Kashmir youths take to horse riding to stay away from illegal activities

With an aim to keep youths away from drugs and to fulfill the dreams of horse lovers, Ali Abbas a youth from Srinagar has started a horse riding school in Central Kashmir's Budgam.

Srinagar: Like other sports the youth in the Valley are now obsessed with horse riding, and to fulfill their dreams Ali Abbas, a youth from Srinagar has started 'Fazlullah Farms', a horse riding school in Central Kashmir's Budgam.

This horse training school has various breeds of horses including Marwari — a rare breed of horse from the Marwar (or Jodhpur) region of Rajasthan used by the warriors of Marwar and Mewar regions. Marwari breed is closely related to the Kathiawari breed of the Kathiawar peninsula of Gujarat. Also, the centre has Sindhi horse which is unique from other horses in the world.

Ali, who came from the family having background of horse riding, said the idea of opening a riding centre came flashed in his mind after some horse lovers from the Valley expressed their desire to keep horses with them.

Abbas is fond of horses since childhood and now he along with other trainers fulfilling the wishes of youths who wanted to be a horse rider.

"At a time when the younger generation is getting involved into illegal activities like drugs smuggling, I wanted to involve the youths in better activities, so I opened the centre. Riding a horse keeps youths healthy and stress free," he said.

Experts are of the view that if there is something which can keep children or young away from bad habits, then it's only sports.

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