Hyderabad Polo & Riding Club Set for Equestrian Action
The Equestrian Challenge follows directly on from the National Qualifier (NQ) 2026 — the country’s first NQ of the season.
The Hyderabad Polo & Riding Club (HPRC) is hosting the second edition of the HPRC Equestrian Challenge from Friday to Monday at the Club’s grounds in Gandipet, building on the momentum of the inaugural edition held in May this year.
The Equestrian Challenge is HPRC’s flagship open competition, bringing together riders of every age and experience level across three disciplines — Hacks, Dressage and Show Jumping. This edition features 15 classes in all, spanning age categories from Children II through to Open, and includes a dedicated 40 cm Show Jumping class designed specifically to welcome beginner and younger competitors into the sport.
The Equestrian Challenge follows directly on from the National Qualifier (NQ) 2026 — the country’s first NQ of the season. The event is organised by HPRC in association with the Telangana State Equestrian Association (TSEA), under the aegis of the Equestrian Federation of India (EFI). Together, the two events give Hyderabad’s equestrian community five consecutive days of competitive action at HPRC, drawing riders and horses from clubs across the region.
The National Qualifier is a mandatory step for equestrians under the age of 21 across the country — every rider in this age group must qualify through an NQ to become eligible to compete at the Junior National Equestrian Championships (JNEC).
The Qualifier will be conducted across Dressage and Show Jumping, spanning four age categories — Children II, Children I, Junior, and Young Rider — as per EFI’s National Qualifier Guidelines for JNEC 2026.
The event has drawn 81 entries across the four categories, with 36 horses fielded by major equestrian clubs from across Hyderabad. HPRC itself has returned the highest entry count of any participating club, fielding 42 entries from 16 riders and 18 horses.
“Hosting the first National Qualifier of the season is both an honour and a responsibility,” HPRC president Chaitania Kumar said.
“It reflects the standard our grounds and our riders have set over the past year, and it gives our own young equestrians a home-ground opportunity to take their first step toward the Junior Nationals. We’re proud to see 16 of our own riders and 18 of our horses among the entries, and we look forward to welcoming clubs from across the region for what promises to be a keenly contested three days,” he added.
