The more you read and observe about this Politics thing you got to admit that each party is worse than the other. ~  Will Rogers
 

Zara's Starring Role

The Cat with No Hat

Thou shalt not judge me.  Till I wear a hat.  And only if I wish to come into your arena.  ‘Cos I have ridden in Europe.


Super Supremo

The Organising Organisators of National Horse Show not only had an Organising Committee which organised the show.   There was also a Supreme Committee, headed by a Super Supremo. 

Supreme Hospitality

The visiting judges at the FEI World Dressage Challenge held as part of the National Horse Show were unimpressed with the hospitality.  Their gripes included no hotel bookings, no or poor organisation of transport.   With the Organising Committee saying they were not responsiible for the problems, it appears it is the EAM, or moving on up, the Supreme Committee that should take the blame.

Annual Extension

Speaking of Supreme Councils, the EAM are running out of time.  Accounts for 2007 have yet to be circulated.  The Sports Commissioner gave EAM six months to hold their long overdue AGM.   Another extension will make their annual meeting to four years overdue.  Said one commentator, “The only thing that is annual about the EAM’s annual general meetings is the annual extensions.


Not 2 for 1

Course Designers attending the FEI Course Design seminar in Pattaya, Thailand were expecting Swiss legend Paul Weier.  Instead they got Werner Deeg who appeared and took over the course presentation.  Paul built the courses for the FEI World Challenge, Derby and L'Occitane CCI*s showjumping phase but otherwise had no input in the seminar.


RusSINdon

A Russian born naturalized Singaporean who previously represented Singapore at the SEA Games recently rode for Indonesia in the 2008 FEI World Jumping Challenge.  Does that make her Indonesian in the FEI’s eyes?  The answer to that is "Very probably yes."  Not that it matters, unless she intends to make a 2011 SEA Games comeback.  The SEA Games would be in her newly adopted country of Indonesia.


Classic Knockers

The face of British Equestrian made waves by presenting the Katie Price Classic Masterclass at the British Horse of the Year show.  The “masterclass” had its detractors, leading The Times to note “Price has her knockers.”  (Jump-Off thought she had them reduced to add thrust to her Olympic challenge).

And what did Ms Price have to say about the much maligned ‘masterclass’: “At Least I didn't fall off.”

Classic.


Tsunami Year

Zara Phillips horror year continues.  After missing the Olympics due to an injury to Toy Town and falling at Burghley, Zara fell at Pau, France with Tsunami II, breaking her collarbone.  That was not as bad as the horse with the ill-fated name.  Tsunami broke a bone in its neck and had to be put down.


Drunk in Charge of a Cart

A drunk horse in Romania has been arrested for being over the limit.  Police officers were alerted to the horse when the cart it was pulling looked out of control and hit a man sitting on a nearby bench.


Ulu Australia

The joys of a country race meeting in Australia: jockeys refusing to race until they've watched another race on TV, horses starting from the wrong barriers and a fashion model bitten by a venomous Tiger Snake.


Wedding Blues

A former bullrider was knocked unconscious by a horse while taking photos on his wedding day.  “Her back legs seemed to buckle and she came rolling down. I hit my head on the ground and was knocked out,” Mr Clark said.

Jump-Off surmises that bullriders are used to getting bucked off by bulls and therefore can’t handle falling off horses.


Drunk and Skinny Dipping

'Punch drunk' pony rescued from swimming pool.  A pony had to be rescued by firefighters after becoming 'punch drunk' from gorging on too many fermented windfall apples and falling into a swimming pool.

Tree Horse

Not only shouldn’t horses try jumping into the family pool, horses really shouldn't try climbing trees.  Especially if they are the horse eating kind.

Moses and Coco

If you happen upon a six foot tall camel who answers to the name Moses traveling with a tiny pony sidekick, Coco, a Texas zoo would like them back 

Featured Website:

Phuket Horse Rescue:  http://www.phukethorserescue.com/

Phuket Horse Rescue Seeks to Remedy Abuse and Neglect in Horses Used Commercially in Phuket Island, Thailand.



Transitions:

Congratulations to Jennifer Too and husband Chris Yeo, on the birth of their second son, Josh Yeo on the 28th of October 2008.

Congratulations to Sue Crawford who has taken up official pacemaking duties at RSPC.

Singapore has opened the Youth Olympic Games Learning Centre.  The Learning Centre has displays from the 26 sports that will be featured in the 2010 Youth Olympics.  Show Jumping is one of those sports and is featured at the Learning Centre.

Stuart Mitchell, formerly of the Hong Kong Jockey Club is chafing for a move to Malaysia.  Is he steam-cut for Kuala Lumpur or will he be heading rough-cut out?

South East Asian Championships planned.  The South East Asian Equestrian Federation is planning to hold a South East Asian Championships with four disciplines in 2009.  Those disciplines are Jumping, Dressage, Eventing and Endurance and the venue is at the Thai Polo & Equestrian Club in Pattaya, Thailand. 

To read previous editions of Jump-Off, please click on the links below:

Jump-Off 71 - 4 October 2008

Jump-Off 70 - 20 August 2008
Jump-Off 69 - 11 July 2008
Jump-Off 68 - 10 June 2008
Jump-Off 67 - 11 April 2008
Jump-Off 66 - 20 February 2008
Jump-Off 65 - 16 January 2008
Jump-Off 64 - 29 November 2007
Jump-Off 63 - 12 September 2007
Jump-Off 62 - 25 July 2007
Jump-Off 61 - 15 June 2007
Jump-Off 60 - 20 April 2007
Jump-Off 59 - 16 March 2007
Jump-Off 58 - 10 January