The saddle-maker who breeds horses

[Sakobav]

Nice article about Indian breed of horses..would like to learn about Indian Breeds. Importantly a great story from many other aspects

Copied from Rediff
http://news.rediff.com/slide-show/2010/ ... -lover.htm

Kanjibhai Chavda (46), a Dalit schoolteacher from Akru village, about 115 kilometers from Ahmedabad, has been gladly suffering a royal three-generation-long addiction -- breeding and selling horses! Arvind J Bosmia traveled to this small village in Gujarat to bring forth this fascinating story.

From making saddles and horseshoes, Kanjibhai's grandfather Mangalbhai Chavda got hooked to horses itself -- when pleased with his knowledge of the animal, a local Rajput landlord gifted him a mare.

Since then their home in Chamar Vas of the village always has a horse in the stable. It continued with Kanjibhai's father as well. Kanjibhai's son Ajit (22) is so engrossed with the craze, that he discontinued his education after 10th class and took up full-time his great grandfather's profession of saddle-making.

They had begun with Kathiawari breed of horses like Mani, Phulmal, Beri, Manki and Patti. But for the past ten years, Kanjibhai has concentrated on the Marwari breed, as there is a well-developed nationwide market for the breed which fetches a handsome price.

Ownership of two outstanding stallions gave him a roaring studding business with calls for covering mares coming from far away as Chotila and Bhuj. He charges Rs 2,500 per mating session, plus transport expenses.

At first he owned Sagar, a pure Marwari breed stallion who sired so many high quality offsprings that it established Kanjibhai's name as a breeder of substance. The present stallion named Uday, a cross-breed with a Marwari father and a Kathiawari mother, has already sired over 400 offsprings while covering mares all over Gujarat.

Kanjibhai narrated with pride how Uday had Kathiawari ears and gait and the looks enhanced by the great Marwari height. Whenever Bhahadursinh, a Rajput landlord from Ishwariya village wanted to cover his mares, his sole choice was for Uday!

Commenting on the characteristics of various Kathiawari breeds, he told rediff.com that Mani found in areas near Chotila has flat nose and strong strides, because of the rocky terrain.

Beri, meaning 'deaf' in Gujarati, is so self-absorbed that it never notices who is the rider. As it never panics even under cannon fire and is impervious to injuries, it used to be a great favourite in the cavalary. Manki and Patti are among the most rider sensitive breeds and only a highly-skilled rider can ride them.

Calling Manki and Patti 'mind-readers,' he revealed that they are so deeply attached to their rider-owner that they would find difficult to survive 24 hours after their death!

[nagarifle]

this is a good Indian success story, which i was just going to post for a friend from the states but you beat me to it.

the Marwari breed is well known in the horse world, a friend told me that it has short ears. love to ride one of these, as they tend to be loyal as well.

thanks ngrewal for sharing this.

[Sakobav]

Thanks Naga ..

[hvj1]

Nice article Ngrewal!

[nagarifle]

here is a pic of the marwari horse, note the pointed inward ears.

[prashantsingh]

Interesting article.The Marwari and the Kathiawari are the most famous amongst the Indian breeds. The Sindhi ,Manipuri , Laddakhi, Himachali (Spiti) being the other local breeds from the subcontinent. The latter three being more of ponies than horses.The article reminds me of a friend who recommended a posh shop in C.P. New Delhi for me to pick up my riding boots. I went to the place and saw the boots priced at 12K and above. Came back and asked my mochi at the farm to make a pair. The final price I paid Rs 1500.
In Dehradun there are a few cobblers who own local horses. But I can't think of any at my farm.....where horses are kept only by the land owners. Somewhat of a status symbol.

[Sakobav]

prashantsingh

Could you post pictures or links to other Indian breeds incidentally my late father was a very good horse rider and at one time aspired to be a jockey even raced few amateur races. He couldnt keep up his interest due to cost and his job.

Posh shops you are so correct the local folks can do the same job if we just work with them a bit..be it Jodhpurs or the riding shoes..

I have heard these stories about horses dont know how true they are viz their attachment to owner etc

Cheers

[Vikram]

Naga,

You said it right.An Indian success story.It pleases me to no extent when people follow their heart and do things they want to despite circumstances.

Navi, nice story and thanks for sharing.I like horses too.

Best-
Vikram

[Yaj]

I dont know too much about horses but here are some pics of indian horse breeds i have taken on my travels.

A Marwari stallion at Ganganagar livestock show. He was reportedly worth 30 lakhs.




Some pics from the Sonepur mela in Bihar.
A white marwari mare also called "Nukra"
















Regards,
Yaj.

