The horse whisperer

When it comes to pets, things only go as far as a dog, cat and on rare occasions a rabbit, but Harshvardhan had something special on his mind. While kids of his age beg parents to get them the latest motor bike in the market, Harshvardhan asked for a horse!

For residents of Kuthuparamba, a small town in Kannur district of Kerala it is now a regular sight to see Harshavardhan and his little brown horse, riding through the busy streets.

When quizzed about the horse, Harshavardhan’s  voice assumes a fondness,  “She is here — Muthumani — she lives with us in the compound of our home.” Harshavardhan has just completed his 12th standard and is musing over what subject to study next. About his love for horses he says, “From a young age, I’ve had a fondness for horses, especially race horses, and I finally got one when my father went to Mysore, after I had just completed 11th standard.”

Although Harshavardhan had asked for a horse, he had no clue his dad would actually get one for him. “I did not know when he bought the horse. It was a surprise for me,” says Harshvardhan. “He was returning home from Mysore, when he spotted the horse and quickly decided to buy her. He stopped the bus he was travelling in and travelled back to the spot where he saw the horse. He was in such a hurry that he forgot to ask what breed she belonged to.”

On Muthumani’s routine, he says, “It is not easy to look after a horse. We give her wheat, horse gram and hay. Wheat is usually ground before giving her and like every other horse she loves  horsegram, so every month we buy one whole sack of it. Her doctor is a friend of dad, so he pays her timely visits. Dad is the person who looks after her the most; he wakes up early to take care of her. She is given a bath every week.” Harshavardhan’s father Sudheer Babu is a health inspector based in Kannur.

“Muthumani is two years old now. Horses start growing from one and a half years onwards. She is quite tall now. Unlike wild animals, horses are domestic, correct? So there are no legal hassles such as getting a certificate. We are taking care of the vaccinations and deworming her right now,” he says. When asked if he has read about horse rearing, he answers innocently and laughs, “Well, I have started reading up now.” Harshavardhan is also planning to travel to Ooty to get formal training in horse riding.