The Marwari horse is a rare breed of horse from Rajasthan. It is similar to the Kathiawari horse of Gujarat that has a unique inward curving shape of ears.
If you plan to get one, we are here to help you with all the information that will help you make an informed decision.
How much does a Marwari horse cost?
An adult Marwari horse in India will cost you between Rs. 8,00,000 and Rs. 10,00,000. The Marwari foal costs between Rs. 1,00,000 and Rs, 2,25,000.The price of the Marwari horse depends on several factors, particularly its breed purity.
In case you are not too conscious about the breed purity, then you can find one at cheaper rates. The Marwari horses cost around $5,000 to $15,000 outside of India.
Marwari Horse Breed at a Glance
| Height | 150 cm (Male), 53 cm – 140 cm (Female) |
| Weight | 2365 kg (Male), 340 kg (Female) |
| Lifespan | 25 to 30 Years |
| Temperament | Brave, Loyal, Spirited, Friendly & Trainable |
| Price | $5,000 to $15,000 (Rs. 8,00,000 to Rs. 10,00,000) |
| Colour | Usually chestnut or bay, grey, brown, piedbald & Skewbald |
| Good for | Long distance rides |
Factors that affect the price of Marwari Horse
When you plan to get a Marwari horse, you need to know the factors that affect its price. Below mentioned are some important considerations.
Age
One of the most critical factors that determine the price of the Marwari horse is its age. The prime age of this animal is 7 to 14 years.
Horses older than 14 years are available at lower rates, but it also depends on other factors like its breeding and health. Many horses can also do all the hard work in their 20s, so never rule out a horse just for its age.
Breed
Breeding plays a huge role in horse prices. For example, if the horse is by a top stallion, then he could be priced higher than other horses of this breed.
Health problems
You may be cautious while getting a horse with health problems, but it is completely fine to get one with minor health issues as they are entirely suitable for recreational use and trail riding.
Usually, such horses come at a lower price, and it is always wise to get the horse examined by a vet before you buy/adopt.
Training
If you wish to train your horse in a particular discipline, expect the price to be higher as the depth of training required will be higher.
Also, having a renowned trainer to work with your horse will increase the price.
Competition experience
The price of the Marwari horse will also depend if he has logged some time in a competition/show ring. Also, if the horse has been a winner of any show or competition, expect its price to be higher.
Reason for sale
If the owner is in a hurry to sell the horse for reasons like relocation, divorce, pregnancy, etc. then you may get one at a lower price. Make sure to bargain in such a situation.
Those who are not in a hurry to sell and are waiting for the right buyer are often firm on their price.
History of Marwari Horse
The Marwari horses have originated in the Marwar region of Rajasthan, India. Horses native to this region were crossed with Arabians.
The arabians had arrived on the Arabian ships that were shipwrecked off the coast. The Marwari horses were bred by the Rathores in the 12th century. They prized these horses and bred them to get the best quality.
During the 16th century, this horse breed served as cavalry horses. They had a strong sense of direction and were popular for carrying riders back to their home if they got lost in the desert.
They have an excellent hearing capacity which kept them alert during any danger. During the 20th century, this horse breed went out of demand when the British occupied India because they preferred Thoroughbreds over this breed.
Also, poor breeding practices destroyed this breed and went extinct until some enthusiasts helped preserve them. Crossbreeding helped preserve this breed but it slightly impured it.
Maharaja Umaid Singhji was one of them to advocate for this breed and later, this grandson continued advocating for the Marwar horse breed.
Francesca Kelly founded the Marwari Bloodlines in 1995 to preserve the breed. She imported a Marwari horse to the US in 2000 and in the same time 21 horses were exported from India. To preserve this breed, the Government of India banned the export of this breed for a long time.
In 2009, the Marwari Horse Society of India made a registration process for the Marwari breed that helps to evaluate individual horses as per the breed tsandards. This helps in re-establizing the quality of the horses which was highlighted by the Rathores centuries back.
Color, Marking & Characteristics
The Marwari horse is bred in many colours like grey, bay, palomino, piebald, chestnut and skewbald. The most expensive of all these colours is the grey one and the most favoured are skebald and piebald.
Horses that have four white socks and white blazes are believed to bring luck and thus are very famous. Black horses are believed to be unlucky because the colour is associated with death and darkness.
It is super easy to recognize the Marwari horse for its unique ears. This breed is called the desert horse. Their ears are curved inwards and their shoulder bones are less slant compared to other breeds.
Since they do not have slant shoulder like other horses they are slower than others but the bone angle creates a comfortable seat for the rider.
The Marwari horses are gaited which makes them fast. This gait also allows them to travel to distant place quickly.
Grooming
The Mawari horses have thin skin and thus they require extra care and grooming, particularly in the bug season – summer. You can help them stay comfortable by providing fly protection and treating fly bites.
Most owners let the horses grow the mane naturally but ensure to detangle them from time to time. The horses coat will shine when they are fed healthy and nutritious food.
Diet
The Marwari horse is super strong and can survive on limited feed. Since the breed is rare, we do not have sufficient information on its nutritional requirements.
Irrespective of that, make sure to provide them good quality hay and balance the nutrition with nutritional supplement or ratio balancer.