Ceylon Riding Club

Ceylon Riding Club A centre for horse riding excellence in the heart of Colombo's Port City Even as a youth Velu Sumana was renowned for his horsemanship. Today we have several.

The Mahavamsa, the great chronicle of ancient Lanka, tells us of the skill of Velu Sumana, the first and foremost warrior of Sri Lanka’s hero king, Dutu Gemunu (161-137 BC). The governor of the province had a beautiful “Sindhu” horse which would let no man ride him. However when he saw Velu Sumana the horse neighed joyfully and the governor asked Velu Sumana to try and ride him. Mounting the horse

, he made him gallop in a circle, so fast that it seemed that there was only one horse in a continuous circle. As the onlookers burst into applause, Velu Sumana took off his mantle, wrapping and unwrapping it as he galloped round and round. The horse was one of the most prized breeds in ancient times, a Sindu, “a horse from the Indus country;” this was Sind in Pakistan. The Mahavamsa also recounts King Dutu Gemunu’s skill as a horseman, even mentioning the name of his horse, the mare Dīghathūnikā. It was this horse which decided the fate of the battle which finally gave Dutu Gemunu victory over his brother, Prince Tissa, later King Saddhatissa (137-119 BC). Near the city of Mahagama, Tissamaharama today, the two armies fought a great battle and the two brothers met each other in single combat. King Dutu Gemunu rode his mare, Prince Tissa rode the royal elephant Kandula. In 326 BC horses had been used against elephants at the Battle of the Hydaspes River where Alexander the Great had defeated the Raja Porus. The battle was fought in the Punjab somewhere in modern Pakistan. It is said that even Alexander’s cavalry had refused to face the elephants but King Dutu Gemunu rode his horse in a circle round and round Kandula. Finding “no unguarded place,” he jumped Dīghathūnikā over the elephant’s back. As the mare leapt over, he shot a dart which wounded Kandula. Enraged, the royal elephant threw Prince Tissa and returned to his master, King Dutu Gemunu. Cavalry is a tradition which Sri Lanka’s kings and warriors have maintained for centuries. In 1559 the Portuguese were defeated at the battle of Battle of Mulleriyawa by a cavalry charge. It was perhaps the last time horses were used in open battle. During the British Raj this tradition become a sport and an industry. Racecourses sprang up all over the country, in Colombo, Galle and Nuwara Eliya and in 1948 shortly after Independence, there was a huge horseracing industry in Sri Lanka. The sport of horseracing and riding continued into the first decades of Independence. Polo was also played and there were fast and furious games on Galleface Green. During the 1960s political attitudes began to change. Horseracing and even horseriding began to be seen as an elite and colonial sport. Horseracing was discouraged and as the sport withered away, the number of horses in Sri Lanka became fewer and fewer. Over the last two decades things have begun to change. The number of horses throughout the country have gradually increased as the art of horseriding has begun to take root once more. Today there are three equestrian centres in the city of Colombo alone. The Lakeside Riding Club is a group of friends and amateurs. Most of us have been riding in Sri Lanka for almost 20 years, in the Fort, by the sea and now by the lakes and wetlands of Kotte. We started with only one horse. We teach, we ride and we are always learning. We are not a professionals but we do our best and we love our horses. We do what we do not for money but to keep our horses, so that we can continue riding.

16/01/2025

Karnataka State Equestrian Competition is on 2nd February 2025 at Embassy International Riding School! The event will be run under the aegis of the Karnataka Riding Association. See you there!

Welcome back to Sri Lanka Gina Porter after a long break. Meet her next Sunday at Ceylon Riding Club Port City Colombo.
06/01/2025

Welcome back to Sri Lanka Gina Porter after a long break. Meet her next Sunday at Ceylon Riding Club Port City Colombo.

02/01/2025

A message for all our wonderful community.

Extra Photos from our fabulous December 1st Horse Show at Ceylon Riding Club, Port City. Thank you to our sponsors inclu...
27/12/2024

Extra Photos from our fabulous December 1st Horse Show at Ceylon Riding Club, Port City. Thank you to our sponsors including

and our F&B partners

We will be holding our next show in March 2025, be in touch NOW to come on board as a sponsor.

