The Marwari horse is perhaps one of the most distinctive breeds not because of its coloration but because of the highly defined physical characteristics of the breed. This unique horse is rarely seen outside of its native land of India, and even there it became a relatively rare breed during the British occupancy of India where other European breeds and the Arabians and Iberian breeds were more common.
The Marwari is most easily recognized by its long and inward turning ears, which are only seen in one other breed, the Kathiawari horse. The ears actually curve both up and over at the tips, with the inner ear portion facing the sides of the head, not towards the front like other horse breeds. The curling tips of the ears are said to resemble a scimitar or lyre shape. The ears of the mare are usually slightly longer than those of the stallion or gelding, but both have the definitive curl.
The head is also definitive of the breed, even without the ears. The Marwari has a noticeable set to the head that is very erect and proud in bearing. The profile can be somewhat Roman in appearance, but a straight profile to the face is also acceptable. The mares are required to look feminine with less of an elevated carriage to the head and more of gentle sweeping look to the neck. The head, when viewed from the front, is relatively narrow and straight in appearance, with tapering towards the tip of the nose very obvious. The head is in total balance with the narrower body of the breed and is very proportionate to the size of the horse. Stallions and geldings have a very high positioning of the head with regards to the neck and the neck itself is wide at the base, tapered to the throat latch and is carried crested or arched. The neck comes out relatively high on the shoulders and there is a relatively slight wither, but a well defined back and girth area.
Unlike the Kathiawari the Marwari breed of horse is well developed and is a tall horse, usually measuring approximately 16 hands. Like all other horses bred in the hot climates of India and the Middle East, the Marwari is famous for its ability to travel long distances on little food and water. They have good conformation and long, strong and straight legs. The high point of the rump of the Marwari cannot be higher than the withers, and a deeply dipping back is considered a serious fault. Since the shoulders are very forward on the body and are very angular, the horse actually gives the illusion of being longer through the body than it really is.
The Marwari horse is very long and lean in appearance and is looks like it was built for speed and competition. They are a fairly narrow horse and are not given to a heavy girth or a wide chest, but never the less are ideal for many types of performance riding events including dressage type and even racing events.
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