When Miraya Dadabhoy first rode a horse as a child, she could never have imagined she would one day rise to the level of an international equestrienne. Yet, this Chennai teenager is proving her potential in a sport that is still considered niche in this part of the world, and her recent results are proof of it.
The 16-year-old clinched gold in the youth class at the EFI World Dressage Challenge in Bengaluru late last year, a performance which placed her among the elite in her category. She also won the team gold in the Junior National Championship in New Delhi.
“When I first got the opportunity to compete in dressage, I took it up instantly. Every year, the goal is to get to a higher level than where I was,” says Miraya, who trains at Chennai Equitation Centre. “I would like to make it to more international events. With me, it is all about consistency. If I am consistent in training, I believe that I can achieve any goal.”
Miraya, a Class X student of MCTM Chidambaram Chettiyar International School, says she trains six days a week in the mornings at her riding school. “The classes go on for an hour or two depending on the number of horses I ride. I take a shower and go straight to school. And then it is back to strength training in the evenings.”
Miraya’s coaches Isabelle Hasleder and Vikas Pandey and CEC founder Kishore Futnani have played key roles in her success. “There is so much for me to learn from this sport since I am not competing alone. It is a sport where there is a partnership (between the rider and horse); you learn not only about the horse but also about yourself.”
Now that she has reached a certain level, Miraya has her eyes fixed on the long-term goal. “I aspire to compete in the Asian Games and Asian Championships one day.”