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RIDING HIGH
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Equestrian events don't just showcase riding, show jumping, tent pegging and dressage. They also put on display the relationship between man and a magnificent beast, reports PRASHANTH G.N.
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— Photo: Parth Sanyal
That adrenalin rush when risk meets control and practice.
THE WILD STALLION runs with no purpose. No holding back, majestic muscles powering through the seamless prairies. And no saying why it whinnies in the wild. Anything close is really the muscle of the cheetah stretching in terrible beauty towards a hapless prey.
If there's awe in a steed unleashed, there is also beauty in a controlled horse. The run, on the turf, trot, gallop. Show jumping, tent pegging. And the relationship between the magnificent steed and its rider.
Ask the kids and they'll tell you they like two things: the horse and the horse. It was some learning from 15-year-olds.
At the National Equestrian Championship at the ASC Centre here, the young gave the old hands a run for their money. In retrospect, veteran jockey Pesi Shroff was spot on: "Write about the children. Not me. Equestrian events are not about personalities. My son? He needn't be a jockey. If he wants to ride, fine, doesn't want to, fine... Let him be... But look at how many children are here... Isn't it nice to see them... ?"
Articulate lot
Articulate lot. Nadia, Hrishika, Yohann, Aviva, Karan... Many more.
How did they make it here?
They've parents who've been jockeys, members of horse clubs, been in the army... And some children been in schools that have horse-riding... And so they grow with the horses. The other young people come because they've been to camps, watched TV with their parents.
But it is the first lot of reasons why children get here. The five tell you that in one go. "We are lucky because we come with backgrounds you mention. It also depends on where you live. An important city."
What is it about equestrian events that excites them?
"Obviously, the horse."
"It's endurance. Speed. A natural athlete. The connect between us and the horse — that is the most beautiful thing... It is like us... moody... And it can sense a different person... "
Beauty of a perspective next: "You grow up with the horse, bring it up, stroke it and it may not still want you to ride it. May not want look you even... It's crushing, but that is the hard truth."
One more: "But it is a great friend to explore. You can't cut into emotion with it. No compromise there."
Horse is royalty
Other things about the horse excite them, but only after the connect: they love show jumping, the trot, canter, dressage, tent pegging (absolutely exciting because in the old days one sweep of the sword by the rider would cut the ropes of tents so they would fall, the soldiers inside turning easy prey... ), the cross-country run... . And yet: "It is the horse itself... Such a majestic thing." Even if most here are retired thoroughbreds from the turf clubs.
But not every child can afford to ride? The children tell you it costs.
Why? Buying a horse first. Even leasing it. And then maintaining it — feeding, health, fitness... "All this is real money. You have to look after it just like you look after yourself... "
Just maintenance can work out to an average of Rs. 8,000 per month and more depending on the horse one has. Buying runs into thousands and fabulously more if imported. There are very few imported here because very few can afford to.
Horse club fee, from Rs. 3,000 and more, itself could be high for some. But the children tell you if it is only the joy of a ride, an occasional one, and not about contests, the fee could be within reach.
They even tell you sponsorship is not big yet. One of them is perceptive: she tells you media coverage in recent years has helped equestrian events, but more is needed.
Popular now
Judith Bidappa, Nandini Basappa, Hasneyn Mirza — all into horses for long — now confirm what the kids say: it has gathered pace in the last four years. It was doing well at the time of the Mysore Lancers though in the early Seventies. Then the lull. Until the Bangalore Turf Club stepped in in 1975, and for two years, horse shows did well. Lull again. A long one. Till the Nineties. And then the ASC stepped in.
The ASC top brass were keen to revive the sport and were responsible for bringing back the National Equestrian Championship to Bangalore. Initial efforts by Lt. Gen. Jagadeesh Chandra and Brig. Rathode, later consolidated by Gen. Saini and the South India Equestrian Association, helped.
There are five clubs now: Embassy, Bari, Princess, ECE and Agaram.
Many enthusiasts see the ASC Centre here as an exceptional facility for equestrian events in the country because it has many options — show jumping, dressage, tent pegging, cross-country laps. South India is faring quite well in these events and in the North, only Delhi, Kolkata, and the Delhi-Jaipur belt matter. Delhi hogs the limelight, because even now the Delhi Horse Show is considered best in the country. Mumbai has one important club, the ARC, while Pune has a few pony clubs. The South has Pondicherry, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ooty, Coimbatore, Tuticorin and Bangalore. And youngsters. They tell you: "You got to know you horse well. You don't mess with them. Now that's tough, but fun."
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Horse bytes
Most equestrian horses are retired thoroughbreds from turf/race clubs.
Imported horses are few because they are too expensive to buy.
Imports are mostly from Europe, Australia. There are some from Hanoverians here
Though polo is one of the fastest games after ice hockey and basketball, sponsorship is not adequate here.
Enthusiasts say quality of Indian horses is just a tenth of that of horses abroad.
You can approach any of the five horse clubs in the city or the Equation Federation of India or the ASC for basic riding lessons/guidance.
Fee for basic lessons runs into thousands.
Enthusiasts say money spent on a horse ride is as good if not better than on video games.
Riding involves the use of many muscles in the body and is a great way to stay in shape.
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