Rare, Exotic Marwari Horses on Loan to Kentucky Horse Park
Posted: Friday, September 30, 2011
by The Old Gray Mare
www.DressYourHorse.com
LEXINGTON, KY Four unique and very rare Marwari horses have relocated to The Kentucky Horse Park where they will stable indefinitely. The four horses – three mares and a yearling – are on a permanent loan agreement between Francesca Kelly and the Park.
Kelly owns a farm on Chappaquiddick Island, Massachusetts, and imports the Marwari breed from India. She is a devoted Marwari breeder with a keen interest in the preservation and increase of their numbers outside of India.
Considered athletic, sturdy and valiant horses, the Marwari were used as fighting warhorses over hundreds of years ago. Their endurance and learning ease is legendary.
They possess distinctive ears, a primary characteristic used by the Marwari Registry to judge this breed. Their ears curve inward. On some horses, the ears may touch or even overlap at the points when the horses are most attentive.
All colors can be found in the Marwari Breed but the albino is most desired. In its native India, the Marwari is highly prized for use in religious ceremonies.
“We are delighted and honored that Francesca Kelly has chosen The Kentucky Horse Park as the keeper of the last, precious band of these rare equines on this continent,” said John Nicholson, executive director.
Visitors to the Park may recall Kelly’s horses at the Alltech FEI 2010 World Equestrian Games during tent pegging events. “They are attentive and pick things up quickly through their senses,” said a Park representative.
The yearling colt is scheduled to arrive at the Park in late Fall. The three mares may be seen by the public during regular Park operating hours.
The Kentucky Horse Park is open seven days a week through November 6. Starting on November 7 until March 14, 2012, the Park operates under the winter schedule, and is open Wednesdays through Sundays. The International Museum of the Horse and the American Saddlebred Museum are included in Park admission.
The Old Gray Mare writes for www.DressYourHorse.com and her Blog sites.
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Top-level comments on this article: (3 total)There you go again, intriguing me. You know they say the "Gypsies" were actually placed along the border of ancient India on the western side to permanently deter invaders, and they just drifted west over the centuries. There was a legend that they had these valiant horses, I wonder if this is they.I'm thrilled to "intrigue"! To tell the truth, I've never really known anything about these horses until I was contacted by the Horse Park that they were getting them. There are only 16 horses outside of India in the entire world I'm now told - since I wrote about them. But my article has sparked interest on FB - My responses are not coming to SW. So lots of people didn't know about them either. I want to learn more about them though. I'm in touch with the Park's primary reporter and they'll keep me updated and I'll get more pictures when they're completely out of quarantine and all pretty to pose. She tells me the yearling (a stallion) is quite a handsome horse.
Thank you for being my great support!
Heidi..I had heard of these horses before but did learn some things I hadn't known from your article. Thanks for writing the article and I hope one day to get to see them.
Heidi..I had heard of these horses before but did learn some things I hadn't known from your article. Thanks for writing the article and I hope one day to get to see them.
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