A sanctuary for Manipuri Pony

Lourembam Ibetombi Devi *

Thai Polo player atop a Manipuri Pony during 7th International Polo Tournament 2013 at Mapal Kangjeibung :: Pix - Jinendra Maibam

I just can't help but wonder how Manipuris with such a small geographical area and a handful of people could have a well organised and advanced society. Its social codes are one of the most well defined one in the world. Culturally, it is most advanced. Historically, it has a long past more than two thousand years.

It has given certain gifts to the world, the Manipuri Dance, Thang-Ta, Nat-Sangkirtan, Siroy Lily, Sangai etc. but most invaluable gift Manipur has given the world is the Polo, the most martial and royal game we had ever known.

The origin of Polo has been ascribed to Manipur and is beyond doubt (Guinness Book of Records in its 1991 edition on page 288), the modern Polo Rules of International Polo Association are quite similar to that of the rules of playing the pana style polo that we play here.

Once, the name of polo is taken, the name of Manipuri Pony, on which back the game has been played since time immemorial comes in our mind. The short, sturdy and sure footed horse which is descendants of Asiatic Wild Horse is best suited for this game. These horses have a good stamina and tremendous endurance and are the toughest among the equines.

The polo and Manipuri Ponies are inseparable for the Manipuris. But now, for all of us it is a matter of shame that this pride of the state is living in disgrace, facing abuse of one and all for raiding crops of somebody or for being a traffic hazard. Many of them are victims of hits by vehicles, some of them died, many are incapacitated.

Once, the Manipuri Pony was believed to be widespread in the entire state. According to the National Research Centre on Equines, it is suitable for the hilly conditions and played an important role in the socio economy. Being descendent of Asiatic wild horse, it has been reared in semi wild condition.

It can still remain in wild condition has been proven by the fact that till early fifties, in case of shortage, the ponies were captured from the wild from Sajik Tampak (Chandel District), near Chakpikarong and tamed them for playing polo. It is not certain whether this stock was of wild Asiatic Wild Horse (ancesters of Manipuri Pony) or stock developed from the incapacitated horses abandoned during various Burmese expeditions (war expeditions or otherwise).

In Imphal valley also, it is reared with open grazing in and around the valley, and perhaps it has given the animal the sturdiness and stamina. I really enjoyed the races we witnessed in the open race course in Hafta Kangjeibung in early seventies (of course Hafta Kangjeibung was a large royal race course with no habitation in those days).

The state government set up a pony breeding farm in Tingkai Khunou, about 25 km from Imphal, but nothing much could be done and the fate of the farm is not known now. The Manipur Horse Riding and Polo Association has a small farm about 30 minutes from Imphal, but that is a small farm considering the important task of saving the rarest of the horses.

At present, only about 2400 animals are surviving, and no wild stock is reported. Under such condition, the step of the State Government to establish a sanctuary for Manipuri Pony to save the animal from extinction is a case better late than never. It in fact need a multi pronged approach including genetic mapping and mixing the animals scientifically to avoid genetic problems such as inbreeding.

It may need more than one sanctuary, more than the one proposed at Marjing hills in Heingang Forests. It may tolerate hilly terrain, but it likes plateau or plains, where it can run freely for miles and exercise themselves. The Asiatic wild horses are traced back to the steppe horses and open ground like Sajik Tampak may suit them more.

We may remember that many good pony horses were brought from far off places near the foothills such as Leimapokpam, Thoubal, Kumbi, Wangjing, etc., so we may have to plan other minor sanctuaries for each district.

I salute those lovers of Manipuri pony such as Oja Maibam Iboton (Wangkhei), Oja Chaoyaima(Thiyam Konjil), Oja Okram Babu (Thoubal), Oja Chandrahas (Leimapokpam) and others of yesteryears, who have given their everything for the cause of Polo and Manipuri Pony and this plan should be a tribute to them. They shall be really happy with these plans to save our lovely ponies.