1985
I was nine when I first visited the Talegaon Stud and Agricultural farm in Shankarwadi, outside Pune. I was thrilled beyond measure to be around horses and learn about them. I was also thrilled to be adopted by three little boys who continue to be in my life, all grown up with children of their own.
2024
I am here at the farm, now evolved into its most beloved avatar, the popular Japalouppe Horse riding school, largest in western India.
I am here to meet Rohan, the little boy now grown up, as irrépressible as ever. Time and space make no difference to our connection honed over decades. Chatting with him is one of my favourite things to do, even though I am a long lost and forgotten rider. Rohan swears he once caught me standing in the saddle and making a mental decision to fall off a stationary horse. I only remember the thud and looking up dazed, at a bright blue sky. He put me back in the saddle immediately, brooking no protest. I still love horses, magnificent, magical creatures.
Today is special, as I have brought my beloved Vienna Dani to visit Japalouppe. She is thrilled to see so many horses but especially excited about visiting the petting zoo, their most popular attraction
Rohan has always been a Dr. Dolittle who should have been a vet. Instead, he is a horseman, a horse whisperer, beloved Dada to his campers ( Japalouppe runs extremely popular horse riding camps for school children), a human being who belongs to and with animals, a man who genuinely understands and cares for them. Rohan is erudite, funny, highly intelligent, shrewd and enterprising.
Meeting Rohan is always great, he is one of my oldest friends. As children we have played chor-police, spent summer holidays in Goa and many days on the farm. We have ridden in Poptya’s green bullock cart. Poptya was the farm Bull, and mighty huge he was too, with a pair prize horns, wicked long . We children would gaze at the gorgeous stud stallion Pathfinder, feed Teerandaz the blind brood mare and amble behind Rohan’s Baba/ father, Sameer Uncle, as he did his rounds. Uncle Sameer taught me the word lucern grass, he also showed me how to make a horse snicker at you ( with a puff of tobacco smoke!).
Since those long ago days, Japalouppe was conceived, and now grown into a beautiful space for people to come and connect with animals. Love for the sport and the majesty of horses drives Japalouppe to encourage horse-riding a a leisure and competitive sport: to learn to commune with horses and the art of the equestrian. Camps are booked months in advance and are hugely wildly popular amongst city kids. riding lessons are also in demand, with advanced lessons in show jumping and dressage.
Japalouppe is filled with so many animals: dogs, cats, horses, exotic birds and all the animals in the petting zoo. There are official exotic rescues like the Brazilian iguanas, whom Dani fell instantly falls in love with and will not be parted from. It makes her day, and the drive out of Pune is worth it now. Even the heat does not bother her as she snuggles with Rango, the iguana in a harness, sunning himself out on a limb. In another tank is a brilliantly hued blue iguana, new and very young.
I am fascinated and tentatively pet Rango who looks rather bored by my attention. Rango is surprisingly neither creepy nor scary. He is chilled out and responsive. I learn to scratch his neck where he likes it. Dani is eager to befriend him, and she carries him gently, talking to him like they are old friends. We miss her vet student son, far away at Uni in Vienna.
We meander to the petting zoo, admiring the stables, a new mama mare and her foal: Destiny’s child and her daughter, who else but Beyonce!
I am impressed by all the trees that have grown up here in the last few decades, this was pretty open land when I would visit as a child. I love the hilarious rules and regulations, the droll humourmakes me giggle every time. There are large paddocks for riding, fun nooks like a machan, a learning space, an open air stage and a cafe scattered around for the young campers. A group of children try to stay interested as they are taught about saddles and stirrups, choosing every moment they can to shoot the breeze instead. I bet they are dreaming of the disco night withnmusic and dancing and much merriment. It is the most popular night at Camp.
The Petting Zoo is just CUTE! Little houses and pens for various animals are behind a gate. Unauthorised visitors are strictly not allowed. Right here, several kinds of ducks quack away. Geese are walking about in a gaggle. A sow and her piglets make for a recap of Charlotte’s Web. There are cows, emus, donkeys, tiny horses, goats. A huge hutch filled with bunnies. The air is filled with moos and squawks and so much more: a cacophony of Nature.
The aviary is such a joy. Parrots, parakeets, budgeriars, cockateels flap about, or pose on boughs. They chatter away, squawk and eat from our hands. They fly past, ask for kisses and canoodles. they even talk for us. I love their pretty colours and their curious gaze. Some of them talk. Their chirping is like music.
If I were five years old I would be entranced!
We don’t stay around long enough to watch the rides happen but we do sit at the cafe and sip on chilled coconut water. It is salubrious, the sun has still not shed it’s winter coat and I spend a long time there, chatting away with Rohan as we spy a mongoose family make a raid for goodies from the restaurant bins. It is hilarious and just another part of the wild, wonderful place Japalouppe is!
Things to remember:
You need to book a visit in advance to visit Japalouppe.
Horse riding resident camps for children, horse riding lessons, petting zoo visits and more all need to be booked and paid for in advance.
PLease carry a hat, a water bottle that you can refill, and wear sensible clothes.
Treats are always welcome: apples, carrots, sugar cubes are horse favourites.
If you are going to ride, the website will tell you everything about what to wear.
Lessons are for all ages and learning levels. Do try a lesson, it is the most beautiful feeling to ride a horse and find your moment on horseback!
Thewanderingindiangourmet 