In the Footsteps of the Shekhawati Brigade, Rajasthan, India.

12 days; 7 days riding.

4th October 2017 to 15th October 2017
Introduction
This is a unique opportunity to retrace the footsteps of the Shekhawati Brigade, one of the British Raj’s
most charismatic and agile cavalry regiments. The Shekhawati Brigade was established in 1835 and
subsequently amalgamated with other regiments. Their actions can be traced right through to
Independence in 1947 and up to modern times; Rajasthan was their theatre of operation. Discover the
exploits of this cavalry brigade and their skirmishes against the dacoits.

This exciting chapter of British history will be brought to life each evening with informal talks around the
camp fire given by a local Rajput whose family can trace its ancestry back to well before the founding of
the Shekhawati Brigade. Ride the trails by day and hear the tales by night. At salient points along the
route we have arranged for elderly gentlemen, who knew pre-Independence India, to meet us and share
their stories.

This is a “Buddy Ride” which means we welcome six fully fit riders and six injured servicemen or women.
These will be chosen by Polo for Heroes with the aid of Help for Heroes, Band of Brothers; the
experience of this ride will contribute to both physical and mental recovery. We will ride as a group
consisting of six buddy-pairs. There will be people in India to offer assistance as required, reinforcing the
buddy partnerships.

The Marwari Horse

The Marwari horse stands between 14 hh and 17 hh
depending on its geographical origin; horses from
more fertile areas grow larger than their desert
counterparts. Nowadays foals grow larger due to
improved nutrition and better parasite control but
the average remains 15.2 hh to 16 hh.
The Marwari comes in all colours
including the boldly coloured
‘ablacks’ (Piebalds or Skewbalds)
particularly favoured in India. The
Marwari’s natural tendency to
perform would make him
particularly suitable for dressage,
but dressage isn’t popular in India.
He is a tough, brave and beautiful
horse who has proven his ability to
adapt and thrive in most
environments. When you first set
eyes on one you tend to think they
look angular; not a bit of it! These
are the marathon runners of the horse world; all
sinew and lean muscle: remarkable stamina and they
end the day as fresh and keen as they begin it.
They are particularly known for their ears! The classic
lyre-shaped ear with the tips just touching.
There is a host of folklore about the whorls on the
coat too: too much to go into here, but if the
“science” of whorls is of interest, your host on this
ride is well-versed in the lore.
There is a stud book in India which was
established in the 2000’s: the breed isn’t
new, agreeing to the standard is! One of
the results of having a breed standard is
that it is now prohibited to export Marwari.
India wishes to preserve the breed herself.
Tack: The saddles are Indian cavalry
“Sawar” saddles developed by the British
cavalry in the mid 1700’s and still used by
the Indian cavalry today. They are designed
with a high pommel allowing a good flow of
air along the horse’s spine which is
particularly important in India’s hot
climate. They function (and feel) similar to a
conventional English saddle and are comfortable for
both horse and rider. Short chaps work well with this
tack and if you like to use a seat-saver it’s a good
idea to bring one. The bits are snaffles.
The Riding Itinerary
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Wed 4 Oct 2017
Depart London on the overnight flight to Jaipur.
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Thur 5 Oct
Arrive in India in the afternoon. Met upon arrival and
driven to the hotel. The hotel is run by two brothers
who have transformed a stately haveli (manor house)
into a unique property. It’s meticulously renovated
and perhaps the finest haveli in Jaipur. Dinner at the
hotel and followed by a ride briefing.
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Fri 6 Oct
Setting off for the desert
The Marwari, an Indian aristocrat.
When everyone is ready after breakfast we’ll drive
north to Sikar and visit Sikar Fort which features in th
Sun 8 Oct
the actions of the Shekhawati Brigade.
Into the bush.
Today’s the day! We set off riding west. Each person
Continue to Dundlod Fort where a ‘Royal Welcome’
is issued with twin saddlebags for camera,
awaits us. It was built in 1750 and is a blend of
waterbottle, sun cream and such-like. All the other
Rajputana and Moghul styles, typical to Rajasthan. It
baggage is carried in the support vehicles.
has been delightfully restored. Later visit the
We ride through small villages, some of which are
Marwari stables.
predominately “Khayamkhani” which is a clan of
[Full board “FB” and overnight at the fort.]
Rajputs who have converted from Hindu to Muslim.

