<p>It may not be for the faint-hearted but equestrian sports and in particular, horse riding, seems to be fast gaining ground in the City nowadays. Yes, this is indeed the latest trend since for some people – speed and horses, both can be addictive.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Janak Equestrian Club in Gurgaon, founded in 2007 promotes equine sports. And going by its success rate, more and more people are signing up. Its track record states that sportspersons from the club have represented and excelled in various horse shows and championships. Nestling in the greens of Gurgaon extension, the club offers serene natural surroundings and chattering of bird for the riders.<br /><br />The club has members coming from different strata of the society and cutting across age groups. In fact, they could be anywhere between three to seventy-five! And it isn’t just residents of Gurgaon who are following their passion of horse-riding. Delhiites too have been signing up at the club. With 37 qualified horses trained for riding, jumping, racing, vaulting and polo, the club boasts of membership of over 2000 and counting. The fee for 8 sessions stands at Rs 1750 for club members and Rs 300 per session of 40 minutes for non-members. <br /><br />According to the owner and head trainer, Sumer Singh, himself a trained rider and who was once a part of Remount Veterinary Corps (RVC) unit in Meerut before he opened this club, the trend of horse riding has increased in the recent past. “Of the 2000 members, the most interesting part is that 65 per cent of them are ladies. We even have a large number of kids who come here to learn this sport.”<br /><br />The riding is done in two huge fields away from the noise and traffic of the city. The smaller field is used in the initial sessions for basic training and once the rider has learned the basics they are allowed to take the horse to the larger field.<br /><br />A 40-minute session of riding and equestrian training burns more than 200 calories a day and is equal to 60 minutes of workout in a gym. It is an excellent stress buster too and above all, it is simple, fun and makes people happy. “It is very beneficial for the back and knees too,” states Sumer. <br /><br />While the sport itself may be very attractive, you would do well to remember to wear correct attire to avoid injuries and discomfort. A hat or a helmet designed specifically for riding is a must and a bicycling helmet is definitely not recommended. Legs must be kept fully covered and riding pants are a must to ensure the rider does not develop welts on his/her legs. Riding boots or chaps with hard sole shoes are recommended, because they protect the lower part of your legs and feet. So give in to the temptation and go enjoy that ride. <br /></p>
<p>It may not be for the faint-hearted but equestrian sports and in particular, horse riding, seems to be fast gaining ground in the City nowadays. Yes, this is indeed the latest trend since for some people – speed and horses, both can be addictive.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Janak Equestrian Club in Gurgaon, founded in 2007 promotes equine sports. And going by its success rate, more and more people are signing up. Its track record states that sportspersons from the club have represented and excelled in various horse shows and championships. Nestling in the greens of Gurgaon extension, the club offers serene natural surroundings and chattering of bird for the riders.<br /><br />The club has members coming from different strata of the society and cutting across age groups. In fact, they could be anywhere between three to seventy-five! And it isn’t just residents of Gurgaon who are following their passion of horse-riding. Delhiites too have been signing up at the club. With 37 qualified horses trained for riding, jumping, racing, vaulting and polo, the club boasts of membership of over 2000 and counting. The fee for 8 sessions stands at Rs 1750 for club members and Rs 300 per session of 40 minutes for non-members. <br /><br />According to the owner and head trainer, Sumer Singh, himself a trained rider and who was once a part of Remount Veterinary Corps (RVC) unit in Meerut before he opened this club, the trend of horse riding has increased in the recent past. “Of the 2000 members, the most interesting part is that 65 per cent of them are ladies. We even have a large number of kids who come here to learn this sport.”<br /><br />The riding is done in two huge fields away from the noise and traffic of the city. The smaller field is used in the initial sessions for basic training and once the rider has learned the basics they are allowed to take the horse to the larger field.<br /><br />A 40-minute session of riding and equestrian training burns more than 200 calories a day and is equal to 60 minutes of workout in a gym. It is an excellent stress buster too and above all, it is simple, fun and makes people happy. “It is very beneficial for the back and knees too,” states Sumer. <br /><br />While the sport itself may be very attractive, you would do well to remember to wear correct attire to avoid injuries and discomfort. A hat or a helmet designed specifically for riding is a must and a bicycling helmet is definitely not recommended. Legs must be kept fully covered and riding pants are a must to ensure the rider does not develop welts on his/her legs. Riding boots or chaps with hard sole shoes are recommended, because they protect the lower part of your legs and feet. So give in to the temptation and go enjoy that ride. <br /></p>
