Published: October 14, 2026 at 4:19 pm
The second National Qualifier (NQ) of the 2026 season will be held from October 14 to 16 and will be followed by the 2nd Telangana State Equestrian Championship from October 16 to 18 at the Hyderabad Polo & Riding Club (HPRC) in Gandipet, Hyderabad.
Both events, which will run over five days, are conducted in association with the Telangana State Equestrian Association (TSEA), the National Qualifier under the aegis of the Equestrian Federation of India (EFI).
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The October fixtures repeat the formula HPRC established in August, when the club hosted the first National Qualifier of the season anywhere in India, followed by its 2nd Equestrian Challenge — a week that drew 81 entries and 36 horses to the National Qualifier alone, and placed a child fourth on a club horse.
The state championship is being held at HPRC in keeping with the club’s undertaking in October 2025 to host the state title annually, so that Telangana’s riders no longer have to travel outside the state to be ranked.
“Equestrian is an Olympic sport, and the road to it begins in a 40 cm class on a Saturday morning at a show like this one,” said Chaitania R Kumar, president, HPRC. “In August we hosted the country’s first National Qualifier of the season and saw a school from Begumpet take four placings in the Hacks. This month we bring the National Qualifier back and keep the promise we made last October — that Telangana’s state championship will have a home at HPRC every year. We are grateful to TSEA, to our judges and officials, and to Phoenix Group for standing behind the children of Hyderabad and Telangana who are growing in this sport.”
National Qualifier is a graded EFI fixture
The National Qualifier is a graded EFI fixture and the mandatory route to the Junior National Equestrian Championships. Riders compete in Dressage and Show Jumping across four age categories — Children II, Children I, Junior and Young Rider — with horses presented at formal veterinary inspection before competition. The event draws riders and horses from clubs and academies across Telangana and neighbouring states.
The events will be held from October 14 to 16. The judges will be Col SL Reddy (retd) and Dr KCS Reddy (Dressage) and Kishore Futnani and Dr KCS Reddy (Show Jumping).
The 2nd Telangana State Equestrian Championship opens with a practice round on Friday evening and runs through Saturday and Sunday across Hacks, Dressage and Show Jumping — from the 40 cm entry class, kept deliberately affordable so that beginners on club horses can compete, through to the 105–110 cm Two-phase, the Championship’s richest class. Children II, Children I, Junior, Young Rider and Open categories are judged separately.
Phoenix Group, Hyderabad, joins the Championship as Title Partner, and a Phoenix Group representative will present the cash prizes and state medals at the evening ceremonies.
The schedule is as follows: 16 October (5 pm): Practice round, Main Arena.
17 October (7:30 am): Hacks and Dressage (including Young Riders). 4 pm: Show Jumping 40 cm and 90 cm under lights. 7 pm: Prize distribution ceremony.
18 October (7 am): Show Jumping 60 cm. 4 pm: Show Jumping 80 cm and 105110 cm (two-phase under lights). 7 pm: Closing ceremony, followed by the Championship dinner.
Judges will be Col SL Reddy (retd) and Dr KCS Reddy (Dressage), Kishore Futnani and Dr KCS Reddy (Show Jumping) and senior HPRC riders under the guidance of Dr KCS Reddy (Hacks).
Prize money ₹1,02,500 across the three Open show jumping classes — ₹20,000 (105–110 cm), ₹15,000 (90 cm) and ₹15,000 (80 cm) for first place; medals and certificates in all age-category classes.
Spectator entry free
Spectator entry to both events is free. The floodlit evening show jumping sessions on Saturday and Sunday, from 4 pm, are expected to draw the largest crowds of the week, with prize ceremonies at about 7 pm each evening. Snaffles Bistro and Chukkers Lounge at the club will remain open through the day.
HPRC is at Survey No. 177, Aziznagar, Gandipet, minutes from Outer Ring Road Exit 18.
