A horse safari in Rajasthan. Irish rider, Kate, shares her experience of riding Marwari horses out of Jaisalmer on a horse riding holiday.

The naturally curled ears of the Marwari horse breed. A native horse breed of India, the Marwari's ears are unique in their shape and rotation ability.

Endurance horse rider Mohit Bachhav shares his experiences of riding and competing in national Indian endurance competitions on marwari horses.

Explore manu sharma303's 152 photos on Flickr!

Baladi Intro Also called Egyptian Horse the Baladi is an Egyptian horse of questionable bloodlines. Origins The Egyptian Horse is no longer an individual breed as it once was. There has been significant “Arabization” of the indigenous horses of Egypt, due to the short distance between Arabia and the Nile. The resulting animals come from a combinations of Arabian bloodlines and are unable to be registered. An influx of English Thoroughbred blood was added for increased speed & size but because of their lack of papers these animals are shunned by breeders & tribesmen. Although they are still magnificent animals and often faster over short distances, (but not as hardy over distance as the pureblood Arabian). Features Average height 14.3 hands Physique Short, dished and refined Small muzzle with large nostrils Big expressive eyes Short curved ears Temperament Spirited Intelligent Bold Use Racing Pleasure Showing Balearic Horse Intro This breed is found on the island of Majorca off the southern coast of Spain. Unfortunately very few formal records have been kept on the Balearic horse. That combined with their isolation has kept their bloodlines pure and their numbers down. Origins One of the rarest breeds still alive today, the Balearic horse is of unknown, yet ancient origin. The breed is distinctly different from other Iberian breeds, even those on neighboring Belearic islands. Some believe that the breed is descendant of the horses of Ancient Greece because of their likeness to the animals portrayed in Greek artifacts and art. Features Average height 14 hands Physique Small head with convex profile Short, thick, arched neck Slender legs Traditional Colors chestnut | grey | bay Use Farm animal Transportation Harness horse Riding horse Show horse Bali Pony Intro Found on the Indonesian island of Bali, this pony is an incredibly healthy and self-sufficient animal. Their size, strength and stature is more a product of the local needs than any real selective breeding. Origins The origin of the Bali pony is unknown, however they are thought to have been brought to Indonesia by the Chinese in the 6th century. These original bloodlines may have been crossed with horses from both India and the Netherlands during the 18th century. Lack of any serious breeding program has left their confirmation quite unrefined, but given them a great deal of natural strength through natural selection. Healthy and self-sufficient, these animals rarely require shoes because their feet are so hardy. Features Average height 11.3 – 13 hands Incredibly strong for their small size Physique Head is large with straight profile Small ears and almond shaped eyes Short, straight neck mane is bristly and stands upright Short, upwardly curved back Legs are strong with good joints and hard hooves Traditional Colors Generally Dun with primitive markings but other colors can be found Temperament Independent and tough Use Pack animal Trekking animal Riding horse Balikun Horse Intro A rare light draft breed, the Balikun horse is well adapted for harsh environment and is used mainly for transportation. Origins Descendants of Kazakh and Mongolian horses, the Balikun horses have been selectively bred for over 200 years and are a native breed of China. Features Average height 12.2 – 13.1 hands Tough and well adapted to harsh habitat Physique Heavy head with small ears Short, thick, muscular neck Back is short and flat Powerful hindquarters Strong legs with sound feet Coat is very thick and dense Traditional Colors chestnut | bay Temperament Willing and able Use Transport Riding horse Cart horse Baluchi Horse Intro Easy to identify because of their turned in ears (similar to those of the Marwari horse), the Baluchi horse is native to Pakistan. Origins Thought to be of Barb descent, this breed is known for its strength, endurance and fine confirmation. Today the bloodlines have been diluted to the point there are very few of pure lineage, making this an incredibly rare breed. Features Average height 14 hands Physique Medium sized fine head with straight or slightly convex profile Eyes are large and expressive Ears are long and curve inwards Neck is long and muscular Back is short and strong Legs are fine and strong with good joints and defined tendons Feet are very hard and strong Traditional Colors black | grey | bay Use Pleasure riding horse Sport horse Cart horse Beledougou Origins The Beledougou also called the Banamba is a variety of the West African Barb (with Arabian influence) and was developed in Mali, Africa. The Baluchi horse is related to the West African Barb through the Beledougou. There is very little information about this breed. Banat Intro The Banat was a moderately large-framed quality horse which was used for draught and tractive power. This breed is now extinct. Origins This breed was a large light horse from the Timus Plateau of Romania. They were developed by crossing the Nonius, Noric, Ardennes, Oldenburg, and Lipitsa. They became an important animal to the local people and were used primarily for agricultural work. Unfortunately, with the emergence of modernization techniques for farming, the Banat, among other draft type animals fell into extinction. Physique With the influence of so many breeds a standard was never agreed upon. Use Agriculture work Bandiagara Horse Intro The Bandiagara horse is a mid-sized and docile horse breed from Mali and Niger in Africa. Origins This breed is a Barb type with fragile and lovely facial features. For the most part, this breed type is suited to the climatic harshness of the area and highly adaptable. Features Average height 14.3 – almost 15 hands Physique Neck is short & thick Chest & shoulder are ample Back is long with rounded croup Tail is low set Legs are think and sinewy Hooves are hard & small Traditional Colors grey | bay Temperament Spirited & bold Use Transportation Cart horse Ban-ei Intro The Ban-ei horse is a blend of Percheron, Belgian and Breton blood, specifically bred in Japan for a unique type of horse racing. Origins Draft racing or ban-ei keiba is a race in which a draft horse pulls a heavy sleigh over hills for a total of 200 meters. The weight of the sled is the handicap and varies based on the age and track record of each animal. There was once four draft racetracks in Japan, Iwamizawa, Kitami, Obihiro and Asahikawa. Today the Obihiro is the only remaining track and most of the horses are bred nearby in Hokkaido. Racing has been a tradition on Hokkaido since the regain was first inhabited. Percheron and Brenton stallions are imported every year to contribute and enhance these bloodlines. Features 14.3 – 16.1 Physique Because of the amount of bloodline mixing there is a great deal of variation in the confirmation of the Ban-ei horses. Traditional Colors Solid colors Temperament Strong and docile Use Racing horses Agriculture work Video Banker Pony Intro The Banker Pony inhabits the Outer Banks of Carolinas and are also calledShackleford ponies, Banker horses and Ocracoke ponies. Origins Believed to have been descendant from Spanish horses brought by some of the first explorers of the area early in the 16th century. The initial bloodlines of these animals were undoubtedly influenced by English horses as well as Spanish during early exploration. However, their blood has remained relatively pure since due to their isolation The Banker ponies have been the topic of controversy, some conservationists believe that they are destroying their natural habitat and want them removed. While animal activists believe that if the horses have always been there, they should be allowed to stay in their natural habitat. Currently the horses on these islands are managed (similar to Assateague ponies) to keep numbers at a sustainable level by the National Park Service. Features Average height 13 – 14.3 hands A tough animal with typical hardy Spanish traits Physique Head is simple with broad forehead and generally convex profile Deep, narrow chest and short back Often lack chestnuts on hind legs Traditional Colors black | chestnut | bay | dun | pinto | buckskin Temperament Docile and friendly for wild ponies Willing to learn and easy to train Use Wild horses Riding pony Pleasure pony Helpful Links *All links open in a new window Shackleford Horses Ocracoke Island Where to Buy National Park Service Video

