The Horse with a Rider is an animated piece of folk sculpture carved by members of the Bhil tribe of Madhya-Pradesh, expresses the everlasting spirit of valour embedded into the Bhil tribe throughout centuries, and represents an ancient cultural heritage. It is a representation of a warrior mounted on a horse, brightly and dramatically painted, richly decorated with symbolic motifs associated with bravery, honour, and tradition, concepts that have been held most sacred by the Bhils. Such attributes portray an aura concerning the historic way of life of the Bhils, directly related to hunting and warfare, especially during the resistance against external oppression.
The horse is modelled brightly and chaplet-like for attention with all six jingles. To the Bhils, the horse acts as a partner in war, but he also features in their rituals and folklore. Thus, the jingles could symbolize ceremonial decoration put on during holidays and other rites.The sculpture leaves no doubt that it embodies far more than mere ornamentation but is an embodiment of a living history of Bhil identity, its courage, and artistry. Bhil artisans from Madhya Pradesh continue to sustain and re-enact their cultural legacy through such manifestations.