Kerala's largest horse club, safari park in Malappuram; ₹85 lakh spent on 30 horses from Rajasthan

Perinthalmanna: Kerala is set to witness the establishment of its largest horse club and safari park in Angadippuram in Perinthalmanna offering school students and others the opportunity to learn horse riding.

The initiative is spearheaded by expatriate businessman Vignesh Vijayakumar, a native of Angadippuram, who recently transported 30 horses from Pushkar in Rajasthan, to Malappuram. The horses, valued at Rs 85 lakh, were transported in an animal ambulance equipped with sleeper-class bus facilities, incurring additional travel expenses exceeding Rs 3 lakh.

Vignesh is a member of the Indigenous Horse Society of India (IHSI) and The Arab Horse Society, making him the only Malayali affiliated with these organisations. With horse farms in Aurangabad in Maharashtra and Chittorgarh in Rajasthan Vignesh brings extensive experience to this project. He is also a filmmaker and CEO of Wealth-i Group, previously known for purchasing a Thar offered to the Guruvayur temple during an auction.

Highlighting the potential of horse riding, Vignesh remarked that horse clubs serve as both an entertainment hub and a means to maintain physical fitness and health.

Care and Maintenance of the Horses

Currently, the farm houses about 70 horses of various ages, including foals as young as three months old. Young horses are provided up to five litres of cow’s milk daily. The horse’s primary diet consists of a grain mixture made from maize, ragi, and horse gram. In addition, the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences in Mannuthy has developed specialised feed pellets for the horses, supplemented with grass and water.

The monthly upkeep cost of the horses amounts to Rs 3 lakh. Horses prepared for show participation command a cost exceeding Rs 30,000, while ordinary horses cost Rs 8,000. Four caretakers, including two from Odisha and two from Rajasthan, are tasked with ensuring the animals' well-being.