I recently attended an equestrian event. Almost all of the horses participating were from foreign breeds. After a good day of watching the horses do what they do, and the riders getting their payoff from bazillion years of training, I went away from the event satisfied. Yet, one thing remained on my mind.
Equestrian events are full of foreign breeds like Thoroughbred, ignoring indigenous breeds like Marwadi and Kathiawadi. They are not bred for the local climate.
Indian breeds like Marwadi and Kathiawadi are much more suited to the hot climate of the Indian subcontinent. They also have much more capability to cope with dust, humidity and frequent weather changes.
Humidity is particularly a concerning issue for the imported breeds, as humid air does not leat the heat dissipate from the horse's body. Paired with the local monsoons, that almost cover a third of the year, and contribute to hoof problems like thrush.
All this means that the imported breeds need much more facilities and infrastructure. Unfortunately, that's not the case for most parts.
Meanwhile, the Kathi breed of horse is developed for the arid regions of western India. The British, realising the breed's capabilities, were quick to join them into service.
But the infrastructure that the British left, slowly crumbled away, paired with the downfall of martial communities under the British era and post independence.
Subsequently, the breeds started getting ignored, with practices of crossbreeding becoming much common.
But in this much more economically and educationally developed India, Indians must strive to pay attention to the welfare of the local breeds, they are the way forward for equestrianism in india.