10 Most Popular Horse Breeds in India – Price, Colors & More

Horses have been a part of our heritage Indian culture for centuries and is the home to some of the best and finest horse breeds.

If you are looking to adopt one of the horses, you have landed on the right page. We will help you understand the different horse breeds and its characteristics. These points will help you make an informed decision.

What are the best horse breeds in India?

1. Bhutia
2. Kathiawari
3. Marwari
4. Manipuri
5. Spiti
6. Zanskari
7. Kachchhi-sindhi
8. Bhimthadi
9. Chummarti
10. Sikang

Bhutia

This horse breed looks like a Tibetan and Mongolian equine breed. They have a thick and short neck. These horses have large heads and a pronounced jaw.

Bhutia horses are low withers and have straight shoulders. Their tail is short but well set.

One of the most attractive characteristics of this horse breed is that they have super strong legs and open hooves at the heels.

It is a hard-working horse breed. They are quiet and do not make unnecessary noises. They have a strong character but are resilient. They are adaptable to cold climates but find it tough to acclimate themselves in warm temperatures.

This horse breed eats sparingly and is affordable to maintain. They do not require any extra care and do not experience any major health issues.

Bhutia horse’s food include good quality grass and hay, peanuts, clover and alfalfa. Based on the activity and weather, these horses require between 18 and 55 liters of water. If there is a shortage of good fodder, then it can affect the horse’s health.

Kathiawari

Kathiawari is a strong horse. They have similar unique ears like the Marwari horses, they are just a little short and tight.

They are found in 13 different colours but the unique thing about it is that none of them are black. They have concave eyes and a smaller head.

The Kathiawari horse breed is popular for its loyalty, bravery, alertness and faithfulness. Apart from these characteristics, they are affectionate, intelligent and high spirited.

There are further sub-types of this horse breed such as Harni, Norali, Atari, Chnagi, Malya, Tanjan, etc.

They are active, slim and strong. Kathiawari horses have amazing stamina and are super loyal towards their owners. They fight for their riders and attack on enemies if needed. It is a wonderful breed and was superior to all the horse breeds in the British and Maratha Cavalries.

These horses are usually healthy and little food as well as water is sufficient for them. They do not usually face any major health issues. They require regular vet checkups to ensure their good health.

The Kathiawari horse breed can be handled by trained and professional owners only.

Marwari

One can recognize a Marwari horse with its upturned ears. This horse breed has a straight facial profile and the nose is Roman shaped.

They have a deep chest, high tail, long back and pronounced croup. They have a natural smooth walk and are hot blooded animals.

These horses can perform many tasks very well with the right and careful training. They are famous for their loyalty and spirit of courage.

They are social and do not like to be neglected. This is one of the best horse beads in the world. They have superb stamina and can survive on little food and water only.

To know detail breed information & price, check out our marwari horse price & breed information article.

Manipuri

The Manipuri horse breed has a straight profile, muscular neck, wedge shaped head and a strong deep chest.

They have a little sloped shoulders, well proportioned hooves, strong legs and sloping croup. When compared to other horse breeds, they are shorter and lighter.

Sumba, Burmese and Batak horses of Indonesia resemble the Manipuri breed. These horses have an elegant appearance.

The Manipuri Ponies are super intelligent, have good stamina and speed. They are tough and agile. There is a demand for this horse breed for military transport and polo racing.

These horses are seen in a variety of around 70 colours and this results in their temperament too. They are quick and controllable.

The manipuri horses feed on grain and hay. You need to provide them good training for them to excel. When it comes to medical expenses, they include vaccinations, dental care, vet feed and deworming.

It is essential to take emergency medical insurance. Trimming and shoeing of these horses is a must once every 2 months.

This is an Indian origin horse breed and it is believed to exist by crossing Arabian, Tibetian and Mongolian. The Manipuri horse breed was called Polo Ponies during the British times.

Spiti

This horse breed looks like Tibetan and Mongolian horses. This horse breed hails from mountains of Northern India. They can move smoothly on icy terrains. They are super strong and can climb high mountains.

Since they hail from the colder regions, they are comfortable with cold weather and cannot thrive in warmer climates.

The Spiti horses have a compact and strong body. They have small black coloured eyes and erect ears.

They have a straight and long tail, deep chest, slightly sloped shoulders and haired legs. As they live on the mountains, they can work on high altitudes.

