Jamshedpur, Feb. 1: There are 120 of them, and like all stars, they have their own retinue of nail-fitters, hairdressers and masseurs.

And in deference to their star status, the Jharkhand Equestrian Association (JEA) is working overtime to provide shelter befitting the thoroughbreds set to descend on the steel city for the 34th National Games. The equestrian events will be held from February 13 to 18 at Gopal Maidan in Bistupur.

While the abandoned Bihar Military Police (BMP) stable has been earmarked to house the horses, members of the equestrian sub-committee, who visited the venue, are pulling all stops to work out the logistics for their food and bath facilities, and rooms for caretakers and grooms.

The stable, which was abandoned after the BMP contingent shifted to Patna two decades ago, is not in the best shape. The sprawling premises, which was used to shelter horses during national equestrian meets in the city, needs a thorough cleaning. Lights are needed in the rooms to be used by the accompanying staff, and water supply has to be organised too.

Other than shelter, the committee also has to take care of food for the horses, even though the teams are meant to bring some part of the horse ration.

“We need 6.5 tonne black gram for the horses as each animal has a daily food quota of 6kg. It’s a huge task but we are ready for the challenge. Visiting riders and their horses will have a comfortable stay here,” promised Satnam Singh, convener of the equestrian committee.

While some riders will be staying at the nearby army camp, the staff will be put up in the rooms dotting the stable. “Some of the riders are expected to be accommodated at hotels. We are awaiting confirmation from teams who would stay at the army camp,” another member of the committee added.

The horses will arrive in the city by trucks and trains.

JEA general secretary Kuldip Singh said 11 outfits, including Maharashtra, Bihar, Services, Assam, Haryana, Delhi and Punjab, have confirmed participation. “We are expecting more entries,” he said.

Jharkhand, however, had to pull out due to lack of horses and riders. “We approached the Hazaribagh-based Police Training Centre for horses, but to no avail. I also went to the BMP camp in Arrah (Bihar) but I had to drop the idea since Jharkhand is against hiring players,” the JEA general secretary added.

Lack of adequate infrastructure has forced organisers to give two events — 3km cross country and 60km endurance — a miss. “We would be conducting show jumping, dressage and tent pegging,” Singh said.