Galloping Towards India’s Equestrian Future

At the heart of this movement is international show jumper Sehaj Singh Virk, who balances competing overseas with mentoring aspiring riders at EGC Stables. His mission goes beyond medals: to develop world-class horsemen and horsewomen who always put the welfare of the horse first.

Success is built one ride at a time

Virk dismisses the idea of a single breakthrough moment. “There wasn’t one magical turning point,” he says. “It was enjoying my time with horses, winning my first competition, then not doing well in the next few shows and still waking up the following morning wanting to improve. Those small moments shape you.” Growing up around experienced riders and quality horses accelerated his learning. “Being in the right environment from a young age makes a huge difference. You keep learning every day.”

The horse comes first

In show jumping, success depends as much on the horse as the rider. “Nearly 70 per cent is the horse,” Virk says. “Usually, the more talented the horse, the more quirks it has.”

Understanding those quirks requires patience. “I spend a lot of time in the stables simply observing them. You learn their personalities, likes and dislikes. Every horse is different, and over time you discover what works best.” The partnership has also taught him resilience. “Sometimes you’ve done everything right as a rider, but the result still isn’t what you hoped for. You accept it, learn from it and come back stronger.”

Why Hyderabad matters

Virk believes Hyderabad already has a strong equestrian foundation. “The city has always produced talented riders,” he says, pointing to Krishna Sahithi and Jaiveer Varma, who represented India at the Youth Asian Games in Bahrain, along with Abbas Khan and Karthik Reddy, who have competed successfully on the European circuit. He also credits the Hyderabad Polo & Riding Club (HPRC) for strengthening grassroots riding. “There’s still a lot that can be done, but Hyderabad definitely has the potential to become India’s next major equestrian hub. I’m excited to be a small part of that journey.”

His coaching philosophy is equally simple. “The best athletes are built from scratch. They understand the process better, and their chances of succeeding at the highest level become much stronger.”

Opening the gatzes

Equestrian remains one of India’s most expensive sports, but Virk believes greater participation is possible.

“Large corporate sponsors can make the biggest difference,” he says. “Around the world, companies support athletes from the grassroots to the highest level. India needs more riding facilities, not just in Delhi and Mumbai, but also in Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Tier II and Tier III cities.” Better infrastructure, he believes, will naturally produce more champions.

Technology in the saddle

Modern equestrian sport is increasingly driven by sports science. “We now have software that predicts injury risks, analyses a horse’s gait and even detects whether it is favouring one side,” Virk explains.

Wearable technology is also transforming training. “Devices now monitor cardiovascular fitness and lung performance. They give us a much better understanding of our equine partners and help improve performance while protecting horse welfare.”

Learning under pressure

One of the toughest moments of Virk’s career came before the 2022 Asian Games trials.

“Two of my three horses went lame just a day before the trials,” he recalls. “The youngest and least experienced horse, who was only meant to gain exposure, suddenly became my main entry.” Rather than panic, he relied on preparation. “Moments like that teach you to trust your training.” For Virk, success is measured by far more than podium finishes. “I want to leave behind good horsemen who always put the needs of the horse first and give 100 per cent every day, on and off the field."