Lucknow:

Old wisdom suggests dogs are man’s best friend, but ask Lt Col Faiz Siddiqui (35), one of the youngest national-level polo players in the country and he will give you a different answer.

After spending more than eight years with his favorite 12-year-old half-bred bay colored horse ‘Awesome’, he believes horses are one of the most loyal, interactive and steadfast companions one can ever have.

An accomplished polo player, Lt Col Faiz Siddiqui is just back from England after playing a Polo tournament. He is in the city competing for the Awadh Polo Sunshine Cup at Surya Parisar ground. Representing Torpedos (the Army Service Corps team from Bangalore) Faiz has been one of the top scorers in all the league matches but for every achievement on the ground, the players gives credit to Awesome.

Despite knowing that Awesome, being an Army horse, can never be permanently owned by him, Faiz has developed a very special bond with him. He makes sure even after the training session he spends quality time with Awesome, understanding his needs, mood swings and treating him with his favourite food, jaggery.

Recalling his first encounter with Awesome, Faiz, said Awesome was one of the naughtiest polo ponies he had ever come across and to tame him was one of the most tedious tasks for him. But for Faiz, the initial one and a half years of the training period during which he got to know Awesome is one of the most cherished periods of his life.

“Awesome is equally dear to my family. He is especially attached to my six-year-old daughter who loves to ride on him. Each time Awesome makes her sit on him he takes immense care truly acting as a responsible elder brother,” he added.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Times of India / Home> City> Lucknow / by Uzma Talha, TNN / December 13th, 2014