Horses are no longer for nobility. Look around, Hyderabad is now home to some of the best clubs that encourage the commons to take up horse riding. And, there’s a growing number of people who love to nuzzle their way into the world of horses
Published Date – 21 February 2025, 03:37 PM
Hyderabad: Horses are no longer for nobility. Look around, Hyderabad is now home to some of the best clubs that encourage the commons to take up horse riding. And, there’s a growing number of people who love to nuzzle their way into the world of horses.
“Bengaluru, Chennai, Jaipur, Bhopal and Delhi are the hub for horse riding activity but Hyderabad is catching up fast,” says Asu Singh, one of the most loved trainers in the city. And it is both — a hobby and a sport.
The love for horse riding isn’t new here. Polo has a rich history in Hyderabad, dating back to the 19th century when the Nizams introduced the game.
The first polo club in Hyderabad was established in 1884, and the city soon became a hub for polo enthusiasts. The Hyderabad Polo and Riding Club, founded in 1918, is one of the oldest polo clubs in India and has hosted several national and international tournaments. Nizam’s son Prince Azam Jah, an accomplished polo player, popularised the game further.
“Hyderabad was a major centre for polo in India. Over the years, its popularity has been on the wane. However, with the many clubs and the craze for horse riding growing, we can see a silent revival,” says Raj Sivaraju, partner at Rancho De Caballos, which has some 50 horses of different breeds.
Exclusive ones such as Hyderabad Polo and Riding Club and Nasr Polo are preferred by the crème de la crème of society, but those like Royal Caballo Club, Rancho De Caballos, Hyderabad Horse Riding School and Champions Horse Riding Club have opened their doors to anyone interested in joining the equestrian community.
These clubs even let you own a horse by providing a platform to stable the animal, which includes feeding, exercising and taking care of it. While some may find it therapeutic, others may focus just on the physical aspect. Yet some others may take it up purely for a bond with the animal.
“Horse riding not only helps one to be present at the moment, it also has great mental benefit. Horses are intelligent beings and often form connections with their riders. They can even sense mood shifts,” says Yasha, a teenager who owns a horse at one of the clubs.
Hyderabad boasts high-profile and celebrated bloodlines like Kathiawadi and Marwari (Chetak, Kala Ghoda). Some four or five families are the proud owners of these breeds.
Asu Singh has been in this profession for over 20 years and has contributed significantly to making horse riding a ‘common’ hobby. “I want to encourage people to be a part of the equestrian world and promote the sport,” he says.
However, the other side of having too many clubs, says Singh, is that they lose focus. “Being an expensive profession/hobby, it needs a lot to keep these clubs running. Then, it turns into one of those money-making businesses. says Singh, batting for government support.
But Sivaraju has a solution. “It’s an expensive passion if you want to own a horse. Enjoy without actually owning the animal. ‘Own’ it by bonding with your horse,” he says.
But should one start young? “I started at 53,” says Sivaraju. There is no age limit. You only need to know to bond with the animal,” he says. And once you are in, you are always in.
Don’t hold your horses. Saddle up.
Some of the clubs include:
Rancho De Caballos – 9619228888
Royal Caballo Club – 9502667505
Telangana Polo and Riding Club – 9000205525
Hyderabad Polo & Riding Club – 9177000056
Champions Horse Riding Club – 8463993344
