Lankan cowboy back home to make horse-themed park a reality
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Ty Nitti is a Sri Lankan cowboy. An expert horse trainer with over three decades of experience in riding, breaking, training and schooling horses, Ty’s skills have also led him to the world of acting, where he has featured on the silver screen in several recent movies.
Ty’s Double 6 Ranch, a cherished family-owned establishment in the picturesque Apple Valley, offers a wide range of professional equine services to individuals, horse owners, businesses, and even Hollywood actors.
Leaving Sri Lanka at the tender age of eight, a significant part of his heart has always remained tethered to the island. In 2017, Ty crossed paths with Britisher Ineke Pitts, who was establishing an English riding school here and they discovered a shared aim of introducing world-class horsemanship to the country.
In September 2022, the Ceylon Riding Club at Port City Colombo opened its doors, albeit with a modest celebration. More challenges lay ahead, including the prevailing economic climate in the country and the skepticism of friends and advisors. Together with Michele Fonseka and Dan de Silva, Ineke crafted a masterplan for the 3.5-acre site, which is now being brought to life by CHEC, the Port City Management Company.
In collaboration with the team from Brief Gardens, the area will soon be transformed into a horse-themed park with a high-end equestrian club with a members’ restaurant and coffee shop, a vibrant piazza adorned with a majestic flame tree, and a grand show arena. At the far end of the site, a cowboy ranch will emerge, complete with cacti, sand dunes, and a serene pond. Against the backdrop of the setting sun, an old-fashioned wind turbine will stand as an iconic silhouette.
Ty and his son Karnan Nitti are making a month-long visit to Sri Lanka from July 9 to help to promote Ceylon Riding Club to investors, potential clients and partners and to demonstrate the famous horsemanship that launched Ty’s career as the trainer of horses for the movie “Zorro”. Both Ty and Karnan have several movies to their credit and a wealth of experience that they will be sharing with the equestrian community in Sri Lanka including the equine vet community and the mounted services divisions.
Many activities have been planned during their visit including a Children’s Day, Day for Youth (discussion around youth, drugs, unemployment and Gen Z), Meet and Greet – the Sri Lankan Horse Society and the Equestrian Community of Sri Lanka, and clinics on various topics including training a young or difficult horse, horse biomechanics, a career with horses, advanced riding skills, etc.
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