India
India’s protected indigenous breed of horse – the Marwari – is undoubtedly noble and proud. These “warrior horses” fearlessly rode to battle and today, that spirit and courage give an unequalled ride. They are perhaps best known for their distinctive and unusual lyre-shaped ears, which curl inwards at the top, meeting in the middle above the poll, though they are not physically joined. They are able to rotate up to 180 degrees – so nothing gets past these horses! They come in all sorts of incredible colours and whilst perfect for endurance, they are robust and broad chested, no larger than 15.2hh.
The vast country of India has had a colourful past and this is reflected greatly in the state of Rajasthan: “the Land of Kings” where the most exciting horse safaris take place today. This unique region has a wealth of history, culture and tradition with a great diversity of past influences including tribalism, Aryan “noblemen”, the Huns and, importantly from an equestrian perspective, the Rajputs “Children of Kings” who became a warrior race to fend off enemy invasion. Their third largest Kingdom was called: Marwar after which their treasured horses were named.
Please contact your doctor or specialist medical clinic for advice on inoculations required. These can take several weeks to become effective, so please plan ahead! It is also recommended that you bring a well-stocked first aid kit with you for your own peace of mind.
On safari, meals are freshly prepared to all requirements and to the very highest level of hygiene (though beef does not feature in general in Rajasthan for religious and cultural reasons). However, when travelling elsewhere be mindful of the fundamental guidelines for safe eating in any foreign destination. Please contact us for more info on this.