What was once a necessity as a means of transportation is now a medium of entertainment? A sport with the subject matter that cannot talk – ‘the Horse’ and also a sport less talked of – ‘Horse riding’. But also undeniable is the presence and charm of the sport worldwide. People who like this sport find it adorable, as the peculiar nature of the sport is that it involves two living creatures in tandem with one another, understanding the commands and feelings so that they work together to achieve objectives. While one may take it to be a master-servant relation and subjugation by human of an animal to achieve its ends, it is not so, this is all about ‘relation’ and ‘understanding’ of relation between –‘the rider’ and ‘the ridden’ which is of value and thus the sport portrait the best example of ‘human-animal’ co-existence.
Horse Riding WHAT IS THIS SPORT?? A sport that uses horses as its main part is known as EQUESTRIAN. It can be either a person riding on horseback or a horse pulling a sort of horse drawn vehicle. In Olympics this sport includes disciplines like–dressage, event in and show jumping. Other such disciplines are Combined Driving, Endurance Riding, Horse ball, Reining, Vaulting etc. also in category of racing disciplines are: Flat Racing, Harness Racing, Point to Point, Steeplechase, through bred horse racing etc. And there are many more categories like English riding, Western riding, Stock handling, Rodeo, Harness to name some. (We shall talk about this in different edition) Read Also: How to ride a Horse: Tips for Beginners Equestrianism in this regards refers to the skill that the rider posses which involves riding, driving, steeple chasing or vaulting with horses. Not much we know about these jargons unless a person has a special eye on the sport; it is because of a general perception that horse is a beast of burden or a means of transportation and is used in sports of certain types much to their disinterest. Among all the games played in this particular sport horse racing is undoubtedly is the most relished of all that consist various forms. Status of the sport in INDIA: Despite having a long tradition in equestrian in India and possibly the only non-ceremonial horse mounted cavalry in the world and an exceptional talent that inhabit the country India has not yet produced results to get itself recognized in any world event and most importantly like football never even qualified for the Olympics. Mritunjay Rathor is one such talent that India posses but even that national rider never got a chance in Olympics to showcase his talent and more agonizing is that it is not his disqualification or bad performance that becomes the reason of not been able to do that but it is the quarantine regulation of the country and the federation that he is not even allowed to participate in the qualifiers despite having best grade horses with him and thus also tells us about the pathetic state of affairs regarding the conduct of qualifying rounds in the country and seriousness the responsible agencies have regarding the sport. Moreover the expenses of the sport keep it out of the reach of the common people who are reluctant in taking up the sport. Moreover it can also be deduced that people in India even if they try to invest in the sport will not do so due to its low rather uncertainty of returns they have seen all these years. Parents in India are more likely to invest in the sport that will bring glory and money to their wards at an early age and will build their reputation nationally such as cricket or tennis or may be badminton to name some. Evidently there is no boost to the sport and even no proper regulation with respect to the game and no government or private centers to bring up the new talent or promote it so that folks are attracted towards the games involved as it has both national and personal benefit, national with regards to the reputation that it will bring worldwide if we excel in the sports and personal because it keeps you fit and strong mentally and physically and the most important as it involves another living creature which is so loving that it will also satisfy the need of emotional well being.
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