Discover the Marwari Horse
PC- Maria Kooy
Dundlod safaris Calendar
History of the Marwari Horse
India’s Marwari horse is a breed that has carried nobility into battle and shaped destinies. It also has a rich history and endurance few horses can match.
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Found in the Marwar (Jodhpur) region of Rajasthan in northwest India, the origins of the Marwari horse were obscure until fairly recently, with many different legends claiming to tell the tale of where it came from.
First bred in the 12th century by the Rathores, the rulers of the Marwar region, Marwari horses were used as cavalry horses and were renowned for their hardiness and bravery in battle.
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After being forced into the desert near what is currently Pakistan in 1193, the Rathores continued careful breeding of Marwari horses, and only members of certain castes were permitted to ride them.
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The capture of northern India in the 16th century by the Mughals may have introduced Turkoman horse blood into Marwari lines, hence the similarity between the Marwari and the modern day Akhal-Teke horse.
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The Marwari still served as a cavalry horse and was trained to perform complex maneuvers. The breed was known for its exceptional hearing and sense of direction, bringing wounded soldiers back from the battlefield without needing to be guided.
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Political and economical tumult in early 20th century India saw the Marwari fall perilously close to extinction. The British in India preferred polo ponies and Thoroughbreds, and the warrior culture and Indian nobility were eventually supplanted by modern society after India gained its independence.
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By 1950 the Marwari had been made a rare breed, practically nonexistent but for the efforts of Maharaja Umaid Singhji and his grandson Maharaja Gaj Singh II keeping a few bloodlines going.
REPC Royal equestrian Polo centre Dundlod Shekhawati
Here at Dundlod stables , 50 Marwari Horses await you with a sprawling Horse Polo Field for Equestrian Championships measuring 1200 ft length x 600 ft width. There is a tent pegging track where on request one can get to see the great display of tent pegging by the brave horse men on the magnificent Marwari horse. For all kinds of experiences and riding camps, there are paddocks and Training grounds available.
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All the Horses are Indigenous as Dundlod is known to promote equestrian sports and training for our local breeds. They are Marwari. Kathiawari and Sindhi breed of horses.In total there are 36 stables which are divided between Mares and Stallion lines. A lot of horses are left open in the paddocks too.
Discover the Marwari Horse
curly ears
PC- Maria Kooy
Story of The Curly ears
Marwari Horse uniquely inward curly ears have long fascinated riders. Riding the Marwari horses in India is an experience unlike any other. It makes sense to discover India from the back of their native horses, gazing through the archway of their ears. The Marwari breed can rotate their ears 180 degrees.
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This skill provides them with superior hearing, as the ears act as a radar that warns them of dangers. As a result, they are more able to survive in the open desert landscapes and flee from predators. The dexterity of the ears helps the horses to withstand the brutal sand storms of Northern India’s relentless Thar Desert, as they can swivel the ears around to protect them from the gusts of whirling sand.
As the breeds we know today were once prized cavalry horses, their alert responsiveness due to their seemingly telepathic hearing made them ideal for the battleground.
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The various movements of horses ears indicate messages to the rider. Whilst riding the Marwari, Kathiawar and Sindhi, the communication between horse and rider is enhanced through their sensitive hearing and ear movements. To explore India by the indigenous horse breeds brings you deeper into the cultural myriad of wonder that is India.
You can tell the three breeds apart often by just looking at their ears. The Kathiawar's ears will often be so curled that they cross over each other at the top, whereas the Sindhi breeds still curl inwards, but remain apart without touching
1982 HORSE SAFARIS & EQUESTRIAN TOURISM
To preserve their ancestral roots and commercially- acquired marwari herd of horses , a substantial number of contemporary horsemen harnessed this potential in the form of horse safaris, which has become a meaningful activity in terms of ushering equestrian tourism all over the world. Trending from South Africa and parts of the Middle, the idea of commercial horse safaris was prompted to Dundlod by some British polo players who were visiting India at the time. And just like that, for the 40 years that followed from then until now till 2022, there was no looking back for Bonnie Dundlod and his equine cohort.
