MR MIKE Mehendran went against the tide to pursue his dream.
He gave up a secure job as a ship boarding officer to clean up after horses. The then 29-year-old’s goal? To become a horse-riding instructor.
Prior to his plunge, he was a stranger to the world of horses. His interest was ignited when a friend invited him to a horse “ballet” that showcased the animals’ gymnastic abilities, which fascinated him deeply.
“I did not understand some of the things they were doing, but they looked elegant and precise,” he says of the dressage event that made a deep impression on him.
Intrigued, Mr Mehendran started volunteering at the Singapore Polo Club.
Every morning, he would faithfully help to groom horses before reporting to work. Over time, he grew to love the horses and duties at the stable.
Encouraged by a friend, he left his job to take up a full-time position as a groom with the Polo Club.
Hard work
He had to start from scratch because to be a good riding instructor, he had to hone his sensitivity to the horses’ health, needs and temperaments.
The hours were long. He would start work every day at dawn and finish only at night, with a break in between. And he was paid just $500 a month.
At times, the animal lover had to sacrifice going out with friends at night, because he wanted to look after the horses.
“It was hard in the beginning and I struggled to wake up in the mornings,” he says.
But he adapted soon enough, easing himself into the job’s routine. Subsequently, he was given two promotions to rise to stable supervisor and then manager.
About two years later, he was offered an opportunity to train as an apprentice riding instructor with the now defunct Greendale Riding School.
He accepted the offer and spent three years with the school, training and studying before he finally realised his dream of becoming a riding instructor.
In 1996, when Greendale shut its doors, he returned to the Singapore Polo Club and has been there ever since.
Today, the 48-year-old is one of the rare local riding instructors in Singapore.
He says: “There’s a sense of achievement because I spent 10 tough years, learning and learning.
“Taking a low salary helped, because when I recall what I went through to get here, I feel happy. It was a huge sacrifice, but at the end of the day, I have been rewarded.
“The satisfaction is something that you cannot buy anywhere.”
His biggest achievement, he said, was being appointed as a technical official for the equestrian event at the Beijing Olympics, where he ensured that horses were not abused at the high-level competition.
“It was an eye-opener. I had the chance to see the world’s greatest riders,” he says.
Building character
Mr Mehendran, who holds instructor certificates from Britain and Australia, is well-equipped to coach riders of different levels, from young beginners to equestrian competitors.
Coaching is a delicate task as he has to ensure that both horses and riders benefit from the riding sessions.
“When problems arise, you have to identify the reason. Does it lie with the rider or the horse?” he explains.
If riders are too rough, the horses can get annoyed, he says. When that happens, he explains and demonstrates to his students the correct way of handling a horse.
Horses have emotions, just like human beings, he says.
Sometimes the horses can be a bit playful and bully the weaker riders.
To win the horse’s cooperation, he occasionally takes over the reins and retrains the horse before handing it back to his student.
“We also encourage the riders to be braver, so that builds up their character too,” he says.
Even though he no longer has grooming responsibilities, Mr Mehendran still makes an effort to look out for the horses’ welfare.
“You can be highly qualified, but if you are scared of animals, then you can’t do the job,” he says.
“You need to enjoy what you’re doing. There’ll be good days and bad days, but you have to be patient and keep going.”
For more details, visit www.singaporepoloclub.org
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