"Horses are main athletes in this sport" - Paris 2024 Olympian Anush Agarwalla believes dressage to be team sport
The Paris Olympics 2024 will see India make their debut appearance in the dressage event in equestrian sports. Representing the tri-color will be Anush Agarwalla, a Kolkata-born, who shifted first to Delhi and then to Germany to make a career in the sport.
For the past few years, Agarwalla has been training hard under equestrian legend and former Olympics gold-medalist Hubertus Schmidt. Under the tutelage of the German, the 24-year-old is honing his skills to make sure India create history by bagging a gold in this sport, which of course, will be the first for the country.
Sportskeeda had the chance to exclusively chat with the rider. Excerpts are presented below:
Q. This will be India's maiden entry in the dressage event. How did you feel when yesterday you got selected to represent the country at the Paris Olympics?
A. Representing my country at the Olympics has been a childhood dream for me. And I’m very proud to be achieving this feat at just 24. Achieving the quota wasn’t easy but rather a difficult task to achieve. It makes it even more special because this will be the first time India will be represented in the dressage category. I’m excited to see what’s coming for us.
Q. Your performances have been pretty consistent since 2023. Can you share with us the secret behind this consistency?
A. My performances haven't only been consistent from the past year but the last 3-5 years. I don’t have any secret, to be honest. I have always believed in the principles of determination, hard work, and focus and that’s exactly what I have been following since seven years when I shifted to Germany.
A person who works hard really believes in himself, and gives 100 percent, always achieves the goal. I have been working hard and staying disciplined. I’m also giving my 100 percent in every training session and trying to get better every day. That’s what contributes to my success.
Q. After EFI selected you, did you have a chat with former athletes who previously represented India in Equestrian at the Olympics?
A. I haven’t had a chat with the former athletes but I have spoken to them on multiple occasions in the past. It’s always really inspiring to talk with someone who comes from the same background, and country and has gone through similar hardships.
Q. Is there any idol you look up to?
A. I consider my coach Mr. Hubertus Schmidt to be my idol. He is practically a legend of the sport. He has won everything there is to win - from Olympic gold medals to World Championships gold medals, to European Championships to World Cup finals. I’m extremely proud to have him as my coach.
Q. Can you tell us a few things about your horse Sir Caramello Old? How is your relationship with him and how is he a very crucial factor for you in the upcoming Games?
A. We have been together for five years. We have had a pretty interesting journey. In the initial days, we went through some hardships or failures I would say. Somehow, we always had this motivation to keep getting better no matter the past performances. We share a very special bond. He’s the horse who has taken me to the World Championships, the biggest shows in Europe, and now to the Olympics. He is the most crucial factor for me in the upcoming Paris Olympics.
Although dressage is considered an individual sport but at the end of the day it is a team sport. That’s because you are a team with your horse and it is the most important factor. If the horse is not fit or if you do not have the right horse or if it has a problem, then you are alone and nothing. Everything depends on your horse. I feel grateful to have been given the opportunity to ride such an amazing horse.
Q. You started your training as a child at the Tollgunge Club. However, in Kolkata horse-riding or equestrian is not a familiar or common sport. Football and cricket hold that place. Do you think if you are able to bring in a medal it will indirectly promote equestrian in Kolkata?
A. Yes, I come from Calcutta where horse riding is not that famous. Cricket and football are more famous. But I am 100 percent sure a medal will change a lot of things. As we have already seen, the team gold last year and my individual bronze at the Asian Games has provided a huge push to the development of dressage in our country. It has proved to everybody that coming from India doesn’t make it impossible to make it to the top of a sport in which India is unfortunately not so famous currently.
This was India’s first-ever medal in dressage and that too a gold medal. A lot of people have reached out to me that they want to take up the sport more seriously. I’m really proud to see this positive development in this sport in our country. I also take pride that I am a really small part of the process. If I am able to inspire and motivate others to take up the sport and bring laurels to the country, I think that will be a very big achievement.
Q. Hubertus Schmidt is a former Olympian. Can you tell us some of the important aspects of the sport you have learned from him?
A. Hubertus Schmidt has been a very crucial factor in my success. What I am today is because of him. He has taught me everything about the sport but more importantly, he has taught me about life. When I came to Germany, I wasn't at a high level. He really supported me. One thing I respect about him is even though he is such a legend of the game, he is still very humble and talks to everyone with respect.
At 63, he is still so disciplined. Every morning he is in the stable at 8 o’clock. And to maintain this discipline for around 3-4 decades shows a lot. That motivated me a lot to learn or copy from him. He has taught me major values. One such value he told me is no matter how high you reach, you always have to stay humble and grounded.
Q. Can you shed light on the nutritional aspect of the horses in the sport of equestrian?
A. Nutrition is very important. It is important to make sure the horses are fit and feeling the best. Horses are the main athletes in this sport and it is important to take care of all aspects related to them. Regarding nutrition, the horses have a nutritional plan depending on how they are feeling and how the competition’s schedule is. It is more important for me to make sure that the horse is also enjoying its life, that they are going out on the field, and the paddocks, and that they have a normal life as a horse.