At 13, Abde Ali Masaliya is doing something interesting and unusual. He's into horse riding and is a very good rider too. At the recently concluded Equest 2000 Southern India Equestrian Championships in Bangalore, the Chennai lad bagged the 'Best Child Rider - under 15' title. Clocking the fastest time in any category with 24.74 seconds, Abde Ali's delight at his unexpected success knew no bounds. In a sport, which has a
heavy-drop-out rate, Abde Ali has managed to stay astride comfortably. He studies in class 9 at the A.M.M. Matriculation High School in
Kotturpuram.
This impish youngster was a delight to talk to.
Q: How did you get into horse-riding?
A: A friend of my father's just happened to ask him one day if I'd be interested in horse-riding. My father said yes and I started when I was 6-years-old. It is a very expensive sport to pursue, though.
Q: Where do you practice?
A: Now I practice at the Chennai Equestrian Academy (CEA) in Sholinganallur. I have learnt a lot in the last 6 months of my training.
Q: What makes you so interested in a sport which most people give up?
A: (Pat comes the reply) I love animals. Also, it can make people very famous. Even more famous than cricketers.
Q: How well must you know horses to be good at it?
A: Knowing horses is very important. One should know basic things about a horse like not going near it during its feed time, not standing behind a horse and keeping horses far away from cows!
Q: Why?
A: 
Because the cow will come straight for the horse with its horns. (Now, we didn't know that, did we?)
Q: How much of horse riding do you think you have learnt?
A: There is a lot to learn. My coach would know A to Y. I know A to C!
Q: What are your future plans? Will you take up horse riding professionally?
A: No just as a hobby. In fact, in the future I would like to do a little less of riding and more of studying.
Factfile:
Coach:
Anna Galloway from England
Winning Horse:
Nordic Storm
Awards he won at Equest 2000 Southern India Equestrian Championship
1. Show Jumping 70 cms - First
2. Dressage - Preliminary 1 - First
3. Dressage - Preliminary 2 - Second
4. Equatation 1 - Second
5. Show Jumping (team event) - First
