Horse breeds kept in India
PetPort Editorial5 profiles
Which horse breeds are kept in India?
India's own breeds include the Marwari, Kathiawari and Indian Country-bred. 5 breeds are compared below on temperament, climate, grooming, exercise and common health problems, each with a note for Indian conditions.
General guidance for pet parents, not a diagnosis. Every animal is different — confirm anything that concerns you with your veterinarian.
At a glance
| Breed | Size | Origin | Temperament |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marwari | Large | Marwar (Jodhpur), Rajasthan | brave, loyal, spirited |
| Kathiawari | Large | Kathiawar peninsula, Gujarat | hardy, alert, affectionate |
| Thoroughbred | Large | England | athletic, sensitive, energetic |
| Arabian | Large | Arabian peninsula | intelligent, spirited, people-oriented |
| Indian Country-bred | Large | Across India, from local and crossed stock | tough, willing, adaptable |
Marwari
Large · Native to IndiaIndia's own war horse from Rajasthan, unmistakable for its inward-curving ear tips.
- Temperament
- brave, loyal, spirited
- Origin
- Marwar (Jodhpur), Rajasthan
- Climate
- Bred for desert heat and scarcity — the most climate-suited riding horse in India.
- Grooming
- Daily grooming; hooves picked out daily and trimmed every 6–8 weeks.
- Exercise
- Daily ridden or lunged work plus turnout.
- Watch for
- colic; laminitis on rich feed; tick-borne disease
In India: A recognised indigenous breed with export restrictions. Buy through registered breeders — pedigree fraud is common.
Kathiawari
Large · Native to IndiaGujarat's desert horse — close cousin of the Marwari, with the same curved ears.
- Temperament
- hardy, alert, affectionate
- Origin
- Kathiawar peninsula, Gujarat
- Climate
- Built for arid heat and long distances on little feed.
- Grooming
- Daily grooming and hoof care; watch for sand in the coat.
- Exercise
- Endurance work suits them; needs daily movement.
- Watch for
- colic; sand colic in desert stabling; hoof cracks
In India: Feed off the ground in sandy areas — sand ingestion is a leading cause of colic in Gujarat and Rajasthan.
Thoroughbred
LargeThe racing breed — fast, fine-boned and highly strung.
- Temperament
- athletic, sensitive, energetic
- Origin
- England
- Climate
- Poor heat tolerance: work at dawn or dusk, with shade, fans and electrolytes.
- Grooming
- Daily grooming; thin skin needs gentle handling and fly protection.
- Exercise
- Structured daily work — an under-exercised Thoroughbred becomes unmanageable.
- Watch for
- gastric ulcers; tendon injury; laminitis; heat stress
In India: Ex-racehorses are widely available for rehoming in India and need experienced handling and a long let-down period.
Arabian
LargeOne of the oldest breeds — dished face, high tail carriage, legendary stamina.
- Temperament
- intelligent, spirited, people-oriented
- Origin
- Arabian peninsula
- Climate
- Desert-adapted and copes with Indian heat better than most imported breeds.
- Grooming
- Daily grooming; fine coat shows every mark.
- Exercise
- Endurance riding is their discipline — long, steady work.
- Watch for
- colic; cerebellar abiotrophy (inherited); laminitis on rich feed
In India: Ask for genetic testing on breeding stock — several inherited conditions are screenable.
Indian Country-bred
Large · Native to IndiaThe everyday working horse of rural India — a type rather than a fixed breed.
- Temperament
- tough, willing, adaptable
- Origin
- Across India, from local and crossed stock
- Climate
- Locally adapted and the most heat-tolerant option; still needs shade and clean water.
- Grooming
- Daily grooming; hoof care is the commonest neglected need.
- Exercise
- Daily work or turnout; conditioned to long hours.
- Watch for
- parasites; hoof neglect; malnutrition in working animals
In India: Most horses in Indian working use are this type. Deworming, farriery and a proper feed plan transform their condition — and their working life.