Kathiawari - History

History

Although the earliest origins of the breed remain unknown, horses inhabited the western coast of India well before the Mughal Emperors of 1536 to 1857. Beginning during the Mughal reign, and continuing during the British Raj, Arabian horses were imported to India and crossed with the native stock, creating the ancestors of the modern Kathiawari breed. The Kathiawari may have also been influenced by the Mongolian horse. Traditionally, noble households specialized in their own strain of horses, naming their lines of horses after a foundation mare; 28 of these lines still exist. These noble houses selectively bred horses that could withstand extreme temperatures and minimal rations, carry a man with weapons and armor for long periods in rough terrain, and still be swift and nimble. They bred for wiry, sleek horses that were ideal for war, and Kathiawaris were noted for their loyalty and bravery in battle, often defending their riders even when wounded themselves. This breeding was maintained until India's independence.

Although still mainly bred in the Kathiawar peninsula, it is also found in the Maharashtra and Rajasthan states. The Kathiawari Horse Breeders' Association maintains the breed registry. The Gujarat government maintains stud farms in eleven different locations; one in Junagadh holds both mares and stallions and is tasked with preserving the breed, while the other ten hold Kathiawari stallions that are used for improving the local stock of other or mixed breeds. As of 2007, only about 50 Kathiawaris were held by private breeders. Today, the Panchaal region is renowned for its Kathiawari horses, often producing the most beautiful horses of the breed. In early 2010, the UK-based Friends of Marwari/Kathiawari Horse asked for donations of used bits. These would be given to owners of horses, including Kathiawaris, in India in place of home-made bits, which often have sharp edges that can injure the horse.