[Sakobav]

yaj

Thanks for sharing and Ganganagar and the area around Bhatinda Ferozepur / Sirsa there were quiet a bit of stud farms but majority of them have closed down. Another folks I like looking up are Nihangs in Punjab who still ride around on their steeds. An old video of these folks


Check this similar story from Tribune
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2009/20090607/ldh1.htm
Stud farms in the saddle
Jyotika Sood
Tribune News Service
Stud farm owners reveal that saddles have lost their sheen in India and most of the traditional saddles are made in Pakistan. Pakistan saddles are softer and more horse-friendly, while Indian are harder and of inferior quality


Ludhiana, June 6
They have been part of human lifestyle from time immemorial. Once integral to kings’ army, they now escort President’s cavalcade.

Commercialisation of horses goes back to the time of barter system. Once the most popular mode of transportation, horses have now been limited to either sports or hobbies.

As a result, commercialisation of stud farms has not taken off the way dairy farming or poultry has.

The Tribune met with some small stud farm owners to learn more about their business at a time when the use of the animal has been so limited.

Deepa of Gill village started his stud farm around 15 years ago. It was a hobby that became a profession for him and today he has four horses and is happy with the dividends he is getting from the profession.

Describing his journey, Deepa said: “Horses are generally associated with bravery and when it comes to Punjabis, one can fairly guess that they will surely keep one as an insignia. I started with just one horse of Marwari breed. It’s a Rajasthan breed and is in great demand. Most of these horses are exported.”

The stud farms are generally used for breeding purposes. “One can fetch a horse between Rs 10,000 and Rs 1.5 lakh or even higher depending upon the breed.”

He takes pride in his two horses - five-year-old Raja (white) and four-year-old Sultan (black). He charges Rs 2,500 per mating and the season lasts from March to October.

Similarly, Balraj Singh of Bhaini village has two horses and eight mares. “We indulge both in selling of horses and mating and charge Rs 3,000 per mating. A good horse may fetch around Rs 6 lakh.”

He adds that he has only indigenous breeds and is happy with the earnings.

[kanwar76]

Aah, Horses...

I don't know how I missed this post. My Grandmother was very fond of horses. She even brought a black or Panchkalian horse with her named "Sultan" as dowry but as my Grandfather lived in city, they have to send the horse back to village after some time. I never saw that horse but from my granny's description of him, he had curved ears and long neck. I think it was a Marwari. My Tayaji (Elder brother of my dad) also kept a mare for some time.

I've been to Maghi Mela in Muktsar, which I think is the biggest Mandi for Marwari and other horses. Saw awesome Stallions and mares there going for Lakhs. Too many Nukras which are Albino Marwari’s used for marriages in north INDIA. IIRC they don’t judge a Nukra in horse shows.

A little bit of OT. I think mothers; grandmothers play a very big part in a child’s development and his hobbies. I grew up listening to stories about Horses, Shikar from my Grandmother. Her brothers were Hunters; they had a leopard and some other trophies till some years ago in her ancestral home but hunting ban and lack of interest finished these traits from family, now people are more interested in ipods and how to make more money than Horses, Hunting, guns..

Ah.. I am nostalgic..

-Inder

[Yaj]

Yes Inder, and it is our duty to keep these ideas and traditions alive and pass it on to the next generation.
Hunting may not be possible but love for wildlife, our indigenous dogs, horses , livestock is very much possible.
Regards,
Yaj.

[kanwar76]

Yes Inder, and it is our duty to keep these ideas and traditions alive and pass it on to the next generation.
Hunting may not be possible but love for wildlife, our indigenous dogs, horses , livestock is very much possible.
Regards,
Yaj.

Yep Yaj,

And you are the one who is setting example, I was at Powai with Santosh and Ali week before last week, they told me how you never miss taking your dogs out for some fun every week. I think we all need to learn "dedication towards something you love" from you. I hope someday I will be able to do something like you..

Keep on doing it buddy.

-Inder

[Yaj]

Thanks Inder.
Great to hear that you went to Powai with Ali and Santosh. I miss that, but I have still not recovered totally from my injury and the idea of going near any wet slippery surfaces bothers me a bit. So I have not fished in ages.
Maybe I'll join you guys at Powai sometime soon.
Regards,
Yaj.

[shooter]

Marwari horses are known for their loyalty and intelligence. so many of history lessons about warriors are recounted but we forget the horses. lancers from india esp jodhpur lancers who faught in world war 1 on turkey front against tanks did it on marwari horses. chetak was a marwari horse.

The international association for horses i dont know neither care what its called refuse to recognise marwari as a breed as it is a mixture of arab and indian desert horse.

A famous sculptor Nic Fiddian-Green's sculpted statue of a marwari horse was unveiled at marble arch in london last year and was so popular that it stayed on long after the one month initial period. Nick wants to bring more awareness about the marwari breed.

The most noticable feature is the inward turned curved ears that touch/almost touch at the tips. Iooking through them is as exhilirating as looking through a telescope of a rifle.

if one is interested in seeing these horses one must visit pushkar fair/sarankhera fair. Panchkalyan like the one shown is always preferred over the black stallion in india.