RIDING – A PASSION FOR THE MIND, BODY AND SOUL

Winston Churchill always believed that there is something in the body of the horse that is good for the spirit of the man.

     Horse racing as the `king of sports’ has always captivated the imagination of lovers of this magnificent animal and has been among the more prominent facets in the equestrian field. But the last five decades has seen a spurt in the other facets as well like dressage, three-day eventing, show jumping, endurance riding and polo. There has been a worldwide interest in this arena with more and more people taking to these activities as a hobby, a leisure activity or as an equestrian sport.

     Winston Churchill always believed that there is something in the body of the horse that is good for the spirit of the man. Mr. Churchill’s belief has never seemed truer than in recent times. Although we as a nation are not a “horsy people”, this worldwide explosion of interest has definitely found its way to India and has resulted in a rather dramatic expansion of the relatively small but close-knit equestrian community. Testimony to the increase of interest is the growing number of civilian riding schools over the past few years, especially in South India.

     North India has traditionally served as a stage for competitive equestrian sport. Teams trained and fielded by the Indian Army have dominated activities like polo, three-day-eventing, show jumping and endurance riding. The 61st Cavalry Regiment needs to be singled out for their stellar efforts in this field and they also hold the unique distinction of being the only full-fledged horsed cavalry in the world.

     Unlike other sports, riding symbolises the unison between man and animal like nothing else. Apart from being a healthy enjoyable pastime, riding can be character building. The horse is a great leveler. Prince or pauper, all riders enjoy the same thrills, suffer the same embarrassments and share the same risks. The inflated human ego has no chance of survival when there are horses being used as the yardstick for skill.

     In the words of author R.S. Surtees, “There is no secret so close as that between a rider and his horse.” They have different levels of intelligence. One is capable of reasoning and the other depends on instinctive responses for its survival. They speak no common language and one is definitely larger and stronger than the other. A rider can become a true horseman only by understanding of the horse’s viewpoint and basic instincts.

     Neither age nor physique should deter anyone from taking up riding. As in any other sport the earlier you start the more advantageous it is. At a recently concluded Horse tournament the youngest competitor was 4 years old and the oldest was 72 years young. Selecting the right school and instructor could make all the difference. One must always visit the school and witness a training session in progress, to get an idea of what is expected of a prospective student. Every school has horses that are safe and can be relied upon to carry children and beginners in the saddle.

     The attitude and demeanor of the instructor is also an important factor because riding is supposed to be an enjoyable experience. The hallmark of a good riding school is a peaceful, tidy and clean stable yard. The horses should look contended, relaxed and in good condition with a shine on their skin, an attentive look and an inquisitive ears-pricked forward expression as they are approached. The staff needs to be well turned out and helpful. The atmosphere should be businesslike yet friendly.

     The use of appropriate safety gear is of great significance and considering the fact that the sport involves a degree of risk, a good school and an experienced instructor will always observe the safety regulations and guard against possible mishaps that could occur while riding.

     One such institution based in the South, is The Embassy International Riding School started in 1996 by India’s only professional woman race jockey – Italian born – Silva Storai, under the leadership of Jitendra Virwani. The school is in its ninth year of operation and has been rated as one of the finest equestrian centers in the country, known for its quality in training as well as its infrastructure and facilities.

     Spread across 209 acres of beautiful countryside, approximately 24km away from Bangalore, the facilities include three dressage arenas, jumping arenas, a four km national level cross country course, a 1,000 meters dirt track for fitness programs for competition and race horses, a fully enclosed sand school for novice riders and unlimited access to cross country riding.

     Silva Storai and Judi Roby Bidapa have worked relentlessly to make Embassy International Riding School a reputed establishment. There are encouraging signs of growth, which is credited to their hard work and that of their ground team. They make an excellent team- Silva with her determination to achieve ,and Judi with her organizational skills have made this school what it is today. The management proudly credit their success to the grooms and support staffs that have been the pillars of strength who are willing to work hard to maintain the high standards.

     The school is proud of their trainers, Ajai Appachu, a national champion in show jumping and eventing who is ably assisted by Amir, a blossomed rider, popular as a children’s coach. Together they have raised the standard of competition within the school and the school’s performance outside as well.

     The school trains students from the Mallya Aditi International School and The Canadian School of India in basic horsemanship on a regular basis. Their clients are also interested in dressage and the school is witnessing a healthy growth in memberships. There has been an improvement in the standard of show jumping and the Sunday hacks are popular, especially in the monsoon and winter. A children’s camp is held once a month.

     Along with the training facilities for students, the school offers excellent five-star livery facilities. Private horses are accepted for schooling, racehorses taken for retraining and two-year-old Thoroughbreds are broken in and schooled for a fee. On an average, there are more than 100 horses in livery.

     Besides the riding facilities the students of the school can be spotted riding bikes, playing cricket, football and basketball. The Embassy International Riding School has a restaurant on campus that is known for its excellent Italian food called Ai Cavalli. The chefs Mukund Naidu along with Geetha make a good team that have their clients looking forward to the Sunday Buffet. The pastas, cakes and french fries are a rage at Ai Cavalli.

     Riding a horse involves a lot more than merely putting a leg on each side of the saddle. If you have spent some part of your life leaning with your elbows against a fence and admiring a rider in control of a horse, maybe it is time for you to go out there and have a go. As Pam Brown said “ In riding a horse, we borrow freedom”