Evolution of the Chhumurthi/Spiti Horse:

There is no authentic source of information available regarding the evolution of the Chhumurti/Spiti Horses. However there is legend amongst the people of Spiti and Kinnaur districts bordering Tibet that this breed of horse is descendent of wild horse which used to inhabit the alpine region of the Spiti, Ladhakh and Tibet. Synopsis of this legend is available and one species of wild equine is still found in the alpine region of Spiti, Changthang area of Ladhakh and Tibet pastures which is known as Kiang in Bhot language. Herds of Kiang are very often seen by the traders while on their way to Ladhakh and Tibet. It was thought earlier that Spiti/Chhumurthi horses are crosses of Kiang but this does not hold true as Kiang belongs to ass family. However, on viewing the morphological similarities between Spiti/Chhumurthi horses and other Himalayan Breeds of horses such as Zangskari and Bhutia, it is believed that Chhumurthi/Spiti could have originated from the Tibetan Breeds of horses. Development & History of Spiti/Chhumurthi: The Chhumurthi Breed is one of the six recognized breed of Indian horses. This breed resembles to the Tibetan Breeds of horses because they are said to be originated from Chhumurthi area of Tibet. It is said that in that area, there is one grass which on drying looks like insect. During severe winters when no other source of fodder is available, due to heavy snowfall outside, the animals are fed this grass and they are able to sustain good health, their mouth giving reddish tinge. The name of the breed Chhumurthi said to be originated from this. Breeding tract and distribution: Though the distribution of breed is confined to Lahoul & Spiti, Kinnaur, Kullu, Mandi, limited areas of Kangra and Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh; Ladhakh division of J & K; Uttranchal and Tibet but the true breeding tract is confined to 15 villages of two Panchayats (Kungri and Sagnam) in Pin Valley of Spiti Sub-Division of Distt. Lahoul & Spiti. It is only in this area, that the breeders are engaged in the vocation of horse breeding and selling of surplus stock as economic activity. Economic or socio-economic role: At present horse husbandry has become a major source of income for the people of Pin Valley, second to pea cultivation. The people of Pin Valley took up the venture of horse rearing to make their livelihood. The horses so produced are taken to International Lavi Fair at Rampur Bushair in Shimla District, Ladarcha Fair at Kaza in Lahoul & Spiti District, Changthang area of Ladhakh, Uttranchal and Tibet, where these horses fetch a good price. The barter system of trade is still practiced across the border in Tibet and Ladhakh plateau. Besides these economic advantages/activities, these horses form

an integral part of their society which is evident from the fact that before castrating any horse by the veterinarians, these people start reading Mantras from an ancient Buddhist chronicle of equines called Tar-dzung with the belief that reading these Mantras may cause less pain and post-operative suffering. These horses are also used for transportation/journey in the mountainous terrains as these horses are known for their stamina and sure-footedness. Current Population: As per the surveys conducted by the Dr. G.C. Negi Memorial College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, CSK-HPKV Palampur under the project "Survey and Characterization of Spiti Horses" the total population of Spiti horses in Himachal Pradesh is approximately 4000(Total equine population of the state as per the 1992 census is 14578). The further distribution of this population is as under: Lahoul & Spiti-= 1100 Kinnaur= 800 Kullu=800 Kangra=600 Mandi=700 This population is variable because the stock is migratory in Kullu, Kangra and Mandi districts. About 200-300 horses are sold every year to other areas of the state, adjoining states of J & K and Uttranchal as well as across the border in Tibet during different fairs. However, horses with true breed characteristics are confined to 15 villages of Pin Valley in Spiti Sub-Division of Lahoul & Spiti District. Physical appearance: General Appearance: Attractive individuality with faminity, harmonious blending of all body parts, impressive style and carriage/gait. Body capacity: Long and deep barrel, widely sprung ribs, wide chest floor, muscular shoulders with slightly sloped blades. Chhumurthi Stallion Breed characteristics: Heavily set head, large in proportion to body size; long mane and forlock hairs; small and alert eyes mostly black in colour, laterally oriented ears, short and bulky neck with slightly sloped shoulders. Short and moderately high withers, short, fleshy and strong loins; muscular and strong hind quarters. Straight and muscular arms; short and narrow cannons when viewed from the front and flat when looked from the sides; long thighs, well developed and strong hamstring; large and prominent point of hock. Body colour grey (in lay man's term black) without any body markings i.e. star, snip, whorls etc.. Large, round and symmetrical toes. Legs covered with hairs from point of hock to ergot. Local people, however, during purchase of Chhumurthi horses look for following features: 1. Colour which should preferably be grey without any markings in a young horse.(which upon aging turns to white) 2. Single, centrally located whorl on forehead is preferred to double whorl. 3. Large sized toes with hairs 4. Tail with slight white hairs are preferred over pur grey/black 5. Gait and posture Approaches for breeding and conservation of Chhumurthi/Spiti Horses and Steps taken by the Govt. to promote this breed: People

