Anusha
Masrani

2019 — February 2022

Anusha started riding in 2019 at Forward Equestrian Centre, Kitisuru, on the stable horses — Pringle, Crackle, whatever was available. Her first competition was the Easter Show 2022 on Pringle. By then her family was looking for a horse of her own.

February 2022 — 3 November 2025

Excalibur arrived in February 2022. A cob, unknown breeding, no jumping experience, no competition history. Estimated born 2012, around ten years old at acquisition. Anusha hadn't competed on her own horse either. They started from zero together. He was registered HAK No. 56.

The Easter Show 2022 came after Excalibur was acquired, but Anusha rode Pringle: HAK rules at the time required under-12s to compete on ponies, not horses. After March 2022 she was eligible to compete him, but Isaac chose to wait — he wanted Excalibur to have more jumping experience first. In 2023, the African Horse Sickness outbreak shut down all competition and horse travel in Kenya. The only show that ran was Dagoretti in March, which Anusha rode on a pony called Rum. Her first competition on Excalibur was 11 February 2024 at Forward EC's dressage day. Three weeks later they competed together at Dagoretti.

In January 2025 Excalibur came up lame. The cause was never confirmed — a fall is assumed but no one saw it happen. Dr. Desmond examined him at Forward EC and the family put him on hot-towel therapy and massage twice daily. On 12 February 2025, Dr. Duncan Prinsloo flew in from Pretoria for a second opinion. Six weeks later the family sent video of him trotting. Duncan's reply: "he is showing on the left front." The diagnosis was progressive arthritis.

He left Forward EC after 2 June 2025 and never returned. He was rehomed to RDC Karen as a therapy horse for handicapped children. He could not manage even that. On 3 November 2025 at 8:30am, Dr. Desmond Tutu of Yaya Vet Clinic came to RDC Karen. Excalibur was sedated and passed peacefully. He was approximately thirteen years old.

February — June 2025

Excalibur came up lame in January 2025. Dr. Duncan Prinsloo flew in from Pretoria on 12 February to examine him. Six weeks later, on 24 March, the family sent video of Excalibur trotting. Duncan's reply: "he is showing on the left front." The diagnosis was progressive arthritis. The search for a new horse began.

Shruti opened a WhatsApp group on 27 February with Deana Boshoff, a Pretoria-based equestrian who sourced horses by word of mouth. Anusha stayed out of the chat initially. She joined on 31 March.

Over three months Deana rode dozens of horses across Gauteng. Dr. Duncan Prinsloo vetted five on the family's behalf. Tapenzee failed with kissing spine. Stella — the Warmblood mare Anusha and Shruti had both wanted — failed twice, lame on her left front. Urban Angel ("Twiggie") hobbled through hers. Sapphire passed cleanly and Duncan recommended her as the best of the five — but Isaac rejected her on a boxy hoof. Carisbrook's owners withdrew at the last moment.

On 5 June Shruti and Anusha flew to Johannesburg. Four days, five horses across Gauteng and Pretoria. On Saturday 7 June they drove to PTA East to ride a mare Deana had described as "kind, big-hearted and so very willing." Anusha got on. That was the answer.

Duncan vetted Aerobatic on 18 June 2025 — full limb and back x-rays, lameness locator. She passed clean. On 24 June she was transported to East Rand Polo; on 25 June 2025 at 18:58 she flew out of Johannesburg, one of three horses on the flight. Freight ZAR 71,495 via Roost Freight Services. She arrived at Forward EC around 01:30 on 26 June.