No horse, no money can't stop Anees

Three years ago Imtiaz Anees arrived in Australia without a horse, without any money and with nowhere to stay.

On Wednesday, India's sole equestrian Olympian realised his dream of riding in the individual three-day event at Sydney.

Anees and his mount Spring Invader were a late entry, only accepted an hour-and-a-half before the first inspection of horses on Tuesday.

"It is amazing to realise a dream," said the 29 year-old resident of Melbourne in the state of Victoria, adding that his pride in representing India was mixed with gratitude to his new homeland.

"I came here with no horse, no money and no place to stay, but...the support of Victoria and Australia has been great," he said after his dressage round. "Victoria has put it all together for me."

Anees said he had always had a passion for horses but had found it impossible to break into the sport in India.

"It was not until completing university that my parents allowed me to leave home and family to come to Australia three years ago," he said.

Anees scored 61.00 penalties in his dressage, leaving him in 32nd place out of 38.

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