The Indian Country Bred is an Indian horse or pony type whose breeding is mixed and indeterminate. It has also been called tattoo, an older term derived from Hindi. The type includes animals ranging from good-quality riding horses to small, poorly conformed horses used for pack and draught work. Its ancestry draws on diverse local and introduced breeds and types. These include small horses from the Himalayas, particularly Bhutan, Sikkim and Darjeeling, as well as strong horses from Punjab. Outside influences include Arab horses brought to Bombay and Veraval from the Persian Gulf and Australian Walers imported in large numbers during the nineteenth century. The available facts describe a varied type rather than a single clearly defined breed.
Who it is for
Relevant to readers interested in Indian horses and ponies of mixed, indeterminate breeding. The listed facts describe uses and origins, not individual suitability.
What is good
- Includes riding horses and pack or draught animals.
- Draws on diverse local and introduced types.
- Has roots in several Indian regions.
What to know first
- Breeding is indeterminate.
- Animals vary widely in quality and conformation.
Verdict
Indian Country Bred refers to a varied horse or pony type, not a consistently defined breeding. Its uses and influences span a wide range.
