Horses and hurdles: What the future of Indian Equestrian looks like

Seasoned rider Yashaan Khambatta starred at the recently concluded National Equestrian Championship in Meerut earlier this week. The veteran rider wrapped up the nationals with two golds in the Novice and Medium Tours and a silver in the team event.

Yashaan, who represented India at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games and 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, spoke highly on the levels of competition in an exclusive conversation with The Bridge after his victorious maneuvers.

'Have talent, but need support'

Speaking highly of his fellow competitors, Yashaan highlighted that standards are improving owing to better horses and quality of riders.

“The sport has really developed in India over the years due to the involvement of more parents and professional trainers. The quality of horses has increased big time, and parents are investing a lot in training their kids. Shows and events in major cities like Bengaluru, Delhi and Mumbai also help a lot,” he stated.

While Yashaan is impressed with the evolution of the sport in the country, he emphasized on the need for support from the state/national bodies and private organisations to move forward.

“It's a beautiful sport, where you need a lot of dedication, hard work, perseverance, persistence and patience. We have the talent, but need support and sky’s the limit,” Yashaan, who trains at the Amateur Riders' Club (ARC) in Mumbai, said.

A future star

Twelve-year-old Stasya Pandya, who was the youngest rider to compete, grabbed attention with her fourth-place finish in the team event in Showjumping.

Speaking to The Bridge, Stasya revealed how her love for animals inspired her to take up the sport.

“I’ve always been drawn to horses. There’s something magical about their grace, intelligence and strength. The satisfaction of overcoming obstacles and the desire to build a deep connection with horses is what motivated me,” said Stasya.

Stasya was thrilled to participate in her first nationals but aims to represent India at the highest level in the near future. For now, her focus is to concentrate on her techniques and compete in national championships scheduled this year.

Promising future

Like Stasya, the nationals were abuzz with a host of talented young riders ready to become future flagbearers of the sport.

Among the participants was 13-year-old Inaara Mehta Luthria, who was crowned the national children's champion in Dressage recently, making some steady progress.

Equestrian is gaining popularity in the country owing to some recent achievements.

India won a historic gold and a bronze at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games. Additionally, Anush Agarwalla became the first Indian to represent the country in Dressage at the Paris Olympics.

And with teenagers like Stasya and Inaara now in the fray, the future looks promising.