Mumbai-based Hriday Chheda, 18, trained at the Japalouppe centre, started when he was just 6. In 2012, he moved to Bengaluru, training at the Embassy International Riding .School for four years under the guidance of Ajai Appachu, who has represented India internationally. Since 2013, he has been attending training camps in Germany every summer and winter. “Currently I am being trained by Emile Faurie, an international dressage rider in Milton under Wychwood in the UK. There is no social life in this village but I enjoy my time walking, grooming and grazing my horse when I am not training,” he says. Though Chheda started with show-jumping, today he is inclined towards dressage, and is preparing to compete in the 2018 Asian Games to be held in Indonesia. In show-jumping, you have to clear an obstacle course of 12-14 fences, while dressage is a rhythmic, graceful °dance” performed by the horse, which has to be guided through a series of pre-determined movements. Riding schools in Pune have been conducting small-scale contests through the years, creating a platform for riders to hone their skills. Academy owners too are involved in training horses, working towards the skill development of instructors. Building a better eco system for the betterment of the riders is the need of the hour. Despite the buzz, however, Pune hasn’t so far been able to organize the kind of traction that cities like Bengaluru and Delhi have, with their regular horse shows, including show-jumping. dressage, eventing, tent-pegging and polo. “You can start your horse riding career in Pune but to learn the advanced techniques you need to move your base to Bengaluru,” says Chheda. “Probably,” he signs off, “we need to keep winning in the international arena like our Indian cricket team so that there is more awareness about this sport. Only then sponsorship and infrastructure would follow.”