Whilst on the trail, each night is spent in a tented

The tack on its overnight rack.
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Sat 7 Oct
Meet the Marwari
After breakfast we’ll show you the stables and
introduce you to the breed and horse management
regime in Rajasthan. Many aspects will be familiar;
the tack will be familiar, but the detail is different!
The Marwari requires hands-off riding and a gentle,
sympathetic touch.
In mid-morning you’ll be introduced to your horse
and have the opportunity to get the feel in the
ménage. When everyone is settled we’ll ride out into
the surrounding farmland and get to know the
horses. After lunch (back at the fort) we’ll visit a few
of the heritage sites that are found within the village.
Dinner at the fort, later a briefing on the “Footsteps
of the Shekhawati” ride that kicks off tomorrow.
[FB and overnight at the fort.]
Distance ridden: 15 Km
Time in saddle: 2-3 hrs
camp but this is no ordinary camp: you’re provided
with blankets, quilts, pillows, a mattress and a camp
bed. The canvas “rooms” are large enough to stand
upright in. Grooms ride with the team to feed and
water the horses; we will be looked after by a full
staff. [FB. Overnight in camp.]
Distance ridden: 30 Km
Time in saddle: 5 hrs
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Mon 9 Oct
The trail to Khialee
We continue riding between small farms through this
semi-desert area, dotted with Khejri trees and ladies
wearing brightly coloured saris working the land. En
route we stop for a picnic lunch and a long rest
before riding on through land that gradually becomes
sandier and softer; small villages cling to the sand
dunes and eke out a tough existence. Many herds of
Nilgai, the indigenous antelope, known as “blue
bulls” and the Chinkara deer will be seen in this area.
[FB. Overnight in camp.]
Distance ridden: 35 Km
Time in saddle: 6 hrs
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Tue 10 Oct: Reaching Alsisar Fort
The objective for today is the magnificent Fort at
Alsisar. This is close to Jhunjhunu where the
rebellious chieftains were taken as “guests of his
majesty”. Overnight in Alsisar Fort, a majestic
palace-fort that has been meticulously restored to its
former glory.
Distance ridden: 35 Km
Time in saddle: 6 hrs

