mangalore today

Avinand Achanahally, to open horse riding academy in city


Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Oct 07, 2016: Avinand Achanahally, an environmentalist and an animal lover who is also a horse rider, will soon open an academy to teach horse riding to the public and also aims at taking it to the academic level. While Avinand has plans to open an academy in the city, he will also introduce horse riding as a part of co-curricular activities at a few select private schools. Learning trotting, cantering and galloping will soon become a reality in Mangaluru city, where people are not very familiar with horse riding and horse racing.

 

Avinand Achana..People in Mangaluru city, especially children watch curiously as Avinand rides on ’Varuna’, a four-year-old thoroughbred. 26-year old Avinand has been riding horses to Roshni Nilaya, when he was a student at MSW a few years ago. When all his friends were riding motorbikes and cars, Avinand bought himself a seven-year-old Kathiawadi breed horse ’Sikander’ for Rs 70,000 from Mysore.

Seeing people’s enthusiasm and interest towards horse riding, he decided on opening a club in the city. He told TOI that he has prepared an initial roadmap and the club will be opened once all the formalities and infrastructure work is completed.

"The institute will be open for all enthusiasts between the age of nine and 60 years. The course will begin with basic classes on physical fitness, understanding horses, fixing saddles and other aspects related to horse riding. Later, practical sessions on riding including walking, trotting, cantering and galloping will be taught to participants," Avinand said, adding that horse riding is one of the best exercise to burn calories.

While Avinand owns one horse, he says he will get three more soon. "I have made arrangements to bri ng three more horses including a pony from Chikkamagaluru. Meanwhile, a stable with facilities for six horses will be constructed and a track will also be prepared for horse riding," said Avinand, son of planter couple AL Vijay Vivekananda and KU Roopa of Hanbal village, near Sakleshpur.