SEAEF on Safe Ground

The formation of the new South East Asian Equestrian Federation (SEAEF) under the leadership of Harald Link is a Thai one, just as the now defunct Equestrian Federation of Asean formed in 1991 was.  That was headed by General Fuangchaloei Aniruth-Deva, the father of the SEAEF Secretary General Col. Fuangvich “Sam” Aniruth-Deva.  Like the former federation, the SEAEF intends to bring about South East Asian cooperation and competitions.

Unlike the former Equestrian Federation of Asean and indeed the South East Asian World Cup League committee, the SEAEF intends to have input from all the South Est Asian recognised National Equestrian Federations.  This should ensure continuity.  There is another, dare I say, defunct committee that has had no renewal of committee members since 2001.  Nobody should be President for Life, nor any committee member a member for life, especially if they are completely uninvolved in the sport.  We’ve seen some personalities in other South East Asian committees just sit back and rest on their so-called laurels many years after last attending to any South East Asian matter.  This is perhaps a reason why the South East Asian World Cup League is struggling.  If not for Malaysia, the South East Asian World Cup League would not even have a season.

In contrast, the South East Asian Equestrian Federation has committee members of all South East Asian equestrian countries.  The countries that do not have members on the committee are invited to have the President of their NF take a position as Vice-President of SEAEF.  This should ensure, to some degree, relevancy of committee members.

With SEAEF intending to hold FEI recognised South East Asian Equestrian Championships yearly, unless it is a SEA Games equestrian year - Indonesia 2011 being the next, it is important that National Federations get involved.

Bigger Olympic Ban

The action of the German Equestrian Federation in appealing for a stronger sentence against their banned Olympic rider Christian Ahlmann sends a strong message to the sport that doping should never be condoned. They are appealing to the Court of Arbitration in sport to have a longer ban imposed on Ahlmann.  “The punishment is not in accordance with the code of the World Anti-Doping Agency and the regulations of FN,” General Secretary Hanfried Haring said.
In addition to the damage this dope case has done to Germany’s reputation, it is said to have cost the German NF over Euros 4 million in sponsorship contracts that were withdrawn because of this incident.  Riders have to understand that there many consequences to their actions when they represent their country.  The bigger the games, the bigger the penalty.

Pattaya International

I am in Pattaya for multiple reasons.  On Thursday I attended a meeting of the South East Asian Equestrian Federation.  It was the first working meeting of this new group.  The meeting was attended by representatives from Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Myanmar, Cambodia and hosts Thailand.  We talked about how to help the less developed equestrian nations, coordinating a South East Asian season of international events so that we do not clash with each other, and most excitingly about running an FEI recognised South East Asian Championships in 2009 and every year after.

I also attended an FEI recognised Course Design course, as a refresher to the FEI Iternational Course Designer status that I have held since 2001.  Werner Deeg was the surprise presenter as most of us thought that Paul Weier was giving the seminar.  Werner updated us on the new FEI levels that will soon replace the existing FEI levels of Candidate, International and Official.

The Thailand Equestrian Federation is runing the FEI World Challenge and the Thai Polo Derby as part of the L’Occitane CCI* Pattaya International Three-Day Event.  Yesterday we had a chance to work in the brand new Derby arena at the Thai Polo & Equestrian Club. The arena is big enough that they can have a big warm-up section on one side, derby features of a dyke, pinorolo, bank, water jump and dry ditches, yet had space enough to section off the FEI World Challenge arena inside, with more that enough space that we could build the fences for the Derby class around it!

The Cross-Country for the L’Occitane CCI* Pattaya International Three-Day Event is happening this moring. The prize-money of Thai Baht 1 million has attracted riders from Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and all over Thailand.  Adelaide 4-Star course designer Wayne Copping has refurbished and upgraded the SEA Games cross-country course.  I’m looking forward to a cracking cross-country this morning.  I’ll let you all know how it goes.

I’m Back

So I finally had a ride on a horse again, the first since the fall.  It felt really good to be back.

It had been nearly three months since I last sat on a horse, since the fall of 17th July.  While my head was ready for me to ride again in a matter of days, the injury to my leg prevented me from doing so.  .  The seroma in my thigh ballooned to almost elephantisis on five occasions.   I had fluid drained five times, and still wear a brace on my thigh.

This rather lengthy absence spurred a number of well-wishers (or otherwise) who asked if I might ever return to polo.   It never really crossed my mind to retire, but the number of questions about it was a little disconcerting.

In the end, I put it down to the fall itself.  The versions I have since heard from people who saw the accident are admittedly quite frightful.   Most of the horror stories start after I hit the deck.  Fortunately I really don’t remember much about the fall from the point of hitting the ground.  Therefore, psychologically I’m not at all traumatized by it.  From the time I was in hospital I imagined it would be matter of days before I was back riding and playing again.

So to finally be able to get back on a horse was a bit of relief to the self-doubt instilled by the numerous questions of retirement.  I might have to wait a while before I can play polo again, but that is only because of all the rain we’ve had in Kuala Lumpur.

Thank you all for your messages of support while I was recovering.

Eid Mubarak

Natasha and I would like to wish all Muslims “Eid Mubarak”.  Here’s a photo we took this morning with all the Z’s: Zack Ali, Zaine Iskandar and Asha Zulaiqa.

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Ma’af Zahir dan Batin.