The Spiti horses are super intelligent, alert and quiet. They have great stamina and endurance and make ideal working horses.

They are highly resistant to cold, health and are rarely exposed to diseases. Since they are super strong they can make long Journeys without getting tired and can also run a long distance with little food and water.

There are no major health issues faced by the horses.  All you need to do is maintain a healthy environment for them to be healthy. Ensure regular vet check ups so that you are sure that they are not exposed to any health conditions.

Zanskari

The Zanskari horses are native Himalayan horses and believed to have bred from Tibetan Pony.

This horse breed has a medium-sized body, well-built, erect ears, predominant eyes and deep chest. The Zanskari horse has a long and heavy tail.

They can survive well in the hypoxic environment of Ladakh. They have long and glossy manes. This is one of the most popular breeds in India. They have a uniform movement gait and run swiftly.

They are super strong and flexible. The Zanskari horse breed is similar to the Spiti horse breed but the former one is more adaptable to high altitudes and carrying load for long distances.

This horse breed is also used for pleasure riding. They can survive easily in cold climates and are super obedient to their masters.

They are intelligent and very hard working. The food requirements of Zanskari horses are simple, including legumes, grass, cereal grains, clean oats and fresh water.

This breed does not usually experience major health issues. Feedin, hoof care, grooming, leg care, vet visits and shoeing are essential for Zanskari horses.

Kachchhi-Sindhi

This horse breed is a popular desert horse. It is registered by the Breeding Registration committee of Indian Council of Agricultural Research and also by the scientists of National Animal Genetical Resources Bureau.

This breed has the ability to endure heat. Since it is a desert horse, it can mould itself. It has an armour horse that increases stamina. It is also called Mustang of India.

There are approximately 4,000 Kachchhi-Sindhi horses in India. They have a Roman like nose, curved ears that do not touch each other. Their height is 56-60 inches and they have a small back.

Bhimthadi

These are not ordinary horses and are very popular for their stunts. This breed was developed after cross-breeding Turkic and Arabian breeds.

These horses have a straight back, curved ears, sloping shoulders, string limbs and round hindquarters.

They were used as war mounts and can survive well in tough conditions. They obey their master’s orders and are used for sports and riding.

They are medium sized and the coat colours are usually brown, roan and bay.

Chummarti

This horse breed is named after the beautiful Tibet valley, Chummarti. With this you may have guessed it right that they originated from the Chummarti Valley of Himachal Pradesh.

These horses are similar to the Spiti horse breed. They can carry huge loads at higher altitudes where other modes of transport cannot reach.

The Chummarti horses are also used for riding as they have 5 recognized gaits. Their body structure is well-muscled, compact and solid. They are strong and hard-working. This horse breed can even live in harsh living conditions.

This horse breed is around 54 inches high and has usual coat colours.

Sikang

This is a warhorse that predominantly served in World War II. They are well-muscled, tall and have a proportioned body.

The Sikang horses are friendly, hardworking, calm and strong. They are of the usual height and weight of horses, around 54 inches in height and weigh 250 kgs.

How much does it cost to maintain a horse in India?

Monthly cost of maintaining an average horse in India is around 20000 to 25000 rupees which includes the cost of food, grooming, vet, supplements and ferrier.

Are horses native to India?

Well, most people think (including us) that horses are native to India, but they are not. There is enough evidence that shows that they were first domesticated in Russia, Kazakhstan and Ukraine, around 5,500 years ago.

So, how did horses come to India? It is believed that the Indo-Aryan people domesticated horses while they were migrating from Central Asia to India around 4,000 years ago.

As per a few sacred Hindu texts, Indian horses existed  a lot earlier before 2000 BCE. The Indo Aryans are one of the first people to situate horse drawn chariots in warfare.

They are  credited for creating the vision of Sacred Hindu texts called as Vedas in Central Asia and also setting its roots in India.

During the end of the Harappan civilization Indo Aryan migration took place. The Vedas are heavily influenced by the Indo-Aryan culture and all the rituals mentioned in it required a sacrifice of white horse, which was hardly ever followed.

Which horse breed is the fastest in India?

Marwari horse is the fastest horse breed in India which is known to run at speed up to 40 mph.

Conclusion

We hope to have helped you get to know all the horse breeds so that you can make an informed decision. Make sure to consider their characteristics and cost of maintenance before adopting one.

The list of horse breeds include some one of the Indian origin horses that are well-built, beautiful, strong and the best work horses.