Under the plan, Commissioner of Police Kuldip Sharma, Dr Jacob K Philip, Regional Joint Director, Animal Husbandry; Col A S Pradhan, distinguished rider and instructor; Dr Annapurna Ravichander, animal welfare activist and riding instructor Shivendra Gaekwad have decided to form an Association of Indian Endurance of Equestrians, Gujarat.

Likely to be affiliated with the Equestrians' Federation of India, the forum will extend help and consultation to horse lovers, riding learners and riders.

Significantly, the take-off of the plan was from a rugged track at Vadodara police headquarters, Pratapnagar, on Monday. It was here that internationally acclaimed horsewoman, Ann Hyland of Cambridgeshire, spoke at length about police horses, breeding, health and training. Hyland and retired IPS officer Raghurajsinh Jhala will serve as the forum's advisors.

Hyland talked in detail about various aspects of the animal, right from choosing the right horse, conformation, temperament, gaits, hooves and shoeing, basic schooling and conditioning, preparing for the ride, the ride itself and the after-ride-care, crewing on a ride, veterinary requirements, feeding, tack and saddlery.

She also covered various syndromes from which horses suffer, including fatigue, dehydration, muscle fatigue and synchronous diaphragmatic flutter. Her talk held all the present, right from the constables to the top brass, captive for more than an hour.

Talking to Express Newsline, Hyland, who has authored more than 15 well-researched books on horses, said she found the animals owned by the Vadodara and Ahmedabad police beautiful and well-maintained, in comparison to those at a police stable in Bihar, where many were injured and suffering from various diseases.

While describing as ``unfortunate'' the use of animals like horses and elephants in advertisements and marriage processions, when they have ``such a graceful history of faithfulness to human beings since centuries,'' Hyland also regretted the fact that Indian women were not encouraged to take up horse-riding.

Hyland also expressed unhappiness at the death of eight horses -- three of which belonged to the rural police -- in the country-breed's race near Naswadi (Vadodara district). She said she came to know of the incident through a Vadodara Newsline report dated March 16, 1998.

While on tour of India to study Indian breeds, Hyland visited the city to talk to the police authorities in the context. ``First, riders are to be blamed for ignoring instructions to be followed on the route of the race. Organisers also cannot escape the blame, for they held the event on a sunny day at a time when the sun is harsh, and that too, without arranging for adequate medical facilities'', she said.