Finally, thank you to all our participants, parents, staff and helpers plus Shane for these great photographs.

CLASS E: RIDING GRADE THREE, SHOWJUMPINGJudges: Maj Tiran Palihakkara, Anika Krauten, Noa Fernando & Rashmin Tiremanne d...
27/12/2024

CLASS E: RIDING GRADE THREE, SHOWJUMPING
Judges: Maj Tiran Palihakkara, Anika Krauten, Noa Fernando & Rashmin Tiremanne de Silva
Prizes: Lovi vouchers worth LKR25,000 for winner, sunglasses for first & second plus from Wickramarachchi Opticians
Prize Winners:
1st – Cielle Bobay
2nd - Ranya de Soysa
3rd - Lassana de Fonseka
Special - Macha Trouche

Other Entrants
• Dinadi Panduwawala
• Diana Amarasekera

Criteria:
• Correct riding position overall
• Appropriate and effective use of aids (legs, hands, seat, etc).
• Rhythm and cadence
• Jumping Position
• Riding Faults (pole down = 4, refusal =3)

CLASS D: RIDING GRADE TWOJudges: Maj Tiran Palihakkara, Anika Krauten, Noa Fernando & Rashmin Tiremanne de Silva Prizes:...
27/12/2024

CLASS D: RIDING GRADE TWO
Judges: Maj Tiran Palihakkara, Anika Krauten, Noa Fernando & Rashmin Tiremanne de Silva
Prizes: Naro Resorts Trophy, Sunglasses from Wickramarachchi Opticians
Prize Winners:
1st – Dini Jayaweera
2nd - Dariana Liyanage
3rd - Thrisha Selvanathan

Criteria:
• Correct riding position overall in walk, holding the reins
• Position and use of legs/heels in walk
• Transition halt - walk - halt & use of legs, hands, seat
• Riding in trot - hand position, posture, balance in rising
• Riding in trot - correct change of diagonal
• Transition trot-canter- trot & use of legs, hands, seat
• Standing in the stirrups - hands position & balance
• Overall impression of confidence and balance

CLASS C: RIDING GRADE ONEJudges: Maj Tiran Palihakkara, Noa Fernando & Rashmin Tiremanne de Silva Prizes: Horcery Trophy...
27/12/2024

CLASS C: RIDING GRADE ONE
Judges: Maj Tiran Palihakkara, Noa Fernando & Rashmin Tiremanne de Silva
Prizes: Horcery Trophy, Sunglasses from Wickramarachchi Opticians
Prize Winners:
1st – Eemaan Zahran
2nd - Tenashi Willoraachchi
Joint 3rd - Yoshvath Jeyneshion
Special - Daniela Villamil Gongora
Special - Sakeeta Sharma

Other Entrants:
• Asiana S**i
• Cheneli Jayaweera
• Harish Karthigaraja
• Ningxi Pan (Eva)
• Rachana Jeyneshion
• Sanduni de Fonseka
• Shenaya Vincent
• Srinithii Pradeep
• Suhayla de Zoysa
• Vyshakie Baskaran
Criteria:
• Mounting the horse
• Correct riding position overall in walk, holding the reins
• Position and use of legs/heels in walk
• Transition halt - walk - halt & use of legs, hands, seat
• Riding in trot - hand position, posture, balance in rising
• Loose rein work - hands, balance
• Standing in the stirrups - hands position & balance
• Overall impression of confidence and balance

More results and photos from our 1st December Horse Show.CLASS B (ii): FOUNDATION LEVELJudges: Maj Tiran Palihakkara, No...
27/12/2024

More results and photos from our 1st December Horse Show.

CLASS B (ii): FOUNDATION LEVEL
Judges: Maj Tiran Palihakkara, Noa Fernando & Rashmin Tiremanne de Silva
Prizes: Wickramarachchi Opticians Trophy, Sunglasses from Wickramarachchi Opticians
Prize Winners:
1st - Ayana Capron
2nd - Dua Zahran
Joint 3rd - Kavya Wang
Joint 3rd - Dhanesh Liyanage

Other Entrants:
• Aryana Jayathunga
• Divashini Kumarendran
• Mingrui Wang
• Tao Tao Liu
• Tara Selvanathan
• Yoyo Song

Criteria:
• Mounting the horse
• Correct riding position overall in walk, holding the reins
• Position and use of legs/heels in walk
• Transition halt - walk - halt & use of legs, hands, seat
• Riding in trot - hand position, posture, balance in rising
• Overall impression of confidence and balance

Highlights from our Horse Show in Nuwara Eliya on 21st December.
26/12/2024

Highlights from our Horse Show in Nuwara Eliya on 21st December.

