Colombo Sri Lanka (Commonwealth Union)_Asia’s only cowboy returned to his homeland of Sri Lanka recently in a bid to bring Sri Lanka’s ancient horse culture and riding legacy back. Ty Nitti lives in Apple Valley California on his ranch Double, where he schools, wrangles and trains horses who are used not just for riding but also in Hollywood movies. As a result, Ty has travelled the world, rubbed shoulders with the stars of some of the biggest box office hits but says, “It’s truly a humbling experience. But even though I’m starstruck, we have to be professional and ensure everyone’s safety.”
Ty lived and schooled in Colombo Sri Lanka but with his father’s encouragement, trot off to the hilly mountains of Nuwara Eliya and Kandy whenever he had the chance to ride horses. His dad was also a fan of the ‘Wild Wild Wet’ and every western movie was an imperative to watch. Clint Eastwood needless to say was a top hit! When the civil war hit and Ty’s family was affected, the family migrated. On their route to Canada, they stopped by at Ty’s aunt’s house in California and as fortune would have it, horse country beckoned and Ty stayed put.
