Three-day horse show begins in Gujarat’s Morbi

The three-day Kathiawadi–Marwadi horse exhibition and sports festival, the ‘Kama Ashwa Show’, was inaugurated in the historic town of Wankaner in Gujarat’s Morbi district on Friday. Organised jointly by the state Animal Husbandry Department and the Kathiawadi Horse Breeders Association of Gujarat, the exhibition is being held in memory of former Wankaner ruler and noted environmentalist Digvijaysinh Zala, who initiated the horse show in 1994. Governor Aacharya Devvrat inaugurated the show. Addressing the gathering, he said cows and horses are considered symbols of prosperity, bravery, and culture. Livestock are an integral part of our heritage, and we all have a responsibility to preserve and promote them.Events like the "Kama Horse Show" strengthen our traditions, animal love, and nature conservation, he said.

मोरबी के वांकानेर में आयोजित त्रिदिवसीय काठियावाड़ी–मारवाड़ी ‘कामा अश्व शो’ के प्रथम दिवस पर उपस्थित रहने का अवसर प्राप्त हुआ। यह आयोजन मानव और अश्व के बीच विश्वासपूर्ण संबंध तथा हमारी समृद्ध सांस्कृतिक विरासत का जीवंत प्रतीक है।

इस अवसर पर विभिन्न नस्लों के अश्व प्रदर्शनी का… pic.twitter.com/Pp67JEqJ0i

— Acharya Devvrat (@ADevvrat) December 26, 2025

Minister for Animal Husbandry, Agriculture and Cooperation Jitu Vaghani said the state government is committed to the conservation and expansion of indigenous horse breeds and announced that a new breeding centre dedicated to native horses will be established. “A clear target will be set, and work will be undertaken in mission mode to increase the horse population,” he said. Highlighting the qualities of Kathiawadi horses, the minister said they are known for their bravery, calm temperament and alertness, which makes them suitable for public services such as mounted police units. He also said strict veterinary checks were conducted before the competitions to ensure animal welfare, with blood samples collected from horses prior to participation.

Minister of State for Education Revaba Jadeja said horses have played an integral role in India’s cultural and Vedic traditions, with references in epics such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata. “A horse is considered the soul companion of a warrior, and history records legendary bonds between great warriors and their horses,” she said, while appreciating government efforts towards horse breeding and care.

(State Correpondent)