CHAMPIONING AN OLYMPIC DREAM

Here’s your chance to be a part of Team India 2008 at the Olympics in Beijing! Support Riyad Gandhy in his mission to reach for the gold

Coming from a family passionate about horses, Riyad Gandhy began riding at a very young age at the Amateur Rider’s Club in Mumbai. Now based in Kentucky, USA, this ‘Bombay boy’ is a professional rider and trainer of horses at Pine Knoll Farm, and also has a four-year degree in Equestrian Science which he obtained in 2000. Riyad has spent the past decade training with some of the world’s best coaches and has spent three years as an assistant trainer to Jim Graham, a top international judge and one of the selectors for the US Olympic team.

“My current goal is to represent India at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing,” says this determined rider. “My intent is not just to participate, but to be among the top contenders for a medal.” Having spent the last ten years riding horses that both belong to the farm he works for and those that his clients send to him, the number of horses he’s ridden go into the thousands, thus making Riyad an extremely versatile rider. “However, once these horses start performing well and gaining value, they get sold and I have to start all over again with a new horse.” This has prevented the skilled rider from cantering through to the top levels of international competition so far.

Owning, maintaining and competing a horse is an expensive task for an individual, and most top riders have corporate or individual sponsors behind them. And so, Riyad Gandhy is in search of sponsorship to help him gallop towards victory. A top-of-the-line horse is the need of the hour as it is common knowledge that one can be an excellent rider and still have no chance of succeeding with an average horse.

As a sponsor for this potential Olympian, you will have the opportunity to have your company’s name included in the name of Riyad’s horse, so with every article or headline about him and his equine, your company name would automatically be included as well. Furthermore, the sport of eventing would also provide for a very visual advertising campaign.

“My journey is truly a team effort,” remarks the Olympic hopeful modestly. “And besides everything else, one thing I can truly promise my sponsors is that when the time comes and I find myself in a position to believe in someone and help realise their dream, I will pass on to them the same generosity that was extended to myself when I needed people to believe in me.”

So support Team India 2008! Support Riyad Gandhy!

Riyad can be contacted via email at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . Visit his web site www.riyadgandhy.com for more details.