Horse riding- Governors club gave me a taste of the sport
Oct 09, 2008
ALTHOUGH as a child, I once correctly predicted that horses Seven and 11 (my lucky numbers) would win a race at the famous Ngong Horse Races in Nairobi, I had never ridden a horse. My father (RIP), a fan of horse riding, would take us to Ngong to watch and bet on the winning horses on Saturdays.
By Jude Katende
ALTHOUGH as a child, I once correctly predicted that horses Seven and 11 (my lucky numbers) would win a race at the famous Ngong Horse Races in Nairobi, I had never ridden a horse. My father (RIP), a fan of horse riding, would take us to Ngong to watch and bet on the winning horses on Saturdays.
That was in the 1980s and two decades later, I was on horseback! Semakadde, one of the proprietors of Governor’s Club in Magigye, off Gayaza Road, north of Kampala, convinced me to try out horse riding and off I went, trotting with my minder and namesake, Katende as I held the rope and guided the horse.
After a while, Semakadde asked Katende to let go of the rope so that I rode on my own. I did, though not so willingly. Like any amateur at riding, I thought I would fall off, something Semakadde cited as every beginner’s fear.
Governor’s Club is not Uganda’s only equestrian centre (a place where horses are ridden). There are a few Ugandans including city tycoon Sudhir Ruparelia that have horses. The 300-acre club is owned by Semakadde and co-run by Aga Sekalala.
Horse breeding is expensive and calls for a passion for the delicate animals. James Semakadde is one person with such a passion. “I have been in love with horses for 10 years.
I have also had camels and donkeys,†he says as we stroll at the countryside location. The club is worth visiting if you love horse riding or just want to have a quiet picnic.
The club also has a camel called Musa. It feeds with the horses. There are 15 horses and management says they will soon get more. Semakadde says the club is a leisure and training centre.
“It is good for children as well. Taibah and Gayaza High have already booked for training. We recently hosted 45 scouts from England. We want to start a horse riding culture in Uganda,†Semakadde explains.
He recommends five years as the starting age. It took the Semakaddes almost a year to set up the place. “We first needed to learn how horses adapt to our environment,†he says.
The club’s proximity to Ugachick has also helped them. They get horse pellets (food) and hay from Ugachick.
“We have travelled worldwide to see how people look after horses. We want our children to adapt this culture. We want to take on new things, but are limited by cultural fears,†Semakadde explains.
Horses follow diligently what is before them and can do just that for miles. Semakadde says some people have a preset negative perception of things even before trying them out. Some are scared that a horse could kick or eat them!
“If a child can ride this big animal, they can handle bigger challenges. I enjoy riding horses and want others to do the same,†he adds.
The Semakaddes will soon open another branch, the Banana Village, at Nalulagala, off Entebbe Road on the way to Garuga. Although both leisure centres have a restaurant and accommodation, one has to first make an appointment.
Bed and breakfast costs sh60,000 at Governors Club, where some people have already had their honeymoon or picnic-like breakfast.
The place is tranquil, green and spacious. The training fee is hourly; sh10,000 for children and sh20,000 for adults.
According to Katende, it takes one week or two for one to ride a horse comfortably. He says the taller and lighter horses are, the faster they go. The way you mount the horse is the way you get off. Horses are gentle and love to be stroked.
Charles, a trainer with vast experience which he acquired from the British in Kenya, says he bathes the animals daily, especially after a ride because they sweat a lot.
But one must be patient because after bathing them, they roll on the ground to scratch themselves. Charles also does horse shoeing, medication and feeding them.
Semakadde says the horses respond to their names. Although most of them were imported with their names, some were named in Uganda for instance Scarface, who got his name from a scar he developed on the face.
Maziwa (Kiswahili for milk) got the name because he is white. Others are Rafiki, Lucky, Mlefu, Rambo and Nambi, who is expecting a foal.
Governors Club is about an hour’s drive from Kampala but on completion of the Northern bypass, it will take less time to get there.
ALTHOUGH as a child, I once correctly predicted that horses Seven and 11 (my lucky numbers) would win a race at the famous Ngong Horse Races in Nairobi, I had never ridden a horse. My father (RIP), a fan of horse riding, would take us to Ngong to watch and bet on the winning horses on Saturdays.
That was in the 1980s and two decades later, I was on horseback! Semakadde, one of the proprietors of Governor’s Club in Magigye, off Gayaza Road, north of Kampala, convinced me to try out horse riding and off I went, trotting with my minder and namesake, Katende as I held the rope and guided the horse.
After a while, Semakadde asked Katende to let go of the rope so that I rode on my own. I did, though not so willingly. Like any amateur at riding, I thought I would fall off, something Semakadde cited as every beginner’s fear.
Governor’s Club is not Uganda’s only equestrian centre (a place where horses are ridden). There are a few Ugandans including city tycoon Sudhir Ruparelia that have horses. The 300-acre club is owned by Semakadde and co-run by Aga Sekalala.
Horse breeding is expensive and calls for a passion for the delicate animals. James Semakadde is one person with such a passion. “I have been in love with horses for 10 years.
I have also had camels and donkeys,†he says as we stroll at the countryside location. The club is worth visiting if you love horse riding or just want to have a quiet picnic.
The club also has a camel called Musa. It feeds with the horses. There are 15 horses and management says they will soon get more. Semakadde says the club is a leisure and training centre.
“It is good for children as well. Taibah and Gayaza High have already booked for training. We recently hosted 45 scouts from England. We want to start a horse riding culture in Uganda,†Semakadde explains.
He recommends five years as the starting age. It took the Semakaddes almost a year to set up the place. “We first needed to learn how horses adapt to our environment,†he says.
The club’s proximity to Ugachick has also helped them. They get horse pellets (food) and hay from Ugachick.
“We have travelled worldwide to see how people look after horses. We want our children to adapt this culture. We want to take on new things, but are limited by cultural fears,†Semakadde explains.
Horses follow diligently what is before them and can do just that for miles. Semakadde says some people have a preset negative perception of things even before trying them out. Some are scared that a horse could kick or eat them!
“If a child can ride this big animal, they can handle bigger challenges. I enjoy riding horses and want others to do the same,†he adds.
The Semakaddes will soon open another branch, the Banana Village, at Nalulagala, off Entebbe Road on the way to Garuga. Although both leisure centres have a restaurant and accommodation, one has to first make an appointment.
Bed and breakfast costs sh60,000 at Governors Club, where some people have already had their honeymoon or picnic-like breakfast.
The place is tranquil, green and spacious. The training fee is hourly; sh10,000 for children and sh20,000 for adults.
According to Katende, it takes one week or two for one to ride a horse comfortably. He says the taller and lighter horses are, the faster they go. The way you mount the horse is the way you get off. Horses are gentle and love to be stroked.
Charles, a trainer with vast experience which he acquired from the British in Kenya, says he bathes the animals daily, especially after a ride because they sweat a lot.
But one must be patient because after bathing them, they roll on the ground to scratch themselves. Charles also does horse shoeing, medication and feeding them.
Semakadde says the horses respond to their names. Although most of them were imported with their names, some were named in Uganda for instance Scarface, who got his name from a scar he developed on the face.
Maziwa (Kiswahili for milk) got the name because he is white. Others are Rafiki, Lucky, Mlefu, Rambo and Nambi, who is expecting a foal.
Governors Club is about an hour’s drive from Kampala but on completion of the Northern bypass, it will take less time to get there.