Riding over Adversity

BENGALURU: Fresh out of the riding arena, dressed in breeches, boots and body protectors, Bindu M and Basavaraju Sangappa walk into the quaint café at the Embassy International Riding School (EIRS), bringing with them a waft of the smell of

horses

, a reminder of the time they had spent at the stables.

With parents who worked at the riding school, the two youngsters grew up in an equine environment and about a decade ago, as teenagers, embarked on an adventure — to live the life of their dreams.

In ordinary circumstances,

equestrian

– an affluent man’s sport – would have been out of the realms of possibility for the daughter of a horse groom and the son of security guard. But Bindu and Basavaraju stand testimony to athletes who haven’t let obstacles cut short their dreams. They are not only equestrian riders of repute but also much-sought after riding instructors.

Hailing from Tarahunise village in Bengaluru north, Bindu grew up at the riding school where her father groomed horses for former ace jockey Silva Storai, who is now the director of EIRS.

According to Storai, once the two of them overcame their initial social inhibitions, which was essential shyness and lack of confidence, both of them haven't allowed their economic background to bother them. Their hunger to excel, she says pales in front of any minor shortcoming they have.

“We sponsor their gear and equipment which is on par with that of any other rider. So they don't lack anything when they mount their horses,” pointed out Storai.

On her foray into the sport, Bindu says, “My father Muniyappa, who passed away a few years ago, worked here even before I was born. So I was raised amidst horses and they fascinated me. When a couple of the boys like Basavaraju started learning to ride, I asked my father and he approached Storai —who has always been my role model— and she agreed. Since then there has been no looking back,” recalled the 24-year-old who has won many national and international medals.

She didn't start with a bang but a thud, but that served as a motivation to mount the horse everyday. “Initially my mother was a little scared because I fell the first day I rode. She said don't go. I didn't go the second day and everybody around me mocked me for being scared. I took that as a challenge and haven't looked back since,” said the graduate from Seshadripuram College.

Bindu’s love for horses, children and the oodles of patience she displays saw her being trained as an instructor. “I love spending time with children and helping them learn the ropes of the sport. I'm indebted to the EIRS for helping me discover a passion and making a career out of it. I now want to go abroad and study and do the BHS course (the British Horse Society’s instructor certification programme) to qualify as a senior instructor. That, I want to do on my own and I'm working towards raising the funds (about Rs 10 lakh) for it,” she says.

Recently, Bindu also had to take Storai’s help to convince her mother that her marriage could wait and that her focus, right now, should be on her career.

Like Bindu, Basavaraju, who is fondly known as Basu at the riding school, lost his father last year and both of them have been able to ease the financial burden of running the family which fell on their mothers. While Bindu’s mother Rathnamma works at the kitchen at the riding school, Basu’s mother Vidyavathi is a gardener at the nearby Stonehill International School.

Apart from a basic salary of around Rs 35,000, the riders cum instructors also earn a commission. In a good month they take home anywhere between Rs 60,000-70,000.

“I had to give up studies because of the financial difficulties at home. But from the time I started working as an instructor three years, our woes have eased,” says Basu, whose parents moved to the city 15 years ago. Both of them start their day at the stable by 7am and ride, work the horses and take classes before winding up at 6pm.

While Bindu is inclined towards coaching, Basu still has big dreams and is backed by immense talent. One of the most consistent riders of the city last year, the 23-year-old also trained with the acclaimed former world champion, Bettina Hoy of Germany.

“We were sponsoring an eventing team to Europe and were short of two riders. We thought of sending two of our kids so Zeeshan Malik and Basu were picked. Both of them were given a chance to showcase their talent under Bettina. I thought she would never send Basu back to India because she found him very talented and was willing to work on his visa to train there. But Basu, who lost his father a year ago, was homesick and wanted to be with his mother, so he came back after three weeks. I'm sure he will go back. He is cut out for bigger things,” says Storai.

The biggest dream, according to Basu, is participation at the Asian Games and Olympics. Given the grit and determination, these youngsters show, no dream is too big for them.

The son of a security guard and the daughter of a cook break into the one of the most elite sports in India – through guts, determination and hard work
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