Report by Santanu Ganguly, New Delhi: Late into Friday evening, well after the sun had set, a field of 28 competitors set out to vie for top honors in the ‘Open Jumping’ category of the Delhi Horse Show 2013 (DHS). At the end of the competition, a half-bred horse—Arjuna—was the last horse standing along with his beaming rider, Major Rohit Dagar. Arjuna cleared the course in 38.79 seconds with no faults, to claim top honors, while German-warmblood ‘Bianco’ ridden by Ajai Appachu came in second position with 8 jumping faults.
A course was laid out for all the competitors, and points were given on the basis of clearance and time. A slow time, or a dropped bar in the jumps deducted points from the total tally. Appachu riding Bianco and Dagar astride Arjuna cleared the course in the first round with no dropped bars. In a second round face-off, Dagar astride Arjuna stole the thunder clearing the course with no fault in record time.
Interestingly, the competition between Appachu and Dagar is heating up heading into the finale weekend of DHS, with Appachu winning in the Grade-2 category jumps and Dagar winning back glory in the Open Jumping category. Both riders are part of the Indian team headed to Korea for the International Showjumping tournament - CSI KRA Cup, scheduled from April 19th 2013 onwards in Seoul.
“Arjuna is a small-horse and with half-bred roots but he jumps with a big heart and he’s been keeping me on the winning side in the last few national tournaments. I have trained in Argentine on much bigger and agile horses but Arjuna’s spirit is what works for us. He makes me look good as a rider,” said, Major Rohit Dagar, 61 Cavalry, Winner of Open Jumping.
The Delhi Horse Show culminates with a finale weekend of action on April 6th and April 7th that include competitive jumping and the finals of the children’s competitions.
The Delhi Horse Show has been in existence since the early part of 20th century. In the days of Raj, it was considered one of the main events in the Indian social calendar and took place on the grounds of the prestigious Red Fort. After Independence, the tradition continued and it remained India’s premier Horse Show but was discontinued in 1979 with the unavailability of the Red Fort grounds. The Army Polo & Riding Club renewed the country’s love for equestrian 27 years ago, and with the Chief of the Army Staff as its President, has continuously been organizing the Show, now in its 28th edition.
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| Rohit Dagar in action on horse 'Arjuna' |
Interestingly, the competition between Appachu and Dagar is heating up heading into the finale weekend of DHS, with Appachu winning in the Grade-2 category jumps and Dagar winning back glory in the Open Jumping category. Both riders are part of the Indian team headed to Korea for the International Showjumping tournament - CSI KRA Cup, scheduled from April 19th 2013 onwards in Seoul.
“Arjuna is a small-horse and with half-bred roots but he jumps with a big heart and he’s been keeping me on the winning side in the last few national tournaments. I have trained in Argentine on much bigger and agile horses but Arjuna’s spirit is what works for us. He makes me look good as a rider,” said, Major Rohit Dagar, 61 Cavalry, Winner of Open Jumping.
The Delhi Horse Show culminates with a finale weekend of action on April 6th and April 7th that include competitive jumping and the finals of the children’s competitions.
The Delhi Horse Show has been in existence since the early part of 20th century. In the days of Raj, it was considered one of the main events in the Indian social calendar and took place on the grounds of the prestigious Red Fort. After Independence, the tradition continued and it remained India’s premier Horse Show but was discontinued in 1979 with the unavailability of the Red Fort grounds. The Army Polo & Riding Club renewed the country’s love for equestrian 27 years ago, and with the Chief of the Army Staff as its President, has continuously been organizing the Show, now in its 28th edition.
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