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 th
Wed 11 Oct
Jhunjhunu (or Joonjnoo)
Today we enter the town of Jhunjhunu where the
Shekhawati Brigade was stationed. Visit Fostergunj,
the actual location of the Shekhawati Brigade’s
quarters. There will be ample time to explore
Badalgarh Fort, which was the first to be built in
Jhunjhunu, by the Muslim ruler Khayamkhani Nawab
Faisal Khan in 16th century. Later it was taken over
by Rao Shardul Singhji Shekhawat who was the ruler
who gave his name to this area.
Overnight in camp at the Badalgarh Fort.
Distance ridden: 30 Km
Time in saddle: 5 hrs
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Thur 12 Oct
Ride to Khettree (or Khetri)
The ride starts from just outside Jhunjhunu town and
heads towards Khetri along a dry river bed. Later we
pass through the villages of Kali Pahari and Sultana,
both of which were strongholds of the dacoits. Lunch
en route and ride to camp.
Overnight in camp
Distance ridden: 30 Km
Time in saddle: 5 hrs
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Fri 13 Oct
Explore Khettree Fort on horseback
Khetri has a magnificent Fort and many beautiful
heritage buildings; there is also a stepped well and
water collection area which at present is dry,
reflecting the decline of local rainfall. The ride is
slower today because we are approaching the
Aravalli Mountains (1,750m) and the terrain is
steeper. The Aravalli are one of the oldest ranges in
the world pre-dating the more famous Himalaya,
created when two tectonic plates collided. The
Himalaya continue to grow each year, whereas the
Aravalli are static, or declining slightly due to wind
and rain erosion.
Camp is pitched inside Khettree Fort which has a
commanding view over the surrounding country.
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We can walk to the Rani Sati temple and Mertanji ki
Baori, which is a classic step-well designed to retain
as much of the scarce rainwater that falls as possible.
Distance ridden 35 Km
Time in saddle: 6 hrs.
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Sat 14 Oct
Return to Jaipur
Drive from Khettree to Jaipur. Lunch at Jaipur and
visit the City Palace museum and the Palace of Winds
(Hawa Mahal ). We round off our time in Rajasthan
with an evening visit to the famous Rajasthan Polo
Club in Jaipur.
And for those last minute pressies, there are some
excellent shops to explore in Jaipur: Anokhi is
famous for its high quality block-print textiles; Kripal
Singh Shekhawa is the potter who breathed life back
in to the famous blue pottery of Jaipur in the 1930’s;
The Gem Palace is the place to find jewellery,
particularly emeralds.
Dinner at the Polo Club overnight at the Heritage
hotel.
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Sun 15 Oct 2017
Fly home to London.
Transfer to airport for the early morning flight to
London. Arrive London in the early evening.
City Palace: a huge complex of courtyards, gardens,
and buildings that blends together both Rajasthani
and Mughal architecture. The Peacock Gate is
exquisite with its design of bright peacocks. The royal
family lives in the graceful Chandra Mahal (Moon
Palace) bordering the courtyard. There is a museum,
art gallery and interesting display of royal costumes
and old Indian weapons.
The Nitty-Gritty
Rider’s weight
95 kg max. Riders over 95 Kg can be accommodated
but will require a second horse which will attract an
additional fee. Please contact Venture Co.
Rider safety
You must wear a riding hat and appropriate foot
wear. Gloves and half-chaps are recommended, but
not everyone likes to wear them in warm climates.
The rule is, be comfortable and you’ll ride better.
In summary
 6½ days riding Marwari horses
 2 nights staying in Fort Dundlod
 3 nights heritage hotel
 5 nights “glamping”
Price
£2,895 (The ride, flight and airport taxes)
Able-bodied riders are invited to pay for their place
and pay or raise sponsorship for their disabled buddy
of £2,895 - £250 = £2,645. Polo for Heroes can assist
with fundraising ideas.
Disabled Heroes pay £250 deposit only.
We welcome corporate or personal sponsorship from
anyone who would like to sponsor a Hero’s ride for
£2,645.
Staying on
If riders would like to stay on after the ride, please
call Venture Co to discuss. This must be done before
flight tickets are issued.
The Bengal tiger, Ranthambore National Park
The flight schedule
The flights depart from London Heathrow in the
evening and arrive in Jaipur in the afternoon of the
next day. The return flight leaves Jaipur in the early
morning and arrives in London the same afternoon.
All flights booked through Venture Co are financially
protected via Venture Co’s ATOL licence number
5306.
Included in the package price
International flights
Meals: full board from dinner on day 2 to breakfast
on day 12.
Road transfers as detailed, in air-conditioned vehicle.
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The ride as detailed with horse, tack and groom.
Services of ride guide and his team in India.
Services of a Venture Co ride leader.
Not included
Visa for India
Personal travel insurance
Alcoholic drinks and soft drinks
Tips
[There is no local payment]
Travel insurance
Please speak to Campbell Irvine Direct:
http://www.campbellirvinedirect.com/ventureco_ho
me.htm
At a glance
The grade of the ride: [8/10]
novice ……………..… intemediate .………………. advanced
Accommodation grading: [8/10]
camping…lodges & hotels…glamping...loads of character
Rider fitness required: [9/10]
Cultural immersion: [10/10]
just like home …. surprises …… lots new ….. completely different
More about “At a glance”
We grade this ride high in each category: it is a full
immersion riding experience and you know from day
one that you are not in England anymore! The
horses, terrain, meals, language, customs, manners
and everything else, are all different!
Ride rating: we rate this riding experience 8 out of 10
because the horses are well-mannered but forward-
going. They are very fit and love “making progress”.
The tack is predominately English (with some
variations) so you need to be well-seated, compared
for example, to Western tack which is more
forgiving. Some canters are 8 to 10 mins long and a
dozen horses cantering together is exhilarating for
competent riders, but could be scary for a novice.
The trails are dusty and temps can top 30°C and
higher so you will get sweaty and grimy – in the
nicest possible way! Having said all that, it is also the
most authentic, exhilarating and all-absorbing ride
you could wish for.
 and for multiple days in succession. You don’t need
to be an athlete, but you will enjoy it much more if
you ride regularly for a couple of weeks before the
ride. We do use a couple of support vehicles, one of
which carries the picnic lunch to the mid-day rendez-
vous, and this means that if you wanted to sit out an
afternoon, one of the grooms could lead your horse,
and you could ride in the jeep (it hasn’t happened
yet, but the option exists!).

