For long, equestrian sports have been dominated by European nations, but India, ‘the sleeping giant’, is steadily making its mark. At the forefront of this movement is Anush Agarwalla, the country’s first-ever Olympic dressage rider. However, as he prepares for major global competitions, he raises concerns about India’s inadequate infrastructure—particularly the lack of proper quarantine systems for horses—which continues to hinder the country’s progress on the world stage.
Anush moved to Paderborn, Germany, as a 17-year-old, as his weekend hobby of horse riding with no real competitive aspirations gradually turned into a passion.
“The biggest difference (between India and Germany) is that India doesn’t have a proper quarantine system for the import and export of horses,” said Anush, who, through hard work and proper guidance, stood on the podium at the Hangzhou Asian Games twice—winning individual bronze and team gold.
“A lot of the Indians who were training in India for the 2023 Asian Games, in the end, had to shift abroad on very short notice, get new horses, trainers, etc., because they were told at short notice that the horses they had been training on for the past few years—because they were in India—were not eligible to enter China. The quarantine protocols are not enough.”
Anush believes that until the country has a proper solution to this, it will find it hard to be a major powerhouse in this sport—at least for the Indians who are training in India. “Everybody will have to move abroad, and that is not easy for everyone, especially when you look at the finances,” he said. “It takes a lot of financial support to move abroad, and it’s just not possible for everybody. Everyone has their own responsibilities. Some people are lucky and can do it, but most cannot. So, until we have a solution for that, India will unfortunately lack in the sport.”
Anush’s journey to becoming an Olympian in a niche sport like dressage has been mostly funded by his family, with help from government schemes. He is also supported by the Reliance Foundation. Given the systemic challenges, it is even more remarkable how far the boy from Kolkata has come—a testament to his perseverance and dedication.
With the focus on the 2026 Asian Games in Japan, where Anush will be defending his team gold while aiming to improve on his previous bronze, he aims to peak at the World Championships, bringing his A-game to the event next year.
“So, first, currently, I’m focusing on a few smaller shows because I have a few newer horses who I’ve not been a partner with for so long… just to kind of gain trust in each other,” he said. “And then, from April onwards, we will be participating at the big international shows as well. And then the major goal is not just to participate—it’s to get better.”
For international shows, Anush plans to begin in Hagen in April, following which he will head to Munich. “The main goal is to peak at the World Championships and at the Asian Games next year,” he said. “That’s where we have to bring our A-game, and that’s what we are focusing on.”
Anush continues to train and compete on the world stage, carrying both his personal aspirations and the hopes of Indian equestrian sports on his shoulders. It will be damning to see promising athletes like him struggle and look beyond their home country to chase their dreams, unless significant policy changes are made.