A rider in action in the show jumping (105 cm to 115 cm) event at the Auroville Horse Tournament-2023 held at Red Earth Riding School near Puducherry on Sunday. , photo credit: ss kumar
It is a principle in the equestrian world that the more comfortable and pleasing to the eye a rider and horse are during a show, the higher the skill and the better the rapport shared by the pair.
In this aspect, the profusion of performances at the 23rd Auroville Horse Tournament (AHT) 2023 served as an indicator that the annual event had not only grown in scale – 140 horses and 150 riders from across the country participated in it. edition – but was able to raise the technical standards of the equestrian sport as a whole.
“The easier it is for spectators to find it all, the better the equestrian combination,” said Jacqueline Kapoor, equestrian-founder of Red Earth Riding School.
“But, it takes a lot of trust building and hard work for rider and horse to come up with a flawless, effortless looking routine”, she said.
Raising the level of equestrian performance while providing a platform for a new level of competition in the country has been the main objective of the tournament which also serves as a Junior National Equestrian Championship qualifier.
A rider in show jumping (105 cm to 115 cm) at the Auroville Horse Tournament-2023 held at Red Earth Riding School in Auroville on Sunday. , photo credit: ss kumar
The competing teams were from Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Coimbatore, Udhagamandalam and Thoothukudi. RERS, a unit under the Auroville Foundation, also had a large contingent of entrants.
Over four days, some of the country’s best horses and equestrian talents battled for speed and agility to outwit each other in 15 events across dressage (a set of pre-determined routines), show jumping (a set of pre-determined routines), and show jumping (a set of pre-determined routines). Showed up to be an exciting combination. an obstacle course) and other eventing categories. For the first time, the event also featured a fancy dress riding segment.
Why, when freestyle dressage was starting in a different arena, the horses were also showing their interest in the music.
In an atmosphere of almost magical twilight, the animals, all flowing manes, shiny coats, and groomed pony tails float about, and coaxed subtly by their riders, trot and canter to the beat of an eclectic choice of instrumental music. Alternating between country, techno pop and playback throughout.
This was one of those events in which the huge crowds, which were a feature on all days, must have irked the organizers a bit. The pre-event public address appeal served a reminder that unlike other events, spectators were required to be calm and still as any sudden movement or noise could startle the horses and spoil the much-anticipated show.
“I often come to this place…not only for the annual show, because my daughter is very fond of horses,” said multilingual actor and film director Revathi with her young child Mahi.
“Mahi is more keen on grooming and grooming horses…not yet in riding”, said the celebrity in between giving away some awards and obliging selfie-seekers who have replaced the old autograph-hunters.