The Cassay Horse

A look at the Manipuri cavalry that won admiration for their extraordinary horsemen skills back in the day

- Phanjoubam Chingkheinganba

The Cassay Horse is a Burmese appellation given to the Manipur cavalry who were forcibly brought as war captives and employed in various campaigns because of their effectiveness in Burmese wars during the military aggression of the Konbaung dynasty (1752-1885 CE), in which both Manipur and Assam were devastated. The celebrated, Kathe Horse, appeared in English books on Burma fame but are unknown in their own country. Kathe is the name applied to the Manipur Meiteis by the Burmese, since ancient times.

Superior Horseman Skills

Manipur Meiteis adored horses in the olden days and their extraordinary horseman skills were highly appreciated by the British officials, and Europeans during the colonial days. So much was the respect, that a deity ‘Marjing’ was attributed to ponies of the State.

E Dalton wrote, ‘Their enthusiastic love of horses and skills in equitation, have distinguished themselves. The national game was hockey placed on a small bred of pony back from which the British officers adopted it as a “manly amusements of the English in India.”’