On A Different Planet

Proving that they are really on some other eq-astral plane, the Equestrian Federation of Singapore seems to be affiliated to a different FEI than everyone else.

Asian Games Star Evicted

Rumour has it that an Asian Games Eventing individual gold medallist has been kicked out of the Thai Army's Royal Stable Unit. Not long after his triumphant return from Busan, he was given his marching orders. It seems that agreements with other team members on gold medal incentives were not honoured.

Un-Distinguido

Distinguido is a stallion and one of the top Andalusian Horses of Spain in Classical Dressage. He is ridden by the famed Ignacio Rambla, and is a likely candidate for the next Olympics. Eurodressage.com reports that Distinguido didn't have all that great a Christmas. He bit his groom. In retaliation the groom kicked Distinguido in the nuts with such force that he had to be operated on and as a consequence lost one of his testicles.

Reports that Barcelona Football Club are trying to sign the groom as a man-marker for Luis Figo are unconfirmed.

Where There's A Law Against Ugly Horses

The Mercury reports that the tiny but influential Libertarian party plans to strike hundreds of bizarre and archaic local laws banning "antisocial" activities from the statute book in U.S.A.

The "blue laws" -- city ordinances dealing with social vices -- such as a ban on saying "oh boy" in Jonesboro, Georgia, are rarely used in prosecutions but can still enrich the legal profession. The oldest blue laws are among the most surreal. In Logan County, Colorado, and Miami, Florida, monsters are banned from town limits after dark and, in Nevada, from bathrooms at any time.

Jump-Off's favourite is that it is illegal to ride an ugly horse in Wilbur, Washington.

I am Sam

There is no irony in the Friday 13th December feature in the Bangkok Post, amazingly titled I am Sam, which is all about '98 Asian Games winner Lt Col. Fuangvich 'Sam' Aniruth-Deva and not about the Hollywood movie 'I am Sam', which is about a "mentally challenged individual".

In it Sam reveals the origins of his names: 'Sam', his family's restaurant 'Chorn Ngerm', his riding school name 'Phoenix', and his saddlery company 'Xanthus'. We are informed that he was called 'Sam' as he 'was made, not born, in America.' Chorn Ngerm means Silver Spoon. You may infer what you will of his use of the name Phoenix for his 'Riding Academy'.

Sam asks, "Do you know why I named my horse riding equipment shop Xanthus?" He asserts "according to Greek mythology, Xanthus is the other of Zeus' horses (sic) that never stops running."

Jump-Off wishes to remind Sam that the Xanthus saddlery group was started in Singapore in 1987, while Xanthus Thailand was not started till over two years later. His Greek mythology is also a little muddled. Xanthos was not one of Zeus' horses, but one of two horses (with Balios) that pulled Achilles' chariot. Xanthos was also able to speak, and famously predicted Achilles' death.

So Sam, are you Zeus or Achilles? Or are you Sam?

To read previous editions of Jump-Off, click on the links below:
Jump-Off's New Years Resolutions - 29th December 2002
Jump-Off X - 12th December 2002
Jump-Off IX - 14th November 2002
Jump-Off VIII - 19th September 2002
Jump-Off VII - 6th September 2002
Jump-Off VI - 13th August 2002
Jump-Off V - 2nd August 2002
Jump-Off IV - 15th July 2002
Jump-Off III - 27th June 2002
Jump-Off II - 20th June 2002
Jump-Off I - 14th June 2002

Other fun:
Selling Terms

Thanks to all contributors to this edition of Jump-Off. You know who you are. If you have a story that you think should be in Jump-Off, please send an e-mail to jumpoff@equestrian.com.my