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Jump-Off XXXXXV
Wednesday, September 6th, 2006
The art of horsemanship is keeping the horse between you and the ground. ~ Anon
Mystical Canter Journey
The admission that canter lead departures continue to baffle a certain endurance rider was shocking to most, who learn this in about their first year of riding. The national rider who has represented Malaysia since 2002 and is Doha selected, has bought a warmblood horse just to learn this on.
No wonder they refer to Endurance as a ‘technical’ sport.
Scorers score, Judges judge
The judges judging the Accumulator at the STC Equestrian Championships insisted on counting backwards from maximum points and deducting the fences that had been knocked down. They succeeded in thoroughly confusing themselves. Thankfully, the scorer, Robyn McIntyre, was scoring properly and cleaned up their mess.
Jump-Off has always known that addition and subtraction are beyond some judges.
When older is still not old enough
Hong Kong’s Gaelle Tong has been deemed too young to jump in this year’s South East Asian World Cup League. This comes after she was given permission last year by the FEI, who are apparently unwilling to give permission for this season, despite the fact that the girl is now a year older and more experienced with the same horse than this time last year.
Konfusion
Korean Kim got rather confused when he saw Foreign Judge Titien Irvianty holding hands with her husband Roy Ibrahim at the STC Equestrian Championships. He mistook her for Natasha Mustapha, who is married to Peter Abisheganaden. Titien didn’t bother to correct him when he wondered how she could be holding hands with Roy if she was married to Peter Abisheganaden. The Terrible Twins enjoyed their laugh.
Jump-Off can only imagine the gossip that spread in Korea.
Key Happy
STC Cross-Country course designer Lorna Fisher had a decidedly sporty look for one of her jump-building work days with her short shorts complete with many designer rips and tears. Perhaps one too many rips as her car keys happily nestled in a rip, not a pocket, and was not found. Technical Delegate Dittagorn Pantapa unsportingly declined to make a body search.
RDA Polo Players
Overheard at the RDA Polo Tournament, “Wow, these disabled riders sure can play polo.”
Which says much for the standard of play.
No Platinum Visa
Did you hear the one about the Indian businessman / polo player who took a Singapore passport of convenience because “it is easier to travel with”? Needing to go home to India for a business trip, he hopped on a plane with his new passport. Unfortunately he didn’t realize he needed an Indian visa with a Singaporean passport and was not allowed in!
Bows for the King
Aaron Vowles and Simon McDonald of New Zealand were the umpires at the RSPC International Polo Tournament. They were told that since the King of Malaysia was coming (he was not), they would be required to umpire all twelve of their final day chukkers in jackets and bow-ties.
Most sportingly, they donned their blazers and bow-ties. Here they are, for the record, with RMPA President HRH Tengku Mahkota Pahang.
Doha Eventing Retail Therapy
Eventing riders that don’t do so well at the Doha Asian Games will be able to raise their spirits with some retail therapy. The cross-country course is being built on a piece of land between Carrefour and Hyatt Shopping Centres.
Podge and Podgy
Proving that owners really do start looking like their pets after some time, Husref Jeremiah has become Podgy to Podge. Malaysia’s best eventer recently returned to home-cooked food. While his horse Dashper, whose stable name is “Podge”, was in quarantine, Husref took on decidedly Podgy looks. Weight, he says will just melt away before the Doha Asian Games.
Horse Transport 1
In these days of high oil prices, perhaps we should follow this teacher’s lead of riding to work. After all, it was not that many years ago that a crazy polo player rode his horse to a bank on Jalan Ampang.
Horse Transport 2
Then again, maybe not.
A farmer in Knebworth, England who downed 20 pints of Guinness and five alcopops in one boozy afternoon pleaded guilty to being drunk in charge of a horse and cart. Adrian Whitaker (No relation to John, Michael, Stephen or Ellen) was reported to police after holding up a stream of traffic on a narrow country lane. When he was finally pulled over, he fell off the cart and landed at the feet of a police officer.
Jockey does a Zidane
A horse called Materazzi is said to have made some choice comments about his jockey's sister.
It’s a dog’s life
Some dogs are getting riding lessons, making canter strike offs seem easy.
Congratulations to Dr Melanie Chew who has been elected President of the Equestrian Federation of Singapore.
Confirmed: Mohd Siraj was confirmed as Club Manager of the Royal Selangor Polo Club. Revamping: RSPC is resuscitating its Riding School and is looking for an Equestrian Centre Manager, and 5 new Riding School horses.
To read previous editions of Jump-Off, please click on the links below:
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
Korean Kim got rather confused when he saw Foreign Judge Titien Irvianty holding hands with her husband Roy Ibrahim at the STC Equestrian Championships. He mistook her for Natasha Mustapha, who is married to Peter Abisheganaden. Titien didn’t bother to correct him when he wondered how she could be holding hands with Roy if she was married to Peter Abisheganaden. The Terrible Twins enjoyed their laugh. 
Aaron Vowles and Simon McDonald of New Zealand were the umpires at the RSPC International Polo Tournament. They were told that since the King of Malaysia was coming (he was not), they would be required to umpire all twelve of their final day chukkers in jackets and bow-ties.