Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Dec 18: A horse that had the capacity to jump through a ring of fire unscathed, is now in a pitiable condition because of the recklessness of the contractors executing smart city works.

During the last month, a road was being dug for road expansion at Kadri, when a tree located nearby got uprooted. The tree had fallen on the shed belonging to the horse riding academy nearby where the horses as well as some animals were injured.

The academy has eight horses. Out of them, the four year-old horse, 'Arya', was able to jump through a ring of fire. It suffered serious injuries to its neck, head and legs. Even though the injuries are healing now, the horse looks like being in a state of shock. Its body has become weak. Academy head, Avinand Achenahalli, says that the doctors are seeking more time. He says that it will be a miracle if this horse starts running again.

He says that when the horse was injured, mayor Diwakar Pandeshwar and others had come. But the contractor never cared to visit the academy, let alone meeting the cost of the treatment. He points out that a fit horse is priced between two and five lac rupees. 'Arya', which had been brought from Pune, could run well and easily jump through a fire ring.

There are no horse training centres in Kasargod, Chikkamagaluru, Shivamogga, Hassan etc. The centre has the capacity to attract tourists. "We have requested the zilla panchayat chief executive officer for government help. If we are provided land under the smart city project, we can develop the centre. Now we are running the academy on land leased from Jogi Math for three years, Avinand says. He said that about 500 people have been trained so far. He also has interest in training the transgenders and the backward class Siddhi children.