It is not best that we should all think alike; it is a difference of opinion that makes horse races - Mark Twain
Royal Wedding II
Congrats to Chuck and Cammy for finally deciding to get hitched. Special commemorative T-Shirts have appeared with these images to celebrate the occassion. As horse-lovers, Jump-Off is always happy to support.
Out-Foxed
Fox Hunting has now been banned in Great Britain. Foxes everywhere are said to be greatly relieved and are now getting on with their plans to take over Greater London.
No-Riding Club
Which riding club in Kuala Lumpur does not allow its members to exercise their horses on Mondays and public holidays? The edict was issued just before the Chinese New Year and Awal Muharram holidays which ran from Wednesday 9th to Friday 11th February. It meant that owners could actually exercise their horses only once, on the Tuesday, before the weekend. After a bit of a kerfuffle, owners were allowed to visit their horses during the holidays but weren’t allowed to take them out of their stables!
Stable Manager Suspended
Hot on the heels of the No-Riding Club comes the news that the club has now suspended its Chief Riding Instructor and Stable Manager without pay for giving permission to horse-owners to enter the stables to visit their horses on Mondays and Public Holidays. Owners first have to apply for permission to visit their horses before they can do so.
In light of the maximum security arrangements, Jump-Off wonders if they might consider renaming the club Guantanamo Bay.
Jump To It
Equestrian.Com.My is thankful that SporthorseCM.com has apologised for “lifting” an article from Equestrian.Com.My without permission or prior credit.
All it took was the spectre of a Jump-Off edition on this subject to hasten the apology. They were just in time - Jump-Off was due out when we saw their apology.
And the winner is…
First to the 160 km finish line at the World Endurance Championship 2004 on 27th January 2005 was Sheikh Hazza bin Sultan al Nahyan (UAE) riding Hachim. They were declared the winners. Then the Organising Committee decided the strip them of the gold medal because Hachim tested positive for a banned substance. They presented the gold medal to French rider Barbara Lissarague. The FEI stepped in to reinstate them because the OC had no right to strip them – only the FEI’s Judicial Committee has that right in the case of a positive dope test. So Sheikh Hazza and Hachim remain the winners, only till they get stripped by the FEI. Then they have the right of appeal. We might get a winner by 2006.
Veteran Fighter
On the eve of the World Endurance Championship, which Malaysian endurance veteran was busy challenging his team-mates to physical fights for “challenging his authority”? Just one clue – this isn’t a tall tale.
USA Racehorses to Party-On
The Chicago Sun-Times reports that racehorses in America are allowed to test positive for a little cocaine. “Experts said [cocaine] could be found on the clothing of those who care for and train the horses or on most U.S. currency” and should result in a fine, not disqualification.
When told of this, a Jump-Off staffer asked, “Don’t all American horses snort?”
Polo Power
Thailand’s Nathanart ‘Ploy’ Bhinsaeng shows her seamless transition to polo. She played in a Ladies Match at the King's Cup in Thailand that was held at the Siam Polo Club last month.
Here she is with the world’s best polo player, Adolfo Cambiaso Jr, at the King’s Cup Polo.
Ploy is also hoping to qualify for Manila SEA Games in showjumping. You go girl!
Transitions:
Condolences to Paul von Lissberg on the demise of his beloved wife, Brede, on 2 February 2005. Brede was a stalwart of the Singapore Polo Club, very involved in teaching beginners in their Pony Club. In her younger years she enjoyed an active amateur racing career and competed in dressage, jumping and eventing.
Vale:
We also say our farewells to Castor, Eva Frantzich’s Swedish warmblood dressage horse, who was put down on 9 February after 30 hours of severe colic.
We will also miss the mercurial Ginna Reale, unofficial SEA record holder for most broken poles.
Resigned: Osman has finally left the Royal Selangor Polo Club after many years service.
A belated Selamat Datang to Bev Whittel who has taken over as Manager at Bukit Kiara’s Equestrian section.
Bon Voyage to Dennis Kennedy, Selangor Turf Club’s resident farrier and carriage driver, who is returning to Australia after many years in Malaysia.
Rumoured: Dato’ Fathil is expected to take over as Chairman of the equestrian section of Bukit Kiara Resort Bhd.
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