HISTORY
Since the beginning of Red Earth Riding School in 1990, we have been promoting dressage in South India. Since 2000, Red Earth has been hosting regular equestrian competitions, including the Junior National Equestrian Championship, the Indian Dressage League (IDL), the South Indian Equestrian Championship, and the Pondicherry Equestrian Challenge.
FACILITIES
Located on 22 lush acres in the international township of Auroville (Tamil Nadu), the riding school has steadily grown to twenty-four horses (including India’s only Andalusians) and facilities combining two 20 x 60 m dressage arenas, an Olympic-sized jumping arena, a cross-country course, and multiple warm-up arenas, all punctuated by beautiful flower gardens. All our horses live in well-ventilated open stables with access to large grassy paddocks, a sadly rare feature in India. We attribute much of the success of our horses to the idea that happy horses will give their best under the saddle. Trainers and instructors from India, Germany, France, England, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, and the United States have brought diverse expertise and passion for horses over the years.
HORSES
It’s not just the team and facilities that make Red Earth an exceptional haven for horse lovers, but the remarkable horses themselves. Our first “dressage horse” is a chestnut mare called Habibi, whose flawless training but tendency to spook ensured that one of our riders won and one of our riders was eliminated during every competition! Habibi is now 23 years old and watches the hubbub of the riding school complacently from her stable.
Kalif was the first Andalusian (Pura Raza Española, or PRE) stallion that we welcomed to Red Earth. He performed so outstandingly at his first competition, at Embassy Riding School in Bangalore, that he won the title of DRESSAGE HORSE OF THE SHOW. We realized then his natural fondness for the limelight as he proudly posed in front of the camera and applause. He is always at his best when the spectator stands are full and has fulfilled a side career as a male equine model for multiple journal articles and advertising campaigns.
This year, the PRE family grew by two new members at Red Earth: Iberica and Campera, 2 beautiful young mares imported from Spain. Jacqueline is over the moon for having reached the 70% benchmark with Campera in the last IDL.
RERS TEAM
Red Earth Riding School has a dedicated team of four riding instructors offering training from initiation to horseback riding all the way up to advanced dressage and show jumping. It regularly hosts clinics with guest instructors from India and abroad. The Red Earth team is a diverse mix of ages and backgrounds with students coming primarily from Auroville and Pondicherry, but some from as far as Chennai, Bangalore, or even abroad to take part in intensive training sessions.
Although we love the opportunity to test our progress (and our mettle!) through competitions at Red Earth, our primary goal is to bring the equestrian sport to people from all ages and backgrounds, particularly focusing on children. By teaching all aspects of horsemanship and responsibility for one’s horse and his well-being, we teach riders how to develop a mutually respectful relationship with their horse. Success in the ring comes as a by-product!
During Red Earth’s competitions, about twelve of these riders regularly compete, and the team travels to Chennai and Bangalore to take part in the competition circuit. Most of our competition riders as well as some of the children are sponsored by Red Earth. We are proud to watch their progress over the years. During this last IDL, Vikas won the Junior dressage category on Campera. Arun competed well on Estigon, our little PRE stallion. Kali, who started working at Red Earth 10 years ago not knowing one end of the horse from the other and who has gone on to be one of our main riding instructors, reached his personal best of 71% in the preliminary dressage on Haggler, a re-trained ex racehorse.