Three wise men.

Accommodation: we grade this at 8 out of 10 too,

which may seem incongruous with the ride rating but
the properties where we stay have been fantastically
restored and the level of hospitality we are shown is
outstanding throughout. The camping really is
“glamping”: the tents are huge, with cots and linen
supplied; each one is carpeted. There are two camp
showers within the ablution block and provision to
heat water over a log fire, so that you can have a hot
bush-shower each evening! There is a person to
clean your boots and the man who cuts patterns
onto the horse’s quarters will also cut your hair, if
you wish! There is a separate kitchen tent and a mess
tent for evening meals and breakfast. In the centre of
camp is a log fire which is where we gather each
evening for sundowners and a chance to compare
riders’ tales and sights we’ve seen. “Duke of
Edinburgh Ten Tors camping” it most certainly ain’t!
A passing camel-herder: horses and camels
enjoy a mutual wariness of one-another.
Cultural Immersion: Venture Co prides itself on
providing riding opportunities that take you directly
into contact with the indigenous community. The
guides, grooms, wranglers, camp staff, chef and his
team and even the drivers, musicians and horse-
hairdresser will all be eager to talk to you and show
you their “normal”; their life and their world. They
are proud of their heritage and flattered that you are
travelling half way around the globe to learn all
about it. This, surely, is the essence of travelling. The
real pleasure for any horseman is to compare how
we do things to how they do things. It’s not the devil
in the detail; it’s the delight in the detail that makes
this ride a ten-pointer.

Rider fitness: you do need to be in shape; “riding fit”

is the label we attach to this ride. Many of the rides
we do in other parts of the world allow you to arrive
and get in shape during the ride; that is not the case
here, your riding muscles need to be prepared for
what’s coming! Long days (up to 7 hrs in the saddle)

Destination Background
Rajasthan
In the northwest corner of India, up against the Pakistan border, is India’s largest state, Rajasthan. The name
means “land of kings” which reveals something of its heritage: this is the land of
Rajputs, feudal barons who were responsible to the Maharaja of Jodhpur who
held overall sway over Rajasthan. The Rajputs ruled their fiefdoms but owed
allegiance to the Maharaja. Indian society remains multi-layered and the
implications of the caste system are nuanced and subtle.

The Aravali Mountains run through Rajasthan and are a helpful landmark
throughout this ride; they are 700 Km long and run in a north-easterly direction
nearly reaching Delhi. The Luni River, which we follow on the ride, rises in the
Aravali, though the water is subterranean for the majority of the year. These
mountains are much older than the Himalaya, and unlike the Himalaya, they are
no longer rising.
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Rajasthan contains 4 iconic forts, Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur, Chittorgarh Fort which is the largest fort in Asia, the
enigmatic façade of “Palace of the Winds” in Jaipur and the extensive fortifications that make up the Amber Fort
just outside Jaipur. Rajasthan is an arid area which is thinly populated: as the ride progresses you will see many
tiny villages and hamlets, well away from tarmac roads. There are tractors to plough fields, but most crops are still
moved by ox-wagon and camel cart. The government has made great efforts to provide water stand-pipes and
troughs to these farming communities which has had a significant impact on the lives of the women in particular
(the traditional drawers of water). The unanticipated consequence is that many communities allow water and
waste water to flow freely along village streets where it is able to seep into foundations, which is detrimental to
many of the once-grand havelis.

