There is little doubt that horses have formed a part of the heritage of any country where they have been used and bred. It is hard to imagine how cultures would have spread, how exploration would have occurred, or even how agriculture would have developed without the horse. The Marwari horse of India played a very important role in the development of the country and has become a symbol of the elegance, grace and nobility of the breed.
The original use of the Marwari horse was as a warhorse or battle horse in medieval times. It is likely that the exact origins of the Marwari horse will never be completely known, but there is evidence that the breed has developed from various Arabian horse influences as well as those of the Turkomene horse. There is no record of when the distinct physical characteristics, most notably the scimitar shaped ears, first became a defining point of the breed but there is little doubt of its uniqueness.
The outstanding physical performance of the Marwari provided the Royal families of India, the Rajputs, with the ability to cover long distances across inhospitable country without the need for lengthy rests and stops on the marches. The Marwari is a gaited horse, having a fifth gait known as a rehwal or revaal, which is a lateral four beat gait that allows the horse to cover great distances at a comfortable and smooth pace for both the horse and the rider. This ability to cover long treks without tiring the rider proved the Marwari an important addition to the military and warrior caste. The horses became famous for their courage in battle, their loyalty to their riders and their seemingly unending strength. There are several famous Marwari horses in Indian legend, many which are depicted in monuments and artwork showing their bravery and courage.
Unfortunately the very royalty of the Marwari made the horse a target for attack when the traditional feudal system was abolished by the government of India in 1956. These horses, which had been only ridden or owned by royalty, where either killed, castrated or turned into agricultural horses as a way to show that the feudal system was no longer in place. Thankfully a small number of horses were kept on breeding farms and with some of the original royal families, which then were preserved to maintain the breed.
In 1995 the Indian government began to support the re-population of the Marwari horse breed. While they did prohibit export of the breed, many international horse breeders and lovers supported the breeding programs within India and have helped to re-establish the numbers of the Marwari horses. In 1999 the Indigenous Horse Society was formed by these breeders and researchers to continue to help support the Indian government in the development of the Marwari breed. In 1997 the Marwari horse export ban was lifted, which has lead to an increasing interest in the breed from international horse breeders in several countries including the United States and the United Kingdom.
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