Try horse-riding

HYDERABAD: At the sound of a whistle, a suburban stud farm comes alive to the sound of marching hooves, the neighing of magnificent thoroughbreds- chestnut, white, brown and black- and the laughter of a bunch of kids holding horse whips in their hands.Aged between 8-15, these children from middle-class families have combined their love for the outdoors with their passion to move away from the mundane, by training in the art of horse riding, an activity once considered the pastime of the rich and the famous.“If you look at sports in India today, it has become expensive to train in any. Horse riding has this aura about it which leads to a general feeling that it is an expensive sport. But considering that most of those, who come to learn the skill here, are middle-class people, it would be fair to say horse riding is only as costly as learning a sport like tennis or golf,” said Chaitania R Kumar, secretary of the Hyderabad Polo & Riding Club.Located in Gandipet, the sprawling mud farm has a fine stable of 58 horses which are used for training purposes, as well as for a round of polo or showjumping.“It costs a person just Rs 6,000 for 16 classes, which is roughly a little over Rs 300 per class of half an hour, an adequate training duration,” said Chaitania.The club has seasoned polo players as trainers, who teach the kids to ride horses efficiently, most of which have been bought from the race course once they reach their retirement age for racing which is around 5-6 years.“Khadar Siddiqui who holds a +2 handicap level in polo, is our principal trainer.He has 25 years experience in riding horses and plays polo at the national club level. The children who train under him, pick up the skills pretty quick,” explained Chaitania.But what sets horse riding apart from other outdoor sports is the holistic growth it provides.“Riding is not just about stamina. You need to cultivate a certain amount of bonding with the animal and understand its instincts. Once someone feels the experience, the sport becomes a passion,” said a lady trainer at the club.The children at the club couldn’t agree more. “I know studies are important, but for me, now even horse riding has equal importance. I keep coming back for more practice to perfect my skill and also because this activity is about me and my horse,” said Aditi, a 15-year-old, who’s already completed 23 classes.Another girl, Ananya is just nine years old, but she has already made her stand clear about becoming a jockey. “Riding the horse and bonding with it makes her feel special. She wants to make it a career. I’m happy to see that she’s exploring the outdoors, unlike many kids of her generation,” laughed her mother.So how long does it take one to gain the skill? “There are four stages of horse riding: walk, trot, canter and gallop. By the end of 16 classes, one can master the trot. Depending on skill, regularity and flair, one can learn to ride a horse within 25- 30 classes or approximately two months,” explained Chaitania.The club conducts cross country horse rides, as well as special classes on showjumping, for the beginners to add new skills to their kitty.“We plan to start showjumping in a couple of months in an organised manner. A German instructor will be roped in for the same. Already a few members learn it on demand,” he said.But for all its glamour, the sport is not for the weak hearted. “Riding a horse at 40km/hr is an adventure in itself. Regular practice and love for the animal are needed to perfect this art. The entire idea of starting the club almost 10 years ago was to initiate more people into horse riding and through it into the sport of polo. We are happy to see the trend we foresaw actually happen”, he added.Considering that from a mere 15 people, today more than a 100 train at the club throughout the week, horsepower might just be the new buzzword among the youngsters.