Having faced a prolonged period of negligence for about 200 years, the Deccani horse, locally known as the Bhimthadi horse, has now been officially recognized as an independent breed of India. Ranjeet Pawar, founder of the All India Bhimthadi Horse Association, and Sharad Mehta, head of the regional station of the National Research Centre of Equines in Bikaner, Rajasthan, made the announcement during a press conference at Deccan Gymkhana in Pune on Tuesday. Originating from the Bhima river valley in the Pune district in the 17th and 18th centuries, Maharashtra’s indigenous breed, the Deccani horse, is soon to be officially recognized, following the issuance of a gazette notification. According to Sharad Mehta, there are officially 5,134 Bhimthadi horses in India and notified tribes such as the Dhangar (nomadic community) have the responsibility of safeguarding them through their traditional games or other means. Named after the Bhima river, 'Bhimthadi' combines 'Bhima' with 'thadi,' meaning riverbank. This breed is primarily located on the Deccan plateau, spanning areas in Pune, Satara, Solapur, Ahmednagar, Sangli, and Kolhapur districts. Mehta said India lacks national games, national stadiums, and state provisions to safeguard the indigenous horse breeds. "Among the total of 3,40,000 indigenous horses and around 10,000 foreign horses, the foreign ones receive more attention through participation in races or NCC. Unfortunately, no significant measures are being taken to protect our indigenous breeds, which are on the brink of extinction," said Mehta. "It's a moment of pride as we bring it back within the constitutional framework. This horse played a crucial role in Maharashtra's history, contributing to the Marathas' fight against the Mughals," he added. Blood samples from over 1,000 Bhimthadi horses were tested at the National Research Centre on Equines in Bikaner. The DNA testing of 500 samples took three years to confirm its independence from established breeds. The three-year process resulted in the approval of eight out of 66 recognition applications, including the Bhimthadi horse. During the event, Ranjeet Pawar said once the breed gets official recognition, they plan to introduce Bhimthadi horses into sports such as endurance and polo. "The inaugural official showcase of Bhimthadi horses will take place at the Krushik Agricultural Fair in Baramati on January 20 and 21," Pawar, also a founder of Baramati Ashwapaga, announced.
