CHENNAI: Ever seen a bunch of horses playing musical chairs? In a fun conclusion to a long, intense day at the 2nd Dr KCG Verghese Equestrian Competition held at Hindustan University — spectators were hit by a little nostalgia from a childhood game, played with a twist. And you’re probably wondering, did those horses actually sit on chairs? For once, in an equestrian show — it was the riders’ turn to do the jumping. Off the horse and on to the chair, that is.
Among the seven clubs that participated were the Madras Riding School, Officer’s Training Academy, NCC, Adiparasakthi Horse Riding Club, Equestrian Club of Ambur, Chennai Equitation Centre of course, hosts of the event, Hindustan University.
With nine events ranging from Trot Dressage to 4 Bar Jumping and more, Saturday was to put it mildly, as eventful a day as they come. Some rode with battle cries, some we’re sure cried after they were thrown off. In the world of equestrian sports this is called ‘Parting Company’ — although we can assure you, it’s not as polite as it sounds. And the highest and most hard-to-beat bar on the obstacle course is mockingly titled, the Joker.
One horse who made it successfully over the Joker twice, but had possibly hit his hoof against the rod in the process was so terrified to go back that he jumped the partition leading out of the arena, much to his disqualified rider’s dismay! Another highlight of the event was the Tent Pegging competition, where the rider charged gung ho, lance in hand to pick up a small tent peg that is lodged in the ground. Perhaps the most difficult of the lot, this one requires as much focus as it does require precision. After all that tension, as you can imagine — circling a bunch of chairs and shaking a hoof in the process was welcomed with happy clop clop clopping as the games came to a close.