Newsletter

Issue. 4            NEWS LETTER                  2005-2007

  • I apologise for the long interval in the continuation of the newsletter.
  • A 8 members contingent of Rajasthan Equestrian Association in collaboration with IHSI participated in a Horse Show conducted at Colombo ( Sri Lanka ) in April 2005. Marwari and Kathiyawari horses participated in tent pegging, horse dancing and endurance during this show.
  • On 10th April 2005 Mr Bernard Duverney of Switzerland conducted a Farrier and hoof care work shop at Dundlod , Shekhawati Rajasthan. 8 veterinary doctors, 9 breeders and 8 farmers attended the workshop. Veterinary doctors from the State Government of Rajasthan and NRCE Hisar were also present.
  • Her Excellency Governor of Rajasthan Smt. Pratibha Patil visited Dundlod Shekhawati on 11th April 2005 on the occasion of the Festival of Gangaur.

Secretary IHSI put before her the work being done for the indigenous horses in the Country and presented Francesca Kelly’s book on Marwari Horses to her.

A ceremonial Mounted Escort on Marwari horses gave the welcome to Her Excellency.

  • In June2005 Mr. Mark Miller started his film on Marwari horses at Dundlod and later continued in Marwar.
  • On 23rd July 2005 Secretary IHSI met Sh. Sharad Pawar Minister of Agriculture, Government of India at NRCE Hisar. A representation was given to the Minister in regard to the following for his consideration :
  • To forward disease free status to OIE Brussels.
  • To consider a disease free zone for horses.
  • To take up the issue to lift the ban on import of horses with the EU
  • To circulate the breed standards of the Marwari Horse to all  concerned Animal Husbandry Departments.
  • On 4th October 2005 a delegation led by the Secretary Kr. Raghuvendra Singh Dundlod met the Honourable President of India His Excellency Sh. Abdul Kalam. A Marwari Horse Book, postcards and a representation to include Marwari / Kathiyawari horses in the President’s Bodyguard was presented.
  •    In November 2005 a protest was lodged with the Government of Rajasthan against the Ajmer – Merta Railway line going through the Pushkar Fair ground. A pamphlet in this regard was distributed in the fair.
  • A Research Team from the MacDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, University of Cambridge, UK visited Rajasthan and Gujarat in January 2006 to do research on the origin of domesticated horses.
  • In February 2006  4 Marwari Horses were selected at the 100 kms Endurance Trial for the Asian Games. The selected horses were from Dundlod and Ladnun.
  • The Secretary IHSI on invitation from the Ministry of Agriculture Government of India attended the 18th Live Stock Census Meeting on 5th April 2006. He emphasised at the meeting to have a separate category for the Indigenous Horses, which was agreed upon.
  • Scientists of NRCE Hisar did collection, processing  and cryopreservation of semen of True to Breed Stallions at the Marwari Bloodline Breeding Farm Dundlod from 14th to 17th April 2006.
  • President IHSI Maharaja Gaj Singh Jodhpur visited Surajgarh in Shekhawati on 28th April 2006. The Secretary along with a delegation of Marwari Horse Breeders of Shekhawati welcomed the Chairman and showed some Marwari Horses of Shekhawati to him.
  • On 28th June 2006 DILRAJ, the Marwari Stallion at USA, sired by the famous stallion Gajraj was gifted by Francesca Kelly to the Musee Vivant du Cheval at Chantilly ( France). Dilraj arrived in France in July 2006 and appeared in his first show in September 2006.
  • In July 2006, the Secretary during his trip to UK visited the Cambridge University to see the work and to understand the process of the research work being done on the Marwari and Kathiyawari horses by the MacDonald Institute of Archaeological Research.
  • In July 2006, the first Equine Farrier Course was conducted by NRCE at Bikaner. Many participants connected with the indigenous horse breeding attended the course.
  • In July 2006 Francesca Kelly gave on loan 2 of her Marwari Horses to the Kentucky Horse Park USA for display of the breed to its visitors.
  • On 1st August 2006 the formal approval on the representation made to the Hon’ble President of India to include Marwari Horses in the Rashtrapati Bhawan contingent was received from the Ministry of Defence, Government of India.
  • On 12th October 2006 Secretary attended the 2nd meeting of the 18th Livestock Census at the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India. IHSI proposed to help the Government to identify the indigenous breeds by holding a seminar to educate the Census Technical Staff.
  • On 22nd September 2006 Secretary IHSI met the Chief Minister of Rajasthan Smt. Vasundhara Raje with a delegation and discussed the future prospects of  Marwari and Kathiyawari breed of horses in Rajasthan. He also requested the Chief Minister to be the Chief Patron of the IHSI to which she very kindly gave her consent.
  • In October 2006 a brochure titled “ Our Mission Statement”  was published and distributed to all members as well as to persons interested in the indigenous breeds of horses.
  • A seminar for finalisation of breed characteristics of Marwari horse and procedure for initiation of stud book was held at NRCE Hisar in collaboration with Department of Animal Husbandry, Government of India on 25th November 2006.

The Breed Characteristics were finalised and approved.
On the issue of a Stud Book the matter was put to deliberation and it was left pending to be taken up at a later stage by consulting other indigenous breeders and societies.

The Secretary IHSI presented a presentation on the past, present and the future of the indigenous horses.

  • 6th National Indigenous Championship was held at Dundlod on 20th March 2007. The results of this are attached with this newsletter.
  • For the promotion of the Marwari and Kathiyawari breeds, the Dancing with Horses Show choreographed and created by Francesca Kelly was performed at Jaipur at the Rajasthan Polo Club Grounds Jaipur on 27th and 28th March 2007.
  • Francesca Kelly, the author of the Marwari Horse Book along with Secretary IHSI met Honourable Vice President Sh. Bhairon Singh Shekhawat on his visit to Shekhawati on 30th March 2007. Francesca Kelly presented her book to the Vice President.
  • On 31st March 2007 a contingent of Marwari Horses took part in the parade on the occasion of Rajasthan Diwas. Horse Dances were performed for the Chief Guest Honourable President of India His Excellency Sh. Abdul Kalam.
  • The update list of horses registered till 31st March 2007 as well as breeding stock registration list will be circulated separately.
  • The National Executive of the IHSI and a General Body meeting is scheduled to be held shortly. The important decisions of the same will be communicated to all separately.