Zaniskari

The Zaniskari or Zanskari is a breed of small mountain horse or pony from Ladakh, in northern India.[6] It is named for the Zanskar valley or region in Kargil district.[7] It is similar to the Spiti breed of Himachal Pradesh, but is better adapted to work at high altitude.[8] Like the Spiti, it shows similarities to the Tibetan breeds of neighbouring Tibet.[3]:197 It is of medium size, and is often grey in colour. The breed is considered endangered, as there are only a few hundred alive today, and a conservation programme has been started in India.

Zaniskari
Conservation statusFAO (2007): not at risk[1]:61
Other names
  • Zanskari[2]
  • Zaskari[3]:197
  • Zanaskari[4]
  • Jhanskar
Country of originIndia
DistributionZanskar valley of Ladakh
Use
Traits
Height
  • Range: 110–140 cm
    Average: 126 cm[5]:53
Colour
Breed standards
Carrying packs of potatoes near the Zanskar River

History

In 1977 the population of Zaniskari horses was estimated at 15,000–20,000.[4] The breed was listed as "not at risk" by the FAO in 2007.[1]:61 However, it has been endangered by indiscriminate cross-breeding with other horses and it is thought that only a few hundred pure-bred animals now remain, mainly in the valleys of Ladakh, including the Zanskar Gorge from which the breed takes its name.[2] The Animal Husbandry Department of Jammu and Kashmir operates a farm at Padum, Zanskar, for the breeding and conservation of the breed.[2] The population has declined rapidly due to mechanisation and to increases in the number of roads in its native area. However, the population did not in 2006 show signs of any significant genetic bottleneck.[9]:199

A genetic analysis of five Indian horse breeds in 2007 found the Zaniskari to be close to the Manipuri, Spiti and Bhutia breeds, and more distant from the Marwari.[10] A study of all six Indian breeds in 2014 grouped the Zaniskari with the Bhutia, Manipuri and Spiti breeds, and found it to be most closely related to the Spiti.[11]

Characteristics

The Zaniskari is strong, compact and well built, and is particularly adapted to work in the hypoxic environment of Ladakh.[7]:60 Height is usually between 120 and 140 centimetres (11.3 and 13.3 hands);[2] thoracic circumference is 140–150 cm (55–60 in) and body length about 95–115 cm (38–45 in). The most usual horse coat colour is grey; bay, brown, black and chestnut also occur.[6]

Use

The Zaniskari is particularly adapted to work as a pack animal in the high altitudes and challenging conditions of its native region, which lies between 3000 and 5000 m above sea level, and where temperatures may reach -40 °C. It is strong and sure-footed, and has good stamina. The ITBP and the Indian army in Ladakh uses it as a pack-beast. It is also used for riding and for polo.[5]:57–58

References
  1. Barbara Rischkowsky, D. Pilling (eds.) (2007). List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources, annex to The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN 9789251057629. Accessed June 2015.
  2. Equines in India: Horses: Zanskari Horse. Indian Council of Agricultural Research: National Research Centre on Equines. Accessed June 2015.
  3. Elwyn Hartley Edwards (1994). The Encyclopedia of the Horse. London; New York; Stuttgart; Moscow: Dorling Kindersley. ISBN 0751301159.
  4. Zaniskari Pony/India. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed June 2015.
  5. A.K. Gupta, S.N. Tandon, Y. Pal, A. Bhardwaj, M. Chauhan (2012). Phenotypic characterization of Indian equine breeds: a comparative study. Animal Genetic Resources (50): 49–58. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. doi:10.1017/S2078633612000094
  6. Brief on Zanskari Ponies. Indigenous Horse Society of India. Accessed June 2015.
  7. G. S. Gujral (1996). Changing Perspectives Of Biodiversity Status In The Himalaya. New Delhi: British Council Division, British High Commission. ISBN 9788190065108.
  8. About Indian Horses. Indigenous Horse Society of India. Accessed June 2015.
  9. Rahul Behl, Jyotsna Behl, Neelam Gupta, S.C. Gupta, S.P.S. Ahlawat, Mahesh Ragnekar, Z. Ahmed (2006). Genetic characterization of Zanskari breed of horse. Journal of Genetics 85 (3): 199-203. doi:10.1007/bf02935331.
  10. Rahul Behl, Jyotsna Behl, Neelam Gupta, S.C. Gupta (2007). Genetic relationships of five Indian horse breeds using microsatellite markers. Animal 1 (4):483–488. doi:10.1017/S1751731107694178 (subscription required)
  11. A.K. Gupta, Mamta Chauhan, Anuradha Bhardwaj, Neelam Gupta, S.C. Gupta, Yash Pal, S.N. Tandon, R.K. Vijh (2014). Comparative genetic diversity analysis among six Indian breeds and English Thoroughbred horses. Livestock Science 163, May 2014, Pages 1–11. doi:10.1016/j.livsci.2014.01.028 (subscription required).
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