free-spirited boy’s sole joy was riding through the wilderness on his beloved Marwari horse – the ancient breed favoured by Indian nobles since before the time of Alexander the Great. As a young adult in the US, Souri worked in communications and on movie projects such as ‘The Matrix’ and ‘X-Men’, but in his 30s he decided he wanted to do more meaningful work. Drawn back to India and the cultural richness of his father’s land, his social conscience was developing and his love of horses hadn’t wained. Canadian, Jan Cumming on the road to Pushkah during the November 2012 ride through Rajasthan. Photo by Sue Beeton Relief Rides take place in Rajasthan, Northern India, three or four times a year. For 13-15 days, the RRI team and up to 12 ‘voluntourists’ ride through picturesque countryside from one outlying village to another. A day is spent in each village, when the RRI medical camp and mobile eye surgery is set up. Play and sporting equipment are distributed, along with school materials, and goats as part of a sustainable livestock program. Everything is free. Dr Sue Beeton is an associate professor in Tourism at La Trobe University in Victoria. A horse-lover with a passion for the high country, she took part in November 2012 ride through Rajasthan. An experienced rider, Sue was paired with Tulsi, a 3-4 year-old mare on her first tour. Sue was amazed at how well Tulsi and the other horses