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An haveli is a merchant’s manor house. In the 18 and 19 C a
great deal of trade passed through Rajasthan enabling the
merchant castes to become wealthy. Consequently they built large
houses constructed around a courtyard open to the elements, very
comparable to the riads in Morocco. The havelis were richly
decorated with paintings and frescos. Sadly, many have fallen into
disrepair and India lacks a National Trust equivalent, so the future
doesn’t look promising for most havelis. The few that are
maintained and restored are truly glorious; testament to a lavish
past.

What’s the weather going to be like?

Rajasthan is a dry, semi-arid area that includes the Thar Desert which is sandy, with gravel / rocky outcrops in
places. There is considerable subterranean water, but the riverbeds are dry most of the time. There is widespread
agricultural activity and many drought-resistant crops are grown. There are trees such as the Neem and various
Acacia species and wildlife such as Blue Bulls and Blackbuck which co-exist with the goat herds, camels and water
buffalo.

Jaipur Climate Chart (Monthly Averages)

Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
High Temperature (C) 21 24 31 36 41 39 36 34 34 34 29 23
Low Temperature (C) 7 9 14 20 26 28 27 26 24 18 11 8
Precipitation (mm) 23 18 13 8 13 74 180 173 117 10 3 10

Payment Schedule.
If you would like to join this ride a deposit of £250 per person is due; the Booking Form is available from Venture
Co or Claire Dingwall. Email it back to Venture Co and the deposit can be paid by bank-to-bank transfer (free),
cheque (free) or via payment card (Fee: 1.75% for credit cards).

Eight weeks before you set off the balance is due to be paid to Venture Co.

Health Advice.
For detailed information and advice see http://www.nomadtravel.co.uk and click on their “travel clinics” option.
Vaccination requirements change periodically so we advise that you check with your nearest specialist travel clinic
as soon as possible. Travellers to India must have a Yellow Fever certificate.

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Possible changes
Although it is our intention to operate the itinerary as printed above, it may be necessary to make some changes as a result of
alterations to flight schedules, climatic conditions, limitations of infrastructure or other operational factors. As a consequence,
the itinerary and overnight stops may vary from those outlined.

Equipment Brief:
Visa. A detailed clothing and equipment list will
be provided in the Field Manual but to
British passport holders require a visa for
give you an indication, here is a summary:
India which are obtainable electronically
 Baggage -a holdall (55 to 75 litre
see www.indiavisasonline.gov.in
capacity) suitable to be packed in
a truck each day; a hold-all from
Budget £110
Helle Hanson, North Face etc is
ideal.
 Clothing – tops made from
natural fibres; and a wicking top
during the ride.
 Footwear – a leather soled
The Field Manual. Jodhpur boot and short chaps.
Sandals for evenings.
A detailed booklet will be mailed to each
 Sleeping Bag – is not required.
rider. This booklet is packed full of
 General - camping gear such as
relevant, up-to-date information including
torch, water-bottle, penknife,
clothing lists, vaccination advice, money
toiletries, sunscreens and insect
matters, suggestions about the level of
repellent.
fitness and emergency procedures.
 Camera - with spare batteries.

HAVE A GREAT RIDE!

VentureCo Worldwide
6 Okehampton Business Centre, Higher Stockley Mead, Okehampton, Devon EX20 1FJ
01837 55 907

mark@ventureco-worldwide.com
www.ventureco-worldwide.com

Financial Security
Venture Co Worldwide Ltd holds an Air Travel Organisers Licence granted by the Civil Aviation
Authority (CAA); our ATOL number is 5306. All ventures and expeditions purchased “with
flights” are ATOL protected by the CAA which means that your financial security is assured when
you join us. “Ride Only” bookings are protected by Venture Co’s Client Trust account.

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