Horse India is run by Dr. Rao Ajeet Singh and british Caroline Moorey. Between them they have decades of experience with horses from different parts of the world, and they share a passion for the Marwari horse.
Together they arrange wonderful adventures on horseback through Indias beautiful landscapes and exciting history and culture.
Philosophy
One of the reasons why Ajeet and Caroline joined each other, was to promote and preserve the Marwari horse as well as offering visitors high quality horse riding holidays. This meant that they had to improve the living conditions of the horses, and they have put a lot of effort into this. Their horses have constant access to water, they have large paddocks where they live as a herd, and during the summer they take them to larger pastures. The horses are ridden in simple snaffle bits, and they are slowly introducing bitless alternatives for some. This way of keeping horses is not very common in India.
Their work is showing positive effects, and they have initiated several campaigns to improve the horses living conditions in India. In addition to working actively to preserve the Marwari Horse as a breed, they have started a Bit Donation Scheme, which aims to eradicate the use of the cruel and sharp Thorn bit. They collect used bits, sterilise them and take them to India where they are distributed free of charge to owners and traders at the rural horse fairs in exchange for their nasty thorn bit. At the same time they are given picture leaflets giving basic horse keeping advice. They have already exchanged over 3000 bits, and even though it is still a long way to go, they have accomplished a lot!
Riding
Horse India offer both scheduled tours on set dates as well as exciting trail routes with flexible travel dates as long as there are min. 2 riders. The trail routes vary from 7 to 14 days in duration, and go from location to location according to the below itineraries. You will spend around 4-6 hours in the saddle each day. The tack used are traditional military saddles (sawar) which are very comfortable, and english bridles with mild bits.
Tours 2020;
24 Jan – 01 Feb.:
Osian Desert Dunes and Nagaur Fair
29 Feb. – 12 March:
Holi Festival Ride
22 March – 02 Apr.:
Balotra Fair and Leopard Trail
14-26 Nov.:
Magical Marwar Combined Ride
27 Nov – 07 Dec.:
Pushkar Fair and Leopard Trail
27 Dec – 02 Jan.:
Festive Christmas Palace to Palace
Itineraries with flexible travel dates;
Osian Desert Dunes, 7 days/6 nights
Palace to Palace, 8 days/7 nights
Leopard Trail, 8 days/7 nights
Leopard and Palace Combined, 13 days/12 nights
Accommodation
The accommodation along the way is usually a combination of hotels and camps;
Hotel – 3* til 4* Heritage Boutique. Fullboard
Tents – Maharajah ‘Shikar’ Tents, each with en suite bathroom of toilet, shower tray, wash basin and mirror (hot and cold water buckets provided) and beds complete with all linen, quilts and towels. These tents are erected and dismantled every night by our tentwala team.
Food; Good mix of traditional Rajasthani meals as well as some western cuisine options at Hotels and in camp.
Horses
The horses are of the traditional Indian Marwari breed. Marwari are known for their intelligence, spirit, stamina, endurance, alertness, loyalty, elegance, beauty, and animated gait. They average between 150-160 cm, are naturally lean, but the most recognised feature is their unique lyre shaped ears that rotate as well as touch at the tips.
They have around 50 horses available, so they can always move horses around and give them resting periods if needed.
