Endurance Jockey Style

Iranian rider Masoud Pourmanian turned up in Kota Kinabalu for the CIE* Asian Invitation 60 km Endurance Ride with his saddle – a 1 kg jockey’s flat race saddle, complete with ultra-short stirrups. Masoud himself weighed in at 52 kg and when told he had to make the FEI minimum weight of 70 kg his chef d’equipe started complaining that usually he is overweight for races in Iran so how could he be underweight here!

Pourmanian was lent a proper endurance saddle, to which he promptly shortened the stirrups to his normal ultra-short jockey length and set off at full gallop. Naturally his horse was vetted out at the first vet stage.

Erm, welcome back

Just a few weeks ago we were bidding a fond farewell to two instructors and national riders who were heading out, one to Ipoh and the other in search of more knowledge and a Yorkshire accent. Before you can say “another pint, please” Thambi is back in Malaysia, all hangdog. At least the other Macha is still in Ipoh.

In the land of the blind…

Less than a fortnight after inking a formal apology to Masood and Maliha Faizullah Khan over her conduct in the purchasing of the Danish dressage horse Sirius, a prominent Singapore-based Danish dressage trainer is back in Denmark, looking for four new horses for other Singaporean owners…

Happy Centenary

Selangor Polo & Riding Club’s Centenary Barbeque last Saturday didn’t quite happen because the caterers didn’t turn up. Perhaps it’s because the event wasn’t confirmed with them. The club reacted by feeding the hungry polo players with take-away beryani and fast food from Pizza Hut and McDonalds. This weekend the club celebrates with a Centenary Black Tie Polo Ball at the Pan Pacific’s Pacifica Ballroom.

At Rm. 180.00 per head, it had better be one heck of a Happy Meal.

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