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 Horse riding is no longer considered a royal sport! With equestrian centres offering good training facilities, it is becoming a sport almost like cricket or tennis. All that is needed is good quality teaching by experienced coaches. The Velkom Equestrian Centre near Chennai tries to provide just that. Located on a 5.5-acre tract adjoining the salt lands past Muttukkadu Lake on the East Coast Road near Kovalam, the Centre, set up in 1998, offers training for both beginners and advanced level
learners.
 "We teach the basics of riding to beginners, besides 'eventings' like Show-Jumping, Dressage and the like," says Mr. Krishnaraj, a professional trainer and owner of Velkom. How fast a beginner can learn depends on his learning ability and his capacity to handle the animal, he says. One has to have a rapport with the horse, which is sensitive and intelligent. Within days it will become friendly, even better than a dog. After the eight basic lessons, beginners go on to 'schooling'. "Initially we build up their confidence and help them maintain their balance before starting on different kinds of jumps. We also teach stable management and horse care. Saddling and unsaddling is a must. Students are also trained in taking the horse for a shower. We select horses according to age and experience. Docile, calm horses are given to children."
For the basic training at Velkom, the charge is Rs.2000 for eight classes. Classes can be taken from Tuesday to Sunday from 6.00 to 9.00 am and 4.00 to 6.30 pm. With 12 good horses, Velkom imparts training to more than 30 regular riders. A lot of expatriates who work in consulates and multinationals and their children ride there. Most of the horses are thoroughbreds from racing centres around the country, trained for riding and
"eventing." Krishnaraj says he was lucky to get a sport horse, 'a real beauty', from the Army, even though it took nearly three years to train her.
The Centre also looks after horses for other owners.
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 One can learn to ride at the age of six or seven, or even earlier, depending on one's physical fitness, he said. At the other end also, it is only fitness, not age, which determines one's participation even in competitive events. In 1997, in the Volvo Gold Cup, a leading league, 54-year-old Mr. Hugo Simo from Austria won the Gold Cup. This year, in the Indian Oil Servo Championship, a 52-year-old Australian won. Once only part of the curriculum of the Army and Police, riding has gained the status of a civilian sport
The other, well know riding school in Chennai is the Madras Riding School, affiliated to the Madras Race Club. Established over 50 years ago, it offers training in horse riding as well as Show Jumping and Dressage. It has plans to start Polo too. Initially known as Madras Riding Club, it was merged with the Madras Polo and Riders Club a few years ago and renamed. The charges are Rs.1000 per month for 6 days a week, for its 40 regular members
 who come in the mornings and for the 20 student trainees it is Rs.500 for 3 days in a week. Says Mr. N.V
Ravi, President of the School, " We want to encourage students to take up to this sport, as it builds up tremendous confidence in them, and it is a very good exercise also."
Addresses:
Velkom Equestrian Center, East Coast Road, Near
Kovalam
Contact: Mr. Krishnaraj or Mrs. Mousumi Krishnaraj
Cell: 9841057320
City Office: 8279580
Madras Riding School
Contact: Mr N V Ravi, President.
Tel: 8240936, 8260894
R. Bharathi
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