India’s modern equestrian story was written by princes, soldiers and, today, a new generation of civilian riders. Take your seat in the grandstand.
Princes, racecourses and polo Fact
Horse racing took root in British India early on. The Royal Calcutta Turf Club was founded in 1847, and racecourses soon followed in Bombay, Bangalore, Poona and beyond.
Princely states made polo their passion. In 1933, the Jaipur polo team led by Maharaja Man Singh II toured England and won every major tournament it entered, a feat still celebrated in polo history.
The army keeps the flame alive Fact
After Independence, the Indian Army became the backbone of equestrian sport. The Remount and Veterinary Corps bred and trained horses, and army riders dominated show jumping, eventing, tent pegging and polo for decades.
A national federation Fact
The Equestrian Federation of India (EFI) was formed in 1967 to govern Olympic-style equestrian sport in the country. It is affiliated to the FEI and organises national championships for juniors and seniors.
Golden days: Delhi 1982 Fact
When New Delhi hosted the 1982 Asian Games, equestrian events were held for the first time. India won gold in individual eventing (Raghubir Singh), team eventing and tent pegging, a historic haul that inspired a generation of riders.
India at the Olympics Fact
Indian riders first competed in Olympic equestrian events at Moscow in 1980. Imtiaz Anees rode in eventing at Sydney 2000.
Twenty years later, Fouaad Mirza carried the flag for Indian eventing at the Tokyo 2020 Games, held in 2021.
At Paris 2024, Anush Agarwalla became the first Indian to ride in Olympic dressage.
Asian Games glory returns Fact
At the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Fouaad Mirza won individual eventing silver, and India took team silver.
At Hangzhou in 2023, India’s dressage team (Anush Agarwalla, Hriday Chheda, Divyakriti Singh and Sudipti Hajela) won gold, India’s first Asian Games equestrian gold in 41 years. Anush Agarwalla added an individual bronze.
Fun facts
Many of India’s finest polo players have come from the Army’s 61st Cavalry.
The 2023 dressage gold was won by a team of young civilian riders, a sign of how the sport is changing in India.
Several Indian equestrians have received the Arjuna Award, India’s national sports honour.
Questions people ask
When was the Equestrian Federation of India formed?
The EFI was formed in 1967 and is affiliated to the FEI.
Has India won Asian Games gold in equestrian?
Yes. India won gold in eventing and tent pegging at Delhi 1982, and team dressage gold at Hangzhou in 2023.
Who was India’s first Olympic dressage rider?
Anush Agarwalla, at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Sources & further reading
- Equestrian Federation of India: history
- Olympic Council of Asia: Asian Games results archive (1982, 2018, 2022)
- International Olympic Committee: Olympic results database
- Royal Calcutta Turf Club: history
Last reviewed: November 2026. Spotted an error? Suggest a correction.