For years, tribal communities like Gadaba, Kondh, Kotia, Kondadora and Paroja living in the isolated region in southern Odisha and adjoining Andhra Pradesh under Eastern Ghats, depended almost exclusively on Malkangiri pony which is capable of undertaking long journeys at high altitudes and under undulated landscape in jungle for transport. The present study was conducted to unveil the lesser known small horse - Malkangiri pony with its body confirmation traits. Birth weight of colts was 20.34±0.41kg against 18.16±0.28 kg in fillies. The yearling weights of male and female were recorded as 87.65±1.89 kg and 82.56±1.75 kg and average adult weights were 168.78±4.56 kg and 158.66±4.12 kg in male and female ponies, respectively. These horses have average height of 127.32±0.37 cm and 123.12±0.42 cm at withers for adult male and female ponies, respectively. The meanchest girth was 121.78±0.36 cm for males and 118.54±0.37 cm for females. Males were having significantly higher estimates than counterpart females for biometric traits

Body measurements, Breed, Horse, Pony

Malkangiri pony has many unique characteristics with small size and light body weight, demanding less attention and less feed for its survival. Based on its long history of utility in lifestyle and livelihood of farmers in the native tract, detailed study of the population may be made and efforts may be made to register it as a separate horse breed. Besides, strategic breeding and promotional activities may be undertaken towards its conservation and improvement

Sanat Mishra, Surita Majumder, Uday Kumar, Sujit Das, Manas Ranjan Senapati and Susanta Kumar Dash (2023). Body Weight and Body Measurements of a Lesser Known Horse Breed: Malkangiri Pony. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 15(11): 633-634.