What-The-Fish!

Almost as famous for their horse shows as their fishing competitions, 3Q Equestrian recently surpassed itself. There were fish everywhere, even on the floor of temporary stables and tack rooms after it flooded out just before the Merdeka Masters.

Grooms, riders, trainers and anyone spare had to rush down to the temporary stables to calm the horses and move those that they could when a flash flood flashed so fast that the stables and World Cup horseflesh were nearly swept into Sungei Serai.

Thigh deep in water, they had to dig though the sawdust that built at the side of stables, locking-in flood-water in the stables rather than allowing it to flow through, and threatening to collapse the whole stabling structure on top of them and the horses. No horses were lost, though many a tack box and equipment was swept away. Even a few showjumping poles set sail.

Bend It Like Quzier

Quzier Ambak is quoted in the Malay Mail as saying, “Getting myself involved in the indoor version seems natural to me because football has always been a passion for the whole family.”

Shafted

Having recently left STC Equestrian Centre for greener pastures, Shaffik Mustapha must be green to the gills now that Shannon, which he took with him from STCEC to Bukit Kiara, has been taken away from him for Yasmin Fabiny to ride and compete.

Perhaps it had something to do with that brilliant line he took at the Malaysian Open, from 1 to 5b-5a (in that order.)

Premier Complaint

Perhaps intending to get an International Judge into trouble, Jump-Off understands that a certain official within the EAM intends to complain to the FEI that the CSI-W Premier Cup show had a rule to allow non-World Cup classes to be run under the old 3-refusals rule. Jump-Off thinks if the show were sanctioned by the EAM, as it would have had to be as a CSI-W show, it would be the EAM’s mistake to allow this rule, and not the judges (all of them) who merely follow what is in the approved show schedule. And it’s not the first time either - the Premier Cup has been running the 3-refusal rule for the last two years at least, with no previous objection from the EAM.

Jump-Off feels the complaint is not so much about the 3-refusal rule but about a certain International Judge, which the EAM has unofficially “banned” but has not had the gumption to tell him nor any show organisers officially. Then they get upset when he is invited to, and does judge in Malaysia.

He Who Should Be Banned?

From what we hear it started with an incident at the Busan Asian Games when a Malaysian official started swearing at the Chief Steward N Y Ho in a Chinese dialect over problems Malaysia was facing as they had declared Humphrey as a “dressage” horse. Yes, that’s right. Qabil’s jumper was declared for the Asian Games as a dressage horse!

Apparently it was also Ho’s fault that Qabil’s dressage horse Catherston Decipher was vetted out of the dressage competition. It must be the first time a chief steward is blamed for a vetting decision. From those I have spoken to who were at the games, it was clear that the horse was not sound, and Malaysia’s protests were procedural in nature.

So to recap this story, Malaysia’s officials declare their jumper as a dressage horse, shout expletives at the Chief Steward, complain about him when their horse is not sound, then ban him from judging in Malaysia but don't tell anyone officially!

Judging Judges

The STC Equestrian Centre listed Jocelyn Park as part of their Ground Jury for the 2003 STC Equestrian Championships. The EAM wrote back to ask for her experience. As it is only a national level show and not a CSI type show, Jump-Off doesn’t understand why she needs any judging experience at all. In any case, she would be working with a qualified judge - Thailand’s Dittagorn Pantapa is the President of the Ground Jury and is an FEI International Candidate Judge.

Joc is one of Australia’s most accomplished lady riders, a National Eventing Champion, Grand Prix dressage rider and A-Grade showjumper. She is coming to Malaysia to conduct an eventing seminar on behalf of the Malaysian Equine Council. Jump-Off suggests the EAM compare her equestrian experience and suitability to judge against those they wish to replace her with.

Equestrian Tai-Chee

The Equestrian Federation of Singapore has employed not one but two full-time executives to administer their burgeoning equestrian programme. They may not know much about horses, but one of these executives was formerly from the Wushu federation. Presumably he was employed for his skills in deflecting criticism of the federation.

For once Jump-Off thinks that this is one move the EAM could learn from their counterparts in Singapore. They sure could do with some deflection of recent criticisms.

To read previous editions of Jump-Off, click on the links below:
Jump-Off XIX - 12 August 2003
Jump-Off XVIII: Not-The-Equestrian Awards - 17 July 2003
Jump-Off XVII - 14 June 2003
Jump-Off XVI - 24th May 2003
Jump-Off XV - 25th April 2003
Jump-Off XIV - 31st March 2003
Jump-Off XIII - 6th March 2003
Jump-Off XII - 12th February 2003
Jump-Off XI - 16th January 2003
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:
Rodrigo to ride for Malaysia
Jump-Off's New Years Resolutions - 29th December 2002
Selling Terms

Thanks to all contributors to this edition of Jump-Off. You know who you are, and we know who you are. No one else does or ever will, unless you’d like them to. If you have a story that you think should be in Jump-Off, please send an e-mail to jumpoff@equestrian.com.my