As dawn sets in, the villagers of Agondapalli in Hosur, Tamil Nadu, are awakened by the sound of a booming bark. Little Bruno runs through the fog trying to clear up the cattle and then enthusiastically runs back to join his friends – a horse and its rider. The villagers have gotten used to the sight of Bruno the dog, Melody the horse and Sandeep the rider. A sight that reminds some of them of the fictional superhero Phantom, who rides a horse accompanied by a mountain wolf. That’s how Sandeep Menon begins his day before opening the gates of his horse riding academy.
Following his passion
Sandeep grew up in a town called Irinjalakuda situated in Thrissur district of Kerala and this is where he first fell in love with nature. He nursed deep within him a dream to be closer to it. Even during his 20-yearslong career in the IT industry, he never let go of that dream. One day, he decided it was time to move out of the comforts of that industry and finally follow his passion. Not only did he fulfill his dream, but he also became somewhat like the comic book hero that he had idolised as a kid.
In 2018, Sandeep established the Stallion Valley School of Lifestyle, a sprawling farm in Hosur and Bengaluru that teaches the art of horse riding and everything about horses.
“On October 15, 2018, three horses entered our farm in Hosur,” reminisces Sandeep. His friend and partner Kishore Reddy had developed the Samruddhi farms in Hosur for a residential layout. “We had some areas there to develop something different. We had no clue what to do and discussed starting a Football coaching centre or cricket academy, but somehow my mind triggered the idea of a horse riding academy.”
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Denne historien er fra January - February 2021-utgaven av Cochin Herald.
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