Meet Bhopal’s female jockeys

Horse riding is not everyone’s cup of tea. But those who take it up, agree that it is not just a sport; it is as much about bonding with the animal as it is about competing. And of late, many ladies have been taking up horse riding and equestrian sports in the city. Bhopal Times gets in touch with some of the popular female jockeys of the city.
Paridhi Joshi, a national-level rider, fell in love with horses and started riding when she was only 10.“It’s not just about my passion for sports, but also my love for the
animal. You develop a special bond. This sport gives equal opportunity for men and women to compete against each other on the same platform. Now I have six years of riding experience and have participated in various championships. The sport has given me a sense of confidence,” says Paridhi.
RK Singh, coach of a city based equestrian academy, says, “For parents it might be just another hobby for their children, but I have seen girls who are serious about taking up equestrian sports professionally. Girls as young as seven take interest in riding a pony as the thrill of forming an affectionate bond with this beautiful animal attracts them.”
But this sport is not for the faint hearted. One has to be prepared for rigorous training every day, besides the possibility of serious injuries. Eighteen-year-old Ayushi Saraf has been riding for the past six years and was injured during a competition. “The accident happened while jumping a fence, but I got up and even hugged my horse. It is very essential to make the animal comfortable.” Ayushi’s passion has pushed her forward to various national-level competitions.

For some, horse riding is a hobby that quickly turned passion. Sudipti Hajela, 14, started as a joy rider at four, but is now a national-level rider. She says, “Initially it was a bit challenging, but my passion kept me going. Now I feel confident about myself. I have been winning junior national medals in dressage for the past three years and have also won a bronze in the Jakarta open dressage.
Other than this, in various national, state and regional-level competitions I have won 11 gold, four silver and one bronze medal. Now I aim to make it to the Asian Games and Olympics.”Echoing the same, Kalash Chaturvedi, a professional rider at 18, says, “Riding a horse demands a lot of strength and I practice every day. The sport demands a lot of rigorous training to increase your stamina and I have undergone as much training and practice as any male jockey.” But it’s not all about sharpening your riding skills. “Performance majorly depends upon the kind of equation you have with your horse. It’s basically a team effort that both put in,” says Hiral Joshi, 13, another national-level rider. Vidyut Chaturvedi agrees. “It’s also about another living creature. It’s about team work, understanding and patience,” says Vidyut, who owns a horse and has a fantastic understanding with the animal. “I share a terrific partnership with my horse and it is a family member to me.”