in the Pin Valley are carrying out horse breeding since ages. The traditional breeding practice followed in the area include selection of the stallions for natural service and culling of other eligible males by getting them castrated with the help of officials of the State Animal Husbandry Department. On a particular day all the available horses are paraded before a local selection committee comprising of some experienced people of the area. These people select a stallion for two or three villages sharing common pasture on the basis of abovementioned criteria. The owners of the brood mares are required to pay a nominal fee (cash or kind) on account of getting their broodmare served by the selected stallion. This amount is utilized by the owner for the upkeep of his stallion. Recently a team from CSK-HPKV Palampur conducted a survey under project entitled "Network Project on Animal Genetic Resources-Spiti Horse (in situ conservation unit)" and registered the elite females for in situ conservation. As per the technical programme of this project, each owner of the selected broodmares were provided incentives to the tune of Rs. 300/- per mare on the account of partial maintenance cost so that healthy progeny is born. Similarly, the owners of the selected male foals were provided incentives to the tune of Rs. 10,000/- per male so that healthy stallions could be reared for subsequent breeding use. Recently Govt. of India has sponsored a project called "Conservation of Spiti Ponnies in Himachal Pradesh" under 100% centrally sponsored schemes called "Conservation of threatened breeds of small ruminants, equines, pigs and camel". The executive agency of this project is State Animal Husbandry Department's Chhumurthi Horse Breeding Farm located at Lari village of Spiti Sub-division. In this farm the conservation and propagation work is already in progress since 2002 when the farm was transferred from Kamand in Mandi District. Their demand in various fields: In most of the distribution areas the Chhumurthi Horses are used for transportation, riding, carriage etc it is because of its high stamina and surefootedness. In Uttranchal these horses are demanded for transportation purpose, where as in Changthang area of Ladhakh they are demanded for carriage purpose. In Kullu they are demanded for the tourism purpose. In spite of intensive road network contraction, their utility as pack animals is still unquestionable as these horses are found mostly in the difficult and inaccessible areas of the state and used for drought purpose. CHHUMURTI HORSE -THE PRIDE OF SPITI Spiti (Synonym Chhumurti) is one of the six breeds of Indian Horses. The breed is reputed for its stamina and surefootedness during high altitude migration/journeys. The breed is believed to have originated from the Tibetan breeds of horses and resembles morphologically to the

Zangskari and Bhutia breeds, the other two horses breeds of Himalayan terrain. The entire breeding tract of Chhumurthi horses fall in cold desert region of the state with very little vegetation. The winters are very harsh and severe. There is mild summer from June to October. Heavy snowfall is experienced in this region from October to April and the temperature goes down almost to -20 to -30 C in winters. However, some population is distributed in lower altitude areas (2000-3000ft above m.s.l.) that have acclimatized to the sub temperate humid environmental conditions prevailing there. The current population of the horses confirming to true breed characteristics is hardly 4000 in the state, with best and largest animal population confined to approximately 15 villages of two Panchayats in Pin Valley area of the Spiti Sub-Division of Lahoul & Spiti district. It is only in this area, that the breeders are engaged in the vocation of horse breeding and selling of surplus stock as economic activity. In the rest of the pockets of distribution, the animals are used for drought purposes (transportation, riding, carriage etc) and tourism related activity. The Department of Animal Husbandry in general and Horse Breeding Farm, Lari in specific is in continuous endeavor to encourage horse breeding in the area contiguous to true breeding tract as farming occupation because of its obvious economic advantages. Chhumurthi Horses used as pack animal Large scale migration/sale of horses is taking place from the true breeding tract to places as far off as Ladhakh, Tibet, Uttranchal and adjoining districts of the state. The barter system of trade is still practiced across the border in the Tibet and Ladhakh plateau. Although, the breeder in true breeding tract of Spiti take care that the elite animals and brood mares are seldom sold/disposed during breeding age, yet the horse marketing and sale/purchase is regulated in such a way that the genetic purity and erosion of germplasm base could be maintained. And Department of Animal Husbandry is conducting an Annual Castration Camp for Equines since 1990 when Dr. H.S. Sumra first time conducted this type of camp. Before 1990 quakes used to castrate their animals with an old and traditional method which was very risky and unscientific method. After 1990, every year during the month of April-May castration camp is organized. In the breeding tract of Pin Valley, the horse breeding is thoroughly regulated through village panchayats by involving all the stock holders and more or less on scientific lines like selection of the young foal as future breeding stallion, criteria of selection, cost sharing of stallion, castration and sale of other adult animals, shifting/removal from breeding of stallion after 3-4 years of service etc., yet some inbreeding is believed to have occurred in the native tract due to

closed population as reflected by loss of variability and decline in the body height. The developmental agencies of the area are trying to assist the local

breeders/panchayats by providing infrastructure, scientific inputs for sire selection, pedigree record, maintenance etc. and breeding studs to control the extent of breeding. The Spiti horses are maintained both under migratory system and stationary system. In the main breeding tract, the horses are stationary from December to May. During April-May period, the foaling occurs which is followed by rebreeding of all the brood mares mos tly in the foal-heat. In June end, all horses except young ones are shifted to high land pastures for almost five months till they are taken back to home when snowfall occurs in the beginning of winters. The migratory horses kept by the traders and shepherds come down to lower hills in winter and go back to higher altitude in summer, with sheep and goat flocks. These horses are used as transport carriers and for riding purpose. In addition to the above, department of Animal Husbandry has established a Horse Breeding Farm for Chhumurthi Horses at Lari village of Spiti sub-division of Lahoul and Spiti district in the year of 2002. At present there are 18 animals in the HBF Lari among which 10 animals are adult and 8 are young animals after sale by Public Auction of 10 horses which was done to avoid inbreeding among the farm stock. After this public auction income of Rs. 49,250/- was generated. Now this year Govt. of India has sponsored a new project called Project on Conservation of Chhumurthi Ponnies in Himachal Pradesh under 100% Centrally Sponsored Scheme called Conservation of threatened breeds of small ruminants, equines, pigs and camel. With the combined effort of the department and local breeders, now more and more people are taking interest in rearing and breeding of Chhumurthi Horses as it is becoming a secondary source of income after pea cultivation Contributed by:Dr. Vinod Kumar Bodh, Veterinary Officer, Mobile

Veterinary Dispensary, Keylong