CHETAK Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains. Those who think themselves the masters of others are indeed greater slaves than they. Jean-Jacques Rousseau -------------------------------------------------- I went to attend the Animal Transport course in 1983 to Bareilly. Horse riding was a must. Horse is the master till man learns to ride it and I was saddled with Chetak. I did some background check on my master and discovered that Chetak was 18 years old and had attained the superannuation age prescribed for horses in the army. I expected my first master to be easy going mellowed down by age. We were put thru the paddock first to ensure that we rode within the enclosure, one horse behind the other, round and round inside. The paddock ensured that horses didnt disown the rider and run away. I had a problem, not Chetak. Chetak wanted to lead the pack always, no matter where I was positioned initially. Khadoos Budda. He had his way always and other horses understood the stubborn veteran on active service. Chetak was reluctant to walk and always desired to trot or canter. I was cautioned by the ustaad never to permit Chetak get into a gallop. Chetak was on excess Adrenalin and hyper-charged. We were put thru lane jumping. The lane was barricaded both sides and there was a series of different obstacles at regular distance. One such obstacle was Dum-Dama, a raised mud platform, about three feet high and over six feet long. It was compulsory for horses to clear all the obstacles, once they entered the barricaded lane. They had no choice but to get out of the other end. Horses knew that it was not compulsory for riders to clear all obstacles and they could offload their excess baggage at will. The Dum-Dama was a long obstacle for horses to clear in one jump. I saw other horses take a leap, land on the platform and leap down. They were not happy in clearing the Dum-Dama in one clear jump. I have always been proud of doing background checks, investigation, precedence if any and keen observation before I embark on a job. I entered the lane and at the Dum-Dama, braced myself for the expected landing on the raised platform. Next thing I knew, I was seeing stars in broad daylight. After a while, after the stars disappeared, I saw myself lying sprawled on the ground on my back, facing the sky. My pith hat had saved my head after the fall. I got up dazed to see that I was the Master of the lane. Chetak had divorced me. I began to run towards the end of the lane and after a while enlightenment dawned on me. The barricade was meant for horses..... I ducked below the top log of the lane barricade and came out of the lane. I saw Chetak had joined his friends after his success and I advanced to renew my friendship with him. Khadoos Budda had cleared the Dum-Dama in one clear jump, unlike much younger horses. Aur mera Dum nikaala, budde ne! I had to buy another pith hat to replace my condemned pith hat. Ramesh Tahlan the Jat, later at EFS Bidar, given me the definition of Pathetic as a Pithhatic state after one lands on his head from his horse. I suffered bruises, a few minor ones on the body. Mind and ego bruise are, however, hard to define. Dressage is the ultimate test of rider skill, horse obedience and coordination between the rider and the mount. Within the enclosure, the rider goes in circles, figures of 8, turn the horse around, change the pace from walk to canter, canter to walk, makes the horse move sideways; both to Left and Right and stop at the precise spot and salute. Everything has to be precise as per the laid down drill pattern. The horses are well trained unlike us. Some riders delayed their salute after the dressage and the horse would be walking away from the examiner. The rider often was found saluting with his back and turned face toward the examiner. All else laughed at the cameo. Imagine a guy looking back and saluting. During my dressage rehearsals, Chetak would never walk. He would always break into a trot. I complained to the Ustaad with the fear that I would be failed in the test. Ustaad assured me, Fikar mat karo saab. Sub ko pata hai ki Chetak nahin chalta hai. It was with difficulty that after the Dressage test, Chetak agreed to stand still and permitted me to salute the examiner decently. Yet trotted away from the arena, instead of a graceful walking exit. Chetak gave his best while on duty. Watering the horses was a drill after the riding. Chetak was too tired to drink water. He had to let his breathing return to normal and then only he would lower his head to the water trough. The first day, I was advised by the ustaad to give time to Chetak to drink water. Chetak took his own sweet time and we were invariably the last to leave the water trough. Chetak got his ghood (jaggery) after every ride including the Dum-Dama, dum nikla din. I guess my Chetak was no less than Maha Rana Prataps legendary Chetak. Duty unto last breath. I continued to enquire about Chetak later. He served for another two years as devotedly as before and finally given to Serum Institute. Chetaks blood must have gone to save many victims of snake bite. I salute my friend and master Chetak!
Posted on: Sat, 19 Jul 2014 14:23:58 +0000
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