Have you ever even considered the notion of owning a horse simply as a pet; a companion to snuggle, to go for walks in the park, play games, smooch, run your fingers through soft fur and silky mane, listen to your problems and sorrows, press against you to soak up your tears, lie down to nap together and run laughing through the woods, jumping logs together?
As kids we all dream of having some sort of pet. Ineke is one such lady with that great fantasy of having a horse of her own. Speaking to Young Voice she reveals her love for horses.
“I grew up in England. I lived in a small village where near by neighbours would have stables. Luckily for me, my neighbours had one and as a girl I used to go and ride their horse. On the weekends I would go to the riding school and ride the whole day. I was crazy over horses and couldn’t get enough of it. But my parents could not afford to get me a horse. So the closest thing for me was my neigbours’ horse and I used to help my friend take care of it plus ride it.
My dream was to somehow someday get myself a horse… it was a long wait though.
Ineke put her dream on hold while she studied to be a mechanical engineer and did enjoy that period of her career. Ineke’s break came when she came to Hong Kong for an aviation project. “From here I took time off and visited Sri Lanka and fell in love with this beautiful country. During my stay I really wanted to reside here and start a business so that’s what I did. With my business partner we started to export tropical plants.It was so exciting. That was 20 years ago she said with a smile.
With so much going on Ineke joined a Dutch counselling institute here is Sri Lanka. “I am a counsellor and a leadership training instructor. We serve top class institutes in Sri Lanka. I am a hard worker. But with all the stress at work I just needed to get away and relax. This is when I decided to give life to my dream with ‘Firefly’ my very first horse.
She was one when I got her. Since I did not have a stable in Colombo I kept her in a tea estate in Hatton, but she is a small breed so you can’t ride her. I brought ‘firefly’ to Colombo and got another horse for riding. Since I had two horses and no proper stable, I had to find a place to keep them. Sorented a place at Siddhamulla near Piliyanda. This is my little home now.
My dream to have a stable and a riding school has become a reality now. With five horses and five ponies I’m over the moon. Inke’s Ceylon Riding Club is open to all.
What inspired you to give this particular name?
“My mother is British and my father is Dutch, so my parentsused to call Sri Lanka ‘Ceylon’. That inspired me. “Ineke added with a gentle smile.
Speaking on the club Ineke explained “there is no age group in joining the club. Riders come very early. Some stay the whole day petting and feeding theses loveable beasts. It is awesome to witness how the kind experienced foreign trainers train the impending equestrians.
Why did Ineke wanted to start this business?
“I want to recreate the place where I rode horses as a juvenile. To build a place where anybody has access to ride, play, love and tete a tete with horses. We see some parents who bring their children here as early as 7a.m.but are addicted to their mobile phones. So, I walk up to them saying “Hi! Good morning, would you like to have a cup of tea?” theyseem to relax to some extent. After five-ten minutes we observe them taking in to the surroundings and enjoying the serenity of the place.” Said Ineke
“There are special needs children too, who attend classes. These parents of the children with autism or ADHD appreciate horse riding very much. Stating that they noticed their children perform well at home after attending the riding sessions. Most people who are stressed with their work load go home relaxed and happy after the ride. I gain tremendous happiness is seeing others enjoy what I love most,”
The horses too appreciate the love and care that they get from the children. They can differentiate kids from adults. They have the ability to distinguish fear and joy. They are an amazing breed. The horses respond well to the children especially the autistic children, because they sense their innocence’s right away” she elaborated.
Most of your horses are mares. Can you explain?
“That’s a good observation. Yes! Stallions are not commonly kept for pleasure because they are often more difficult to ride and handle than mares. Some stallions are capable of reproducing when they are only a year old though most become sexually mature and begin breeding between the ages of 3 and 4.
Stallions cannot be turned out with other horses because they breed the mares indiscriminately and will often attack or harm the geldings. Stallions require a strictly supervised turnout and high quality fences or you will wind up with a lot more horses than you wanted to after breeding season. Breeding stallions have to be handled regularly and frequently when they are mated with various mares throughout the breeding season.
The movie ’The Black Stallion’ may have caused many young people to dream of owning a stallion, but owning a stud horse isn’t for everyone. Stallions require more maintenance and care than regular horses. It often takes a person experienced with horses to be able to ride and successfully breed a good quality stallion. They are more of race horses.” She explained.
Adding further ineke said that she used to race too. but gave up on that. Mares are usually easy to handle and they are more affectionate.
Tek Bahadrubandari, a Napalese trainer also works with ineka and he takes care of the health aspects plus trains the horses. He too, has a similar background but equestrian training plus accounting.
Tek who was very enthusiastic about telling his side, said that from accounting to a stable manager is fantastic. I get to be with the horses groom them and love them. I left Nepal for India. My wife is also a professional horse rider in India. I came here seven months ago. Ever since then I have been with these lovely beasts, they all have names and Firefly, Tara,Valentina,Sindi when you ride her its like driving a Benz car. Goldie is of a half-bred. Then there is hard working Merlin who is now a retired male suffering from heart ailment. Cardington’s the only white male in this stable.
“Horse riding is a complete exercise. Especially in India the children with special needs are always encouraged to ride as opposed to swimming,” he said,
Walking towards the ponies he added, “this small made pony is ‘Lady’ and her big daughter is ‘Thalula’. They love each other. Storm is a frisky pony really like a storm. “As Tek mentioned her name she looked at him mischievously and jumped back and forth in her stable.
They are fed three meals a day. 4.30am is breakfast,then one at about 10.30 in the morning and the dinner is given at around 6.30-7.00pm. Bananas, and apples can be given in-between but not too much.
Wasantha and the others too have their work cut out in taking care of these loveable creatures. Their shoes have to be taken care of. Their bridals and saddles all checked daily. Hard work but it’s worth it they say.
Having horses and caring for them is not an easy task Ineka said. Finding vetenarians when my animals get sick is very hard because most of the veteranrians are more for dogs and cats. and other small animals. So when my horses get sick I have to call Pakistan or all the way to London for consultations. I hope in the future that the Veternarians will be able to care for horses too. Plusineka is trying to develop a horse loving culture among the Sri Lankans too.
Also aiding the school with better facilities would be appreciated. As they are unable to use the field for riding when it rains during the monsoon. For more information on this extraordinary school you may visit this facebook site. Ceylon Riding Club, Horse Colic Awareness and Treatment Sri Lanka, Horse lovers in Sri Lanka. As well www.ceylonridingclub.comwould make your dream come true.
Pix by Vipula Amarasinghe