Friday, April 14, 2017

'Breeches, horse riding and all that' - by K.J.S.Chatrath

I joined the IAS in 1967 and reported at the National Academy of Administration at Mussoorie for a one year training. Perhaps the most talked about part of this training was the compulsory horse riding. At the end of the training each one of us was supposed to be comfortable in riding a horse and make it trot, canter, gallop and jump a 3.6 ft. high barrier. 

This is me fully dressed up for the first day of horse riding training. The breeches that I was wearing has become a sort of family heirloom.
My father, who used to be a good rider, Captain of the Government College Lahore's Gymnastics team and an avid trekker had a favourite pair of breeches. This is his photo in those breeches. This pair was got altered for my use in the Mussoorie Academy.

I passed the riding test in the first go. I do not know to whom the credit goes. But I pay my respects to my father, who was born this day, 15th of April in 1905 for letting me use his breeches.

May his soul rest in eternal peace.

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