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So needless to say you are experiencing a slice of the legendary tale created by the Marwari horses where Thakur Raghuvendra singh Dundlod was the pioneer in the revival of the Marwari horses and now his daughter Mallyka Singh Dundlod is taking over the Reins!
Ride the famous Indian Marwari horse through the rich cultural heritage of India. Known all over the world by the name of Dundlod Safaris started by Thakur Raghuvendra Singh Dundlod, fondly known as Bonnie. He has been a Pioneer in horse safaris in India since 1985 and currently running 37th year.
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Experience rural Rajasthan while riding the famous Marwari horses through countryside, open fields and small villages. Ride ranges from 6 to 9 days and gives you an excellent combination to stay and enjoy heritage forts and palaces and luxuries camp sites. Enroute hot lunches and interact with local villagers. Dundlod safaris have been hosts to famous celebrities, royalties and dignitaries from all over the world. Therefore if one wants we also have customised private rides for anyone interested.
Shekhawati, The Land Of Kings.
A Region Rich In Culture And History.
A regal land rich in history and heroic legends, Rajasthan literally translates to the “Land of Kings.” A cultural exploration discovering Shekhawati on Marwari horses. Famed for their inward curling ears, the Marwari’s are an indigenous breed of India.
Explore pathways weaving through native Dhani’s or hamlets of the countryside; you will be exposed to the real India while you ride the spirited Marwari horse as you venture off the beaten track with Bonnie and his daughter Mallyka Baisa connecting with the local culture and people, whilst forging a genuine understanding of the unique Marwari breed of horses.
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Traditional ways of life are strong in Rajasthan, and you will be exposed to a living piece of history as you see camels and bullock carts, nomadic goat herders, and subsistence farmers go about their daily lives. Watch in awe as ladies balance enormous loads on their heads and work in the fields in shimmering bright traditional attire. This journey will unveil the real life patterns and vibrance of Rajasthan. Colourful, cultural and vibrant, Rajasthan’s heady alchemy will awaken all of your senses. Discover towering forts, brightly painted haveli’s, and connecting yourself with another time, in this romantic environment.
As an additional experience for the more adventurous. Enjoy a real rural life experience of being in the middle of nowhere only surrounded by the Marwari horses. Post a full day of ride, experience a sundowner while you enjoy your tea/coffee and settle down. Later part of the evening relax around the bonfire while drinks & dinner is served under the stars and great conversations happen while you unwind after an awesome day in the saddle. Our feedback from guests is rather special when they look back to their camp nights spent in the countryside of Shekhawati.
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Tent pegging is a sport of the equestrian discipline, where the objective is for a rider to pierce, pick-up and carry a target, with a lance or a sword, as they gallop towards the target. The sport is played in a lot of countries around the world, but is most popular in commonwealth countries.
Tent pegging is a cavalry sport of ancient origin, and is one of only ten equestrian disciplines officially recognised by the International Equestrian Federation. Used narrowly, the term refers to a specific mounted game with ground targets. More broadly, it refers to the entire class of mounted cavalry games involving pointed/edged weapons (Lance and Sword) on horseback, for which the term "equestrian skill-at-arms" is also used.
Cavaliers have practised the specific game of tent pegging since at least the 4th century BC, Asian and European empires spread the game around the world.
According to the International Equestrian Federation, "most equestrian authorities are of the opinion that tent-pegging originated in India in the middle ages in the battlefields as a tactics used by the horsed cavalry against elephant mounted troops. A cavalier able to precisely stab the highly sensitive flesh behind an elephant's toenail would cause the enemy elephant to rear, unseat his mahout, and possibly run amok, breaking ranks and trampling infantry. The term "tent pegging" is certainly related to the idea that cavaliers mounting a surprise pre-dawn raid on an enemy camp could use the game's skills to sever or uproot tent pegs, thus collapsing the tents on their sleeping occupants and sowing havoc and terror in the camp. Because the specific game of tent pegging is the most popular equestrian skill-at-arms game, the entire class of sports became known as tent pegging during the twilight of cavalry in the twentieth century. In the Pakistani region of Baluchistan, it is the provincial sport.