And you thought that the Merc was the biggest status symbol of them all. Think again.

The latest craze among the rich in Ahmedabad is horses — as of now, more than 40 people in the city own horses. And the number of hobby horses is rising every year.

Mahesh Patel, a city-based horse breeder and trader, says: ‘‘The trend of keeping horses began in 1992, since then demand has gone up. It’s like a status symbol, and the rich are going for this hobby.’’

Most of the horses are either Kathiawadis or Marwadis. Patel, who owns more than 20 horses, has been in the business for over 10 years.

Narendrasinh Vaghela, who lives in Ranip, has three stallions and six mares — all Kathiawadis — and horses, he says, ‘‘are a hobby.’’ An expensive one, but when has that deterred a true enthusiast.

But let’s hear it from the horse’s mouth, or from someone who deals in horses. Hargovindbhai Desai says: ‘‘A horse is considered to be lucky, it’s said to be a ‘rajwadi’ hobby, so people buy horses once they attain a certain standing. I can name a number of people in Ahmedabad who have bought a horse recently.’’

Lakhabhai Bharwad, a farmer near Ambli, says: ‘‘My brother Kalubhai had a passion for horses and bought the mare. But he died and I am now taking care of Kabri as I share his passion,’’ he says. ‘‘Earlier, people used to keep horses but now the trend has increased, especially among the wealthy,’’ he adds.

That is evident.

But it doesn’t come cheap. A horse may cost anywhere between Rs 80,000 and 2,00,000. The horses also require special food — various pulses, ghee, wheat, bajra, wet and dry grass — and special training. Most owners keep at least one person to look after the horse. The horse’s health also has to be looked after and various vaccinations are a must.

Some people, however, are not happy with the trend. Pushpendra Pandey, who lives in a village near Shilaj, has four horses and has been keeping them for generations. ‘‘Horse, cow and dog have been friends of man for ages. They require special training and care. But today, many people are buying them to show off. They don’t take as good care as they should be,’’ he complains.