A horseback safari to Pushkar Fair in Rajasthan. A horse riding holiday ending at Pushkar Fair, a horse and camel fair in this sacred town in Rajasthan.

A horse safari in Rajasthan. Irish rider, Kate, shares her experience of riding Marwari horses out of Jaisalmer on a horse riding holiday.

Jodhpurs, a look into where these horse riding essentials came from. Different to riding breeches, traditional Jodhpurs are wider at the hip and thigh area.

Endurance horse rider Mohit Bachhav shares his experiences of riding and competing in national Indian endurance competitions on marwari horses.

Endurance horse rider Mohit Bachhav shares his experiences of riding and competing in national Indian endurance competitions on marwari horses.

Endurance horse rider Mohit Bachhav shares his experiences of riding and competing in national Indian endurance competitions on marwari horses.

The Marwari Horse is a rare horse breed from the Indian region of Marwari which may be better known to most as Jodphur. Click to learn more.

Endurance horse rider Mohit Bachhav shares his experiences of riding and competing in national Indian endurance competitions on marwari horses.

Jodhpurs, a look into where these horse riding essentials came from. Different to riding breeches, traditional Jodhpurs are wider at the hip and thigh area.

Endurance horse rider Mohit Bachhav shares his experiences of riding and competing in national Indian endurance competitions on marwari horses.

The perfect horse holiday for horse riders looking to canter across endless sandy tracks on the marwari horse of India. An ideal horse riding holiday.

Dundlod Fort is a heritage hotel in Rajasthan. Near to Jaipur, Dundlod Fort is best known for being a horse riding holiday destination.

Endurance horse rider Mohit Bachhav shares his experiences of riding and competing in national Indian endurance competitions on marwari horses.

A talk by Michael Huggan I spent a super evening at Basingstoke Camera Club earlier this month showing a range of my pictures from Africa, USA and India. The African images were selected from seven years of regular visits capturing the people, places and wildlife. The second show was a selection of my equestrian pictures of cross country, show jumping, carriage driving, heavy horses ploughing and images from the Camargue. Zebra Great Egret in Florida Aligator at Gatorland in Florida After a coffee break, I continued the talk with images from Florida and my recent trip to India. I always like to get as much audience participation as possible. There are many members who do not have the opportunity to travel as far afield as I have, so it is it pleasure to share my experiences with them. I emphasize that my photography is nothing special and anybody can produce the same results. However, preparation, anticipation and luck do play an important part in getting the ‘right picture’. “F8 and be there”. Eastern Bluebird in Florida - bronze medal winner Photographic Society of America 2009 Sunset at Lake Blue Cyprus, Florida Afternoon tea The main interest seemed to be the pictures of ‘Street Life’ from India showing all manner of activities of people going about their daily business. I also brought along a number of large framed and canvas pictures of a variety of subjects. Donkeys and bricks A dancing horses display at the Horse Endurance Show in Dundlod, Rajasthan Carriage Driving Championships 2009, Windsor Great Park My thanks to Basingstoke Camera Club for their hospitality and in particular, Cath Farrow, Programme Secretary, for arranging the talk. I received a nice compliment from her as follows: “Hi Michael, Thank you again for your excellent presentation. It was a nice mix of AV, prints, you talking about your travels and the images you have taken. The India pictures were different from anything I had seen before, and gave a whole new picture of that part of the country. It isn't often that the members want to go on after 10 o'clock, and I think we were all amazed at the quality of your prints. Best wishes, Cath” .

Marwari horses, also referred to as Malani horses, are a unique breed of horse that are found in Marwari, India which is also referred to as Jodhpur.

When Charlotte moved to India and rescued a Marwari horse. She then introduced bitless riding at competitions and educate people about horse welfare in India.

The perfect horse holiday for horse riders looking to canter across endless sandy tracks on the marwari horse of India. An ideal horse riding holiday.

A horseback safari to Pushkar Fair in Rajasthan. A horse riding holiday ending at Pushkar Fair, a horse and camel fair in this sacred town in Rajasthan.