Riding ups the rizz factor on weekends

On a misty weekend morning, a bunch of people are getting ready for a ride, complete with boots and helmets. This isn't a two-wheeler ride though; it's a four-legged one involving walk, trot, canter and gallop. If you thought horse riding was just for the pros, a visit to the stud farms and riding schools in and around the city will prove you wrong. Riders mount their horses, hooves thud gently on the soil in a rhythmic pace and transform the morning vibes. This is what a weekend escape looks like for horse riding aficionados.

How the activity is picking up
“This stud farm was set up by my grandfather. I had come here to close it down back in 1997, only to realise that I should revive and take it forward," says Rohan More, managing director of the Japalouppe Equestrian Centre that hosts weekend horse riding sessions as well as learning bootcamps for beginners located in Talegaon Dabhade. HE adds, “There wasn’t any dedicated riding school in Pune back in the 1990s. I saw this as the best opportunity to revive the farm." Today, the stud farms and training centers around Pune host hundreds of visitors every weekend for leisure as well as professional training sessions. People from Mumbai and Ahilyanagar also turn up over weekends at times.

Of passion and cool vibes
For Chinmayee, a young rider, learning that horse riding itself is a form of exercise was a revelation. "The moment I sat on the horse, I realised it would turn out to be a great workout with the addition of a fun element. I went for it as a one-time thing on my first visit but never stopped riding," she shares. Gajanan Damkondwar, a software engineer who began horse riding back in his school days, says, “I’ve lived in Hyderabad for many years due to my job but I couldn’t continue my hobby as there were no stud farms nearby. Those existing were charging exorbitant amounts for sessions.” He adds, “However, in Pune, there are so many riding schools that one can take lessons at without burning a hole in your pocket. I’m now resuming my passion.”

CostLeisure rides, assisted by a handlers: Rs 600 to 1200 per ride
Training sessions, charged monthly: Rs 20,000 to Rs 40,000 depending on number of sessions
Residential riding packages, including meals and stay: Rs 4500 per day

Gear up for the ride

• Full-length pants
• T-shirt
• Supportive innerwear
• Sports shoes with long socks/ riding boots
• Helmet (also provided at some far

There are two types of riders - the ones who come for a leisure ride and those that want to train professionally. A lot of people from the IT sector turn up on weekends at our center
- Kunal Boyatkar, owner of Pune Equestrians

My son and grandson both are regular visitors at the farm and golf players. At 67, I began taking interest in riding. Now, I do it almost every weekend.
- Sushil Bindal, a 72-year-old rider

My daughter insisted that we visit a stud farm and it turned out to be a wonderful experience. The random outing turned into a regular weekend ritual. In fact, my daughter is now competing at equestrian nationals
- Gaurav Deshmukh, an entrepreneur from Wakad