari horses were bred to keep this feature. Their curled ears not only distinguishe the breed but also help Marwari horses have excellent hearing.
How rare are Marwari horses?
Because of strict export laws, it’s difficult to find purebred Marwari horses outside of India.
