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Jump-Off 60
Friday, April 20th, 2007
Think of riding as a
science, but love it as an art. ~ George
Morris
Only Fools and Horses
This year Equestrian.Com.My produced not one but two articles on April Fool's Day: Malaysia to reintroduce Grading System satired Malaysia's lack of a functioning grading system. Instructors Licenses available on-line purported to direct-sell Riding Instructors Teaching Licenses on-line, with no practical or theoretical assessment.
Amazingly Asian big-wigs apparently discussed our On-Line Instructors Licenses article when they met for the Asian Equestrian Federation meeting at the FEI General Assembly in Estoril, Portugal.
Unsure that it was an April Fool’s joke despite the headlines to that effect on our home page that ran from 3rd to 18th April, and the final page of the article, some still had to check with Equestrian.Com.My when they got back from Estoril if it was some sort of a joke.
Sshhhh! Don’t say a word till they’ve bought our franchise to multi-level market instructor’s licenses. Please don’t let them miss this once in a lifetime opportunity to fund Jump-Off’s Hawaiian holiday.
Thai Counter Pirouette
A famous Thai Jump-Off personality was talking about the summer program for the SEA Games Dressage horses. When asked if Thailand might send riders to take part in the competition season in Malaysia, he admitted his secret ‘fear’: He doesn’t want to show the Thailand Dressage Team horses in Malaysia because he “worries that the other countries would be shocked by the very high standard of Thailand’s horses and may fly to Europe to buy themselves even better horses.”
It begs the question why Thailand didn’t take their wonder horses to the Asian Games in December. Malaysia, which did send dressage riders to the Asian Games, won silver and bronze medals in team and individual dressage.
Malaysian Dressage Queens, you have been warned!
Equestrian Raiders
A National Federation has a spanking new website which has a ticker that ticks “View Raiders Picture on Photo Page”. What type of Raiders would they be? Multi-Level Instructor Certification Raiders? Corporate Raiders? Real Estate Raiders? Political Raiders? Or are the Oakland Raiders visiting Malaysia?
No National Horse Show in 2007?
Jump-Off 59 made reference to a possible Royal National Horse Show in Terengganu. While a National Horse Show at Royal Terengganu is still on the cards, it may happen only in 2008 and not this year.
The Turf Clubs, so quick to pass the ball but not the bucks, are reluctant to take the National Horse Show as it comes bouncing back. Perchance they have already spent this year’s NHS allocation on their so-called “equestrian” activities?
Disjointed
Both the Equestrian Association of Malaysia (EAM) and Malaysian Equine Council (MEM) were positioning themselves to take over the stables at Uniten (University Tenaga). Both were said to want it to run it as a National Equestrian Training Centre. Both are chaired by the same man, who, coincidentally, once chaired Tenaga Nasional. Obvious synergy? No, neither the EAM nor the MEM wished to try to work with each other.
Malaysia Boleh.
A Room With A View
An application form at a newly opened equestrian centre asks how much your horse cost. Is this *horror of horrors* the very first sign of elitism in equestrian sports in Malaysia?
Jump-Off wonders if the expensive horses will have stables with better views? Cheap horses beware! You’ll be facing the dung heap!
Rowels’ Spurs for Jumping: riders using rowels’ spurs in the Jumping test should not be automatically eliminated, it will be up to the discretion of the Ground Jury to decide on sanction.
Indonesia will be pleased to see that while there is some sense now, it is four months too late to help them keep the Asian Games team bronze medal they were stripped of.
One Country, One Games
Guangzhou has made an about turn, and is likely to host equestrian sports as part of its 2010 Asiad. Sources close to the Chinese Federation say that equestrian sports will be held in Guangzhou at the Guangzhou Asiad, or not at all – there is no chance it will be farmed out to Hong Kong like the Beijing Olympic’s equestrian sports.
Pushing SEA Bounds
Rumours abound that the South East Asian World Cup League may try to impose suzerainty over Hong Kong with the inclusion of four league events there this year. The SEA World Cup League website, strangely silent since prior to the last league event of 2006, is still strangely silent.
Village People
Man positions himself at finishing post of racetrack. Newspaper publishes photos of the finish of each race, realizing afterwards that the man spelled out a message with his body positions over four races. His message? Y-M-C-A
What a load of Piaffe
Jump-Off is amazed at the gall of the emerging cadre of nouveau cavalier who blithely proclaim themselves “Breeding & Equestrian Experts” on their business cards when they are still learning the intricacies of rising trot. Imagine their claims if they ever mastered canter.
Alabama Moonshine Ride
Riding your horse at midnight while drunk in Alabama. What could possibly go wrong? A woman who went for a horseback ride through town at midnight and allegedly tried to use the horse to ram a police car was charged with driving under the influence and drug offenses.
Got His Number
Using a horse to allegedly ram a car just isn’t a very credible story as all horsemen know horses will try their best to avoid vehicles, especially moving ones. They have been known, however, to aim the odd kick at an objectionable car. It reminds Jump-Off of the time some years ago when a day-tripper decided to cruise through a very busy stable yard despite the numerous no entry signs. When a well placed kick took out a headlight, the offended driver furiously barged into the club to make a report. When asked which horse had kicked his car, the Non Équestre admitted he had no idea. At which point the committee member he was talking to threw his hands in the air and uttered the classic line, “You mean you didn’t get his number plate?”
Stoned for the Stones
“Preparations to sedate as many as 300 horses stabled at Belgrade's racecourse to keep them calm during a Rolling Stones concert have enraged Serb animal lovers… The dozen equestrian clubs at the course were hoping concert organizers would allow a sufficient number of personnel to be at the stables during the concert to give the animals the pills.”
Pills?
Websites of the Month:
Equestrian Promotions are taking things to a new level and have launched the hottest new equestrian website at www.equestrianpromotions.com. In the Events section, riders, coaches and club administrators will find all the relevant information for all the shows that Equestrian Promotions is running this year. This includes general and detailed show schedules, entry and waiver forms, passport and veterinary regulatory information and even prize schedules for every class of every show. The News section will bring you updates about what you can expect at each show, and other Equestrian Promotions information. There is a full selection of their services plus links to the new 3Q Equestrian Website. Check it out!
Transitions:
Appointed:Jeremy Edwards has been appointed Site Manager of the 2008 Olympic's equestrian events to be held in Hong Kong.
Au revoir: Beatrice Marie Fletcher, who is returning to Paris, France after a decade in Malaysia.
Coming soon: Vicky Ross, a qualified saddler from UK will visit Malaysia from 6th to 20th May 2007.
New Mentor: Sandra Baljeu is now mentoring the Bukit Jalil’s Sports School trainees. She takes over from Husref Jeremiah.
World Veterinary Day 2007 is April 28th, 2007.
To read previous editions of Jump-Off, please click on the links below: Jump-Off XXXXXIX - 16 March 2007 Jump-Off XXXXXVIII - 10 January 2007
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
Equestrian Raiders