Trinity Global School students are in for a galloping time; their school has become the first in the city to introduce horse-riding lessons.

Experts from the Calcutta Polo Club will train the pupils. The club has provided two 6-foot-tall thoroughbred horses, named Bullet and Gillian, to the school along with a trainer and two groomsmen. The weekly horse-riding classes started on December 9 for classes II to VI.

The school has two stables and 28,800 square foot space for the riding arena.

"Each lesson is customised according to the individual's riding level," said Ajit, the trainer, who is a certified instructor with over seven years of experience in teaching horse-riding. "In order to guarantee a quality lesson, an evaluation ride is mandatory for all students. Children will learn to love, care for, and respect horses."

The school provides breeches and helmets to the students for safety.

School principal Amber Banerjee said it would take 24 sessions before students learn to control a horse.

"Right now, the students are learning to walk the horse," Banerjee said. "They will learn how to trot, canter and gallop later. If they find it interesting, we will increase the number of horses and trainers."

He said that so far the lessons were a great success.

"We provide the proper clothing for the lessons," he added.

Students from classes II to IV said they enjoyed their first riding lesson, though some were also nervous.

Ambrin Akhtar, a Class III student, said: "It was my first experience and I felt both nervous and excited. I want to learn horse riding as it is an adventurous skill. I told my parents about it and they were amazed and happy. We learn the basics - wear long pants to protect legs from chaffing against the saddle, and close-toed shoes with a small heel to keep the feet from slipping out of the stirrups."?

Samar Pratap of Class IV also had his first equestrian experience.

"When I first mounted the horse, I felt I am on the top of the world. I was a little scared of falling off but the instructor helped me a lot," he said. "I was very lucky though. The horse was really gentle and seemed to know that I was freaking out."

Ankit, a Class VI student, had not yet handled the stirrups.

"I am kind of nervous about the lessons," he said. "I will talk to students who attended their first lesson and then decide on classes."