With love from all of us including the horses & ponies.WE ARE CLOSED ON 25TH OPEN AGAIN ON 26TH
24/12/2024

With love from all of us including the horses & ponies.

WE ARE CLOSED ON 25TH OPEN AGAIN ON 26TH

21/12/2024

A great show today Royal Turf Club Nuwara Eliya by the team at Ceylon Riding Club. A great event to support the special needs community of Nuwara Eliya.
Thanks to all involved.

We had a wonderful experience working with Royal Turf Club and The Garden of Eden with the special Children of Nuwara El...
21/12/2024

We had a wonderful experience working with Royal Turf Club and The Garden of Eden with the special Children of Nuwara Eliya. It was a great privilege to be part of this unique event.

Our CRC Team delivering above and beyond expectations with horses and ponies loaned from Edwards Stables, Jayarathne stables and local pony owners.

Many young children rode ponies under our careful supervision. One young man in a wheelchair took his first pony ride. Our young riders Dini and Cheli rode beautifully assisted by Sathya and Lipton. Anika gave a stunning performance on a young marawari stallion that she rode for the first time 2 days earlier.

All in all a very good day's work. Well done CRC Team.

With Christmas day around the corner, the Garden of Eden Autism Retreat Centre in collaboration with the Ceylon Riding Club has organized a unique experience on December 21, 2024 where 50 children with special needs from Nuwara Eliya will get a chance to spend an entire day with horses and ponies. T...

Ceylon Riding Club are delighted to come on board as Equestrian Partner with The Garden of Eden Autism Retreat Centre an...
19/12/2024

Ceylon Riding Club are delighted to come on board as Equestrian Partner with The Garden of Eden Autism Retreat Centre and The Royal Turf Club to provide a wonderful experience for children of special needs and abilities in Nuwara Eliya.

The event is being held on Saturday 21st December at The Royal Turf Club, Nuwara Eliya.

The Royal Turf Club is happy to come onboard as the venue partner for the upcoming Santa's Visit to RTC on December 21, 2024.

The event organised by the Garden of Eden Autism Retreat Centre and Ceylon Riding Club offers a one-of-a-kind experience for children with special needs to spend a fun-filled day with horses and ponies.

Official hospitality partner Hill Rise Luxury Villa & Stables Edwards Collection

Address

Port City
Colombo

Opening Hours

Tuesday 09:00 - 18:00
Wednesday 09:00 - 17:00
Thursday 07:00 - 17:00
Friday 09:00 - 17:00
Saturday 07:00 - 17:00
Sunday 07:00 - 17:00

Telephone

94764477788

Website

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A message for all our wonderful community.

A great show today Royal Turf Club Nuwara Eliya by the team at Ceylon Riding Club. A great event to support the special needs community of Nuwara Eliya. Thanks to all involved. #ceylonridingclub #RoyalTurfClub #horseshow

Thank Saroja Dharmadasa for these lovely moments from our Sunday Horse Show #WickramarachchiOpticians #CeylonRealEstate #srilankanshowjumpers #LOVI #horcery #worldofwine #portcitycolombo

With grateful thanks to Embassy International Riding School and Zippy Riding Club plus all our new friends from the Indian Equestrian community that made us all feel so welcome this week. #EmbassyInternationalRidingSchool #showjumping #ceylonridingclub #Zippyhorseriding #PortCityColombo

A few words from our riders. #srilankanshowjumpers #ceylonridingclub

Rashmin Tirimanne Dr Silva on Hercules representing Ceylon Riding Club and Sri Lanka in Bangalore today. #srilankanshowjumpers #EmbassyInternationalRidingSchool #ceylonridingclub #showjumping

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