Horses in India
~ Introduction ~

South India:

Most cases of local people keeping horse in this area of India is terrifiying
Common are the hard working cart ponies, they live in extreme bad conditions, are wearing ill fitting tack, often creating wounds near the girth, back, mouth & under the tail.. I've seen cases so bad that I won't describe them here.
These ponies have to pull heavy loads through dusty streets in the burning heat, even in summer when it can get upto 45 degrees celcius.
There are local markets around the Tamil Nadu state, including one in my hometown Tiruvannamalai (Tiru), this particular big market hosts about 200 ponies for a period of 3 days a year.

In these markets you can find the occasional Thoroughbred horse. If you're lucky in good condition, but mostly not.
Marwari horses are more common, but even in a market as big as the one in Tiru there aren't many. All for ridiculous prices, but perhaps that has something to do with being a forgeiner? ;)

A Thoroughbred Stallion in very bad condition A young 4 year old Marwari Mare. Asking price: RS 2 Lakhs

A Marwari Gelding in very bad condition A Sindhi Brood Mare in good condition

Apart from the local cart ponies, there is the whole Racing industry..
They use Thoroughbreds originally imported from the west, these horses are not adapted to this climate, and they are in constant suffering. If you are familliar with the Racing industry in the west, you'll know how unatural it is.
Now imagine that scene & give the physical care a 2 on a scale of 10. This is Indian racing.. Often there are 'bad' horses available for free from the race track. If they aren't taken they will be slaughtered.

A stable in Auroville used to take the better looking ones of these horses, but even they were in bad shape due to: breaking in too early & thus ruining the back, leg problems, bad digestive systems, uncapable of dealing with the climate, etc..

There are few riding schools in Soutern India, mostly in the big towns: Bangalore, Kodaikanal, Chennai, Pondicherry Auroville.
Unfortunatly they are all based on the Traditional unatural way of working with horses.
They also organize South Indian Equestrian Events, which include: Derby, Cross Country, Dressage, Show Jumping, Three day Events & Tent Pegging. The most common breed they use are Thoroughbreds. Although some people have also imported breeds like: Selle Francais, Andalusian & Halfinger Ponies.

In a town called: Auroville, there are a few communities which are keeping horses in a more natural way & use natural training methods that include: Hempfling, Parelli & Monty Roberts. more information here.