Horse sense is the thing a horse has which keeps it from betting on people. - W.C. Fields.
Playing Dead
Jump-Off favourite Sunetr Burakasikorn of Thailand was a first class faller at the KL Grand Prix. He took off before his horse Salido did at the 4th fence. Salido caught up with him on his way down, resulting in Khun Sunetr being ejected and giving him the honour of being the first to hit the famed Wow Ground of the KL Grand Prix arena this year. Khun Sunetr lay there, prone, till Jean-Marc Nicholas and Helena Gabrielsson ran to him. Upon which he sprang to his feet, laughing.
All of this would have been quite funny, if you hadn’t seen him do it, alas, all too often before. Apparently they don’t have the parable of “the boy who cried wolf” in Thailand.
KL - Bargain City
Grooms from the KL Grand Prix were very happy shopping and bargaining at the Petaling street night market. They bought lots of ‘branded’ Christmas gifts, bargaining all the way. So excited were they that when they stopped to have a drink, they even bargained for a bottle of mineral water! The made an offer of half the advertised price, and got it for RM 1.50 for the RM 2.00 bottle!
The Legend
15 minutes before the start of a speed class at the KL Grand Prix and no John Whitaker in sight. The groom gets worried and decides to start warming Lactic up herself. She is trotting and cantering the horse while the Liaison Officers are frantically trying to find John. He saunters in with less than 5 minutes before the class starts, peers briefly at the course, and goes to the warm up arena. Tells the groom, 'that's enough warm up for the horse!' Gets on, goes straight into the arena and jumps a clean round.
Kids, don't try this at home...
What the Flupe is going on?
It has emerged that Olympic Gold Medalist Cian O’Connor’s horse Waterford Crystal and his speed horse Landliebe both
tested positive to Fluphenazine. It’s a little known drug that is use to treat schizophrenia and psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, and hostility in humans. It acts as a sedative in horses, making them more manageable and rideable.
Works best of course with a bit of group therapy at Tanjong Rambutan.
Aussie Home-Grown
Does anyone else find it ironic that Tim Amitrano’s Olympic horse that failed a dope test at CSIO Rotterdam is called “Mr. Innocent.”
Size Matters
Jump-Off has heard the heartwarming story of how a certain club went to great lengths (and great cost, no doubt) to order 3 new dressage arenas all the way from America to go into their brand new competition ring for their first ever "international" show. Did the American dressage arenas arrive in time? Nope, which meant they had to borrow dressage arenas from a friendly club so that the show could go on. Could three fit into their spanking new arena? Nope, no matter how they tried, they could only get two in.
Not the KL Grand Prix
Of all the shows that Malaysian Sports Minister Datuk Azalina Said might have attended for her introduction to equestrian sports, did it have to be a dressage show during Ramadan? All she managed to see were the 2 entries in the Prix St George, and the Pony class at the FEI World Dressage Challenge.
(Almost) Lady Godiva
A Billings, Montana woman got the attention of city police with a demonstration of "bareback" riding. Dawnalee Ellis, 34, was arrested after officers received complaints of a partially clothed woman on horseback. The woman was wearing a tight fitting, one-piece skirt that had hiked up to her waist "so she was exposing herself to anyone who wanted to look."
As she was riding, Ellis was drinking from a 12-ounce can of malt liquor. “It appears she was intoxicated” said the police. She was arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor disorderly conduct and was booked into the county jail. The horse was said to be calm throughout the incident.
Polo Float
Dutch police fined the driver of small hatchback car after spotting a Shetland pony crammed in the back, police said on Thursday. "The small Shetland pony had no room to move and his head was pressed against the window," police said. A woman on the back seat held the animal by a rope. Police fined the 42-year-old German driver of the Volkswagen Polo 220 euros (RM. 968) for improper transport of the animal, just bought on a local Dutch market.
Jump-Off would like to know since it was in a VW Polo does that makes it a Polo Pony?
Transitions
Selamat Pulang to Malaysia’s Ong Wan Ming, the first Malaysian to complete driving examinations in the UK.
Auf Wiedersehen to STCEC’s Alex Maurer who has left for Europe to pursue a showjumping career. He will be based in Germany with Philip Lowen.
Obtenez Bien Bientôt to Sabine Duale, Royal Selangor Polo Club’s equestrian coach, recovering from Dengue Fever.
Other fun:
South East Asian Open World Dressage Championship 2004
Rodrigo to ride for Malaysia
Jump-Off's New Years Resolutions - 29th December 2002
Selling Terms
Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this and previous Jump-Offs. If you have an interesting story that you think should be in Jump-Off, please e-mail pete@equestrian.com.my
