Kathiawari

Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. The Kathiawari is a breed of horse from India, specifically originating in the Kathiawar peninsula. By tradition, the Kathiawari is thought to have been first bred in the 14th century, crossing native ponies, Arabian horses, and other oriental breeds. There is a legend that shipwrecked Arabian horses swam to shore and bred with local ponies. Others believe that during the reign of the Mughal emperors, they imported Arabians and other oriental breeds from the Mideast to India, and deliberately crossed them with local breeds to improve the stock. Kathiawar horses have great endurance and stamina, due to their Arabian ancestry. Highly prized, they were originally bred by wealthy Kathiawar families who would name a strain according to their foundation mare. Today, however, the government-controlled stud at Junagadh breeds most horses.