| |
 |
| |
The Japalouppe Equestrian Centre
 |
Japalouppe Equestrian Centre and Horse
Riding School  situated
near Pune is the only one of its kind in Western
India, and one of the only four in the country.
"Japalouppe was one of the world's most
famous show jumping horses. He was very small in
height and people never believed that he could be
a success, but he defied all odds and went on to
become a legend, '' informs Lorraine More.
Japalouppe, Lorraine enlightens, was the last thoroughbred
horse to win an equestrian event before the Warm
bloods took over. The Mores chose the name Japalouppe,
because they admired the mentality of the thoroughbred.
 Samir,
Lorraine's husband has always been fond of horses.
At 19, he went to England to pursue a Diploma
in Stud Management. In 1974, he gave up his
family's stained glass business to start the Talegaon
Stud Farm, the first such farm between Mumbai
and Pune.
He started the horse farm with nine horses. The
first few years were, by Samir's own admission,
trying times. Even more difficult, Samir, recounts,
was the Indian work attitude and the cynical attitude
of fellow breeders. "They wanted to know
if what I had learnt in the UK had any use,"
recalls Samir with a laugh.
The UK education has, undoubtedly stood him in good
stead. Samir ranks among the top breeders in the
country and has had the distinction of having his
two-year-old horses sold as among the top in the
country.
 The
stud farm in the eighties and up to the mid nineties
was home to 200 horses. the numbers have, over the
years, dwindled and today Samir has 90 horses in
the saddle.
Lorraine, until then occupied with motherhood, decided
to venture out on her own once her kids had grown
up. She decided to start a riding school and took
over an empty stable and the area surrounding it.
Samir lent her ten horses to begin her new venture
and she was ably assisted by older son Rohan, a
third generation horseman. Rohan will be leaving
for Canada in June this year to do an advanced equitation
course and gain more experience in this field.
 The
idea of the riding school occurred to Lorraine,
when she had gone and stayed with an Anglo Indian
couple, the Griffiths, in Canada, who had a riding
school. Incidentally the Griffiths had a Stud Farm
in Bihar before they left the country and Samir
had spent some time at the farm, learning the ropes.
The initial period was tough. Lorraine had a Dutch
Couple helping her with the school. They wanted
a high profile image attached to the school so that
it could attract foreign clients, The Mores, however,
wanted it more low profile so that they could also
attract the Indian clientele. Consequently they
parted ways within a year.
High or low profile, either ways, Japalouppe Equestrian
Centre has managed to draw attention to their riding
activities. The uniqueness of the instruction is
that the riding techniques are tailored to suit
individual needs. Lorraine elaborates, "We
have formulated our own way to teach riding which
is to do with the psychology of the rider and the
horse." One has to, according to Lorraine,
understand the rider when he is put on the horse.
It is crucial that the rider is comfortable and
confident when riding. If the rider is confident,
the horse senses it and automatically works better
with the rider.
 The
Mores insist that every person who comes to the
school to learn riding is given personal attention.
One needs to become a member in order to learn riding
at the Jappalouppe Equestrian Centre. For riding
lessons, one needs to pick up a card worth
Rs 3000/- for 10 lessons. Instruction is given
from basic riding to advanced show jumping and dressage.
The riding school currently has 16 trained horses
and four Ponies and is situated on five acres of
the 50-acre stud farm just off the Mumbai Pune highway.
If you wish to have a great time, gallop to Jappalouppe.
Contact: Lorraine More, Shankar Wadi, Bombay-
Pune Highway, Talegaon Dabhade, Pune - 410 506
Phone: 2114 - 22271
Text: Rahul Surkund
Photo Courtesy: Talegaon Stud Farm
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
