For the first time, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) organized the 40th All India Police Equestrian Championship and Mounted Police Duty Meet in memory of Thunderstorm, a horse that earned many accolades for the paramilitary force in its seven years long service. The championship was organized at ITBP Basic Training Centre, Bhanu, Panchkula.
Who was the storm?
Thunderstorm was an exotic pure white colored horse procured by ITBP from a racecourse in Kolkata in 2014. A team of ITBP equestrians bought the horse, later named Thunderstorm due to its capabilities, for Rs 1.40 lakh. When he was inducted into the ITBP, there was a thunderstorm at 4.30 pm.
He was raised and trained at ITBP Training Center Bhanu near Ramgarh in Panchkula. Deputy Commandant Raveshwar Singh Rana, who trained and rode the horse, named it Thunderstorm.
He remained with ITBP till the end of his life in October 2021.
What made Thunderstorm special?
Rana explained, “There were a number of things that made Thunderstorm unique. He was a small horse but had a big heart. You would be shocked to learn that Thunderstorm was disqualified for the racecourse when we bought him. There were many doubts about its capabilities, but Thunderstorm proved its critics wrong.
“Thunderstorm was the first horse from India to win two consecutive medals at the prestigious FEI Dressage World Cup in 2017 and 2018.
DIG Dr. Sudhakar Natarajan said, “Prior to Thunderstorm, ITBP had not participated in prestigious competitions including FEI Dressage World Cup, and national level cross country competition etc. But Thunderstorm’s capabilities enabled us to participate in these events. And, at these events thunderstorms made their presence felt.
“It was Thunderstorm that gave us a mark in the equestrian sport. He was a member of our family. Hence, ITBP decided to organize horse riding in his memory,” Natarajan said.
What were Thunderstorm’s achievements?
In addition to their consecutive victories at the prestigious Dressage World Cup, Thunderstorms has won over 40 medals in national and international equestrian competitions.
In 2018, Thunderstorm was chosen as the best horse of ITBP at the ITBP Raising Day Parade.
How did Thunderstorm die? Will another horse take his place?
He died after being hit by the storm. He was being treated by veterinarians at ITBP Bhanu, Ramgarh.
“Actually, ITBP will get a better horse than Thunderstorm one day, but it will not be Thunderstorm. Thunderstorm was unique”, Rana, who had developed a special bond with the horse, explained Indian Express,