Introduction on Equestrian
Equestrianism is a broad term that describes the activities that involve horses and their riders or drivers. It includes riding, driving, and vaulting, and can be used for practical, recreational, artistic, or competitive purposes. Some well-known equestrian sports include jumping, dressage, eventing, and endurance. The word “equestrian” comes from the Latin words equs and equester, which mean “horse” and “horseman”. It can be used as a noun to describe someone who is involved with horses, or as an adjective to describe anything related to horseback riding. An equestrian is someone who is involved with horses. You can also use it as an adjective to describe anything having to do with horseback riding. An aspiring equestrian may have to give up socializing with friends in favor of equestrian duties like grooming horses. Equestrian is one of the only sports where men and women compete against each other. For me, it’s truly an inexplicable feeling to carve a niche for myself in a bastion that didn’t see many women participate in. It’s also great to see the rise in the number of women coming into equestrian sport, which was once predominantly an army-driven sport in our country. Balancing my passion for riding horses with my academics has been the most challenging part of following the sport. I was recently placed third in CDI (Concours de Dressage International), but having attained laurels in my field of expertise (dressage), isn’t enough to fulfil my dreams; I feel that my journey has just begun.
A brief history on Equestrian
India has a rich heritage of Equestrian Sport. Evidence of horse games and equestrian activities has been found in inscription, carving and coins excavated in Mohan Jodaro and Harappa. During the Vedic period (2500 BC – 600 BC) a form of chariot racing was one of the most popular games and this continued into Ramayana period when hunting became a royal sport. The Equestrian Federation of India was constituted in 1967, and is duly registered with the Registrar of Societies under the Societies Registration Act (Act xxi of 1860). Hereinafter referred to as EFI. Since 1967 the development of equestrian sport in India has been guided and promoted by the country’s governing body, the Equestrian Federation of India founded by a group of people driven by a mutual passion for horses and equestrian sport. The EFI now has over 1030 members, regularly sends riders to compete abroad and has spread its influence throughout the Asian Continent. National and International competitions in Dressage, Show Jumping, Event, Tent Pegging and Endurance are run under the auspices of the EFI, which itself is affiliated to the sport’s International governing body, the Federation Equestrian International (FEI), based in Switzerland. Equestrian sport is concentrated in certain areas of India these are Delhi, Meerut, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Kolkata, Chennai, Pondichery, Pune, Mumbai and Bhopal. The Equestrian Federation of India joined the FEI in 1971 and has been sending teams in all equestrian disciplines in Asian Games since 1982. The event is the core discipline and the event team has been winning team medal in almost all Asian Games till 2006. After Independence, few civilians could afford or even have access to horses, and it was the Army that kept equestrian sport alive in India, albeit on a smaller scale than before the Second World War. When some of the big horse shows were re-established in the 1950s, army riders began to do particularly well in show jumping, so much so that they fancied pitting their skills against foreign riders and competing abroad. However, international competitions were now controlled by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), the world equestrian body which had been established 1921. Riders were not allowed to compete in international classes in show jumping, dressage or event unless they were sent by their National Federation. Since no such federation existed in India something needed to be done, and so the Army stepped in to form the Equestrian Federation of India (EFI). Maj Gen R K R Balasubramanian, who was helping to run the Delhi Horse Show in the early 1960s, was one of the people involved in setting up the EFI. He explains how it all came about: “We didn’t have very many rules and regulations in the 1950s and 60s, but as the show began expanding and riders became keener, the standards started to go up, and we wanted to send our riders to participate in international events. The keenness and competitive spirit shown was par excellence. This came from great Indian riders like the Sodhi brothers (Billy and Pickles), V. P. Singh, Farooq Bijli, Kanu Khan and others. But the International Equestrian Federation told us that they could not accept our riders at international competitions because we didn’t have our own National Federation in India.
Trailblazers of Women’s Equestrian in India
1.Divyakriti Singh Rathore:
-Divyakriti Singh Rathore of Rajasthan, India, received the prestigious Arjuna Award from President Droupadi Murmu for her outstanding achievements in equestrian sports. She is ranked No. 1 in Asia and No. 14 globally in the Global Dressage Rankings by the International Equestrian Federation.
– Divyakriti won a gold medal in the team dressage event at last year’s Asian Games in Hangzhou, China. This victory marked the first time in 41 years that India secured a gold medal in equestrian sports at the Asian Games.
-She became the first female equestrian to be honored with the Arjuna Award, India’s second-highest sporting accolade.
2.Renuka pore:
-She is the first woman to compete in the world equestrian. Renuka Pore is a pioneering Indian Equestrian. She represented India at various International events.
-Renuka pore made a history by being the first Indian woman in equestrian. She won multiple national equestrian championships in India.
-Renuka Pore inspired many women to take part in equestrian, paving the way for future generation.
3. Deepika Rathore:
– First Indian woman to win an individual medal (bronze) in equestrian at the Asian Games (2011)
– Broke barriers and paved the way for women in equestrian sports
4. Syeda Afshan:
– First Muslim woman to represent India in equestrian sports
– Competed at national and international levels, inspiring women from diverse backgrounds
5. Nadia Haridass:
– Pioneering female equestrian who represented India at national and international events
– Trailblazer for women in equestrian sports in India
6. Priyanka Bhatt:
– First Indian woman to win an individual medal (silver) at the Asian Games in equestrian (2022)
– Inspired young women to take up equestrian sports
These women have broken barriers, challenged stereotypes, and paved the way for future generations of female equestrians in India.
Significant Milestones In Women’s Equestrian in India
1. 2002: Renuka Pore becomes the first Indian Woman to compete in the world equestrian.
2. 2011: In the equestrian competition at the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, Deepika Rathore wins India’s first equestrian medal (bronze).
3. 2012: The first national women’s equestrian league has been added by the Equestrian Federation of India (EFI).
4. 2014: The Indian government acknowledges equestrian sports, opening the door to additional funding and support.
5. 2016: In order to support and educate female riders, the EFI launches the “Women in Equestrian” program.
6. 2017: In the equestrian competition, India wins its first team medal (silver) at the Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia.
7. 2019: The EFI launches the “Equestrian Academy for Women” to give female riders training and coaching.
8. 2020: With an all-female squads for the first time, India’s equestrian team earns a spot in the Olympic Games (equestrian competitions) in Tokyo, Japan.
9. Priyanka Bhatt becomes the first Indian woman to win an individual medal (silver) at the Asian Games in equestrian.
10. 2023: Divyakriti Singh Rathore: She became the first female equestrian to be honored with the Arjuna Award, India’s second-highest sporting accolade.
These benchmarks demonstrate the growth and successes of women’s equestrian sports in India, from participation to awards and recognition.
Conclusion
In conclusion, women’s equestrian in India has made significant strides in recent years, with trailblazers like Renuka Pore, Deepika Rathore, and Divyakriti Singh Rathore paving the way for future generations. Despite facing challenges and stereotypes, women equestrians have proven themselves to be talented, dedicated, and passionate about the sport. The achievements of Indian women equestrians, including medals at the Asian Games and participation in the Olympic Games, have brought recognition and pride to the country. The journey of women’s equestrian in India is a testament to the power of determination, hard work, and passion, inspiring countless young women to follow in their footsteps.