Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates.
SPONSORS
PARTNERS
ECM Blogs
Jump-Off 62
Wednesday, July 25th, 2007
Am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them? ~ Abraham Lincoln.
The Tao of Jump-Off
Yup, Tao made a comeback to showjumping in Malaysia. He hasn’t changed much in the two years since we last saw him. Tao, Jump-Off has missed you very much. Welcome back.
10th Year Reunion
The originators are being asked to get together to celebrate ten years of World Cups in South East Asia with a get-together at the Equestrian and Polo Gala Dinner on 1st September. The friendship between the SEA World Cup League Founders, once so admired by the FEI, is now tenuous, to say the least. Fortunately the ballroom at the KL Hilton is big enough hall to seat them in separate quarters.
Hong Kong, South East Asia
Now that it is hosting as many as four World Cup events, Hong Kong, S.A.R. China, is officially part of the South East Asian World Cup League.
One SEA Games, Two Quarantine Rules
Thailand has one veterinary authority, but it appears that they have two different sets of rules for the SEA Games this December. The Equestrian quarantine regulations are different and much tougher than the polo quarantine published in the technical handbooks. Indonesian and Malaysian Eventers are known to be heading to Australia to train on their own horses before going direct to Thailand for the games. Perchance the Thailand Equestrian Federation doesn’t want to make it easy for other country’s horses that are coming from outside of South East Asia?
Now surely our friend Sam wouldn’t do that, would he?
KK Krisis
With the price of chaff at an all-time high in Malaysia, it can’t be easy for DVS to find the budget to continue to feed other people’s horses, and is quite a precedent to set. It is rumoured that in order to save these endurance horses a very prominent Royal offered to buy them, only to be rebuffed with majestic prices.
Classic Invite
While the rest of the world is outraged at the KK Krisis, West Malaysia continues to invite the owners to endurance events on the mainland. Good Wills Hunting
The polo world is abuzz with the news that HRH Prince William has been invited to play in the Malaysian Open Polo Tournament this September. Will Wills Visit Malaysia? Or will Wills visit that blog first?
SEA Games Polo
Twelve of Malaysia’s top players have been selected for the SEA Games Polo Squad. It will be cut down to just six that will travel to Thailand to defend the Polo gold medal that Malaysia won the last time polo was played in the SEA Games. Malaysia’s reign as SEA Games Polo Champions has been 24 years long, as it was last played in 1983.
Polo Dinosaurs
Perhaps polo is the sport riders should turn to if they want longevity in their careers. Three players who played in the 1983 SEA Games Polo are again short listed for 2007: HRH Tengku Mahkota Pahang for Malaysia and for Singapore Asad Jumabhoy and that Blog-in-the-Garden.
Shandur Polo
Dinosaurs they may be, but they are no match for Shandur Polo, where polo is played each June following the centuries-old rules of Ali Sher Khan, a descendant of Genghis Khan. A game lasts for an hour, with a short break between two 30-minute chukkas. Each player is allowed only one horse for the duration of the match, and stoppages are allowed only for serious injuries to a horse or player. Should, for some reason, a horse or player ceases to play, his opposite number in the other team has to leave the field. If the ball goes out of play, it must be thrown back immediately by one of the spectators. Lastly, each team should consist of six players with, as already noted, one horse per man. There are no umpires. Broken arms and ribs do not stop the players. After an interval for bandaging and splints, they continue to play.
Stitched-Up
HRH Tengku Amir had over 50 stitches added to his good looks after he was cut above the eye while playing in the Royal Selangor International Polo Tournament. Fortunately they were micro-stitches and the young man’s good looks are unimpaired.
Ludger competes in TLOTB?
You’ll never guess which country used a photo of triple Olympic Champion Ludger Beerbaum to advertise their National Jumping Championships.
Jump-Off is willing to bet Ludger has never had to jump just 1.20 m in a National Championship before.
Jennie Rules
Congratulations to Jennie Loriston-Clarke, who was recently elected as chairperson of British Dressage. She was also honoured last year by Queen Elizabeth for her outstanding services to dressage.
Jennie was dressage coach for Malaysia at the 2001 KL SEA Games and 2002 Busan Asian Games.
i-2 Point
For those who have passed the i-Gallop basic riding package which was bareback i-galloping, now you can graduate to using stirrups.
Next up: the i-Spur, the i-Whip and the *must-have* i-Saddle Horn.
Hookahs Help
Proving that Hookahs provide a
necessary service, over RM60,000 was raised for the Riding for the
Disabled Association of Malaysia through the Hookahs Polo Tournament.
Transitions:
Appointed: Malaysia has snagged Chris Burton who heads the Australian Eventing Leaderboard to coach the Malaysian SEA Games Eventing Team.
Blogging Along: Equestrian.Com.My’s head honcho has launched his own Blog-in-the-garden. Pete’s official rant is open to comment by registered offenders only.
Get Well Soon to James Ravindra, who broke a collarbone and cracked a few ribs when his horse flipped with him while showjumping.
Get Well Soon to Roy Ibrahim who is suffering from a spinal injury caused maybe by too much dressage or other forms of riding.
R.I.P. Frederick Obel, the 1998 Asian Games Dressage and Eventing Judge and former member of the FEI Eventing Committee passed away passed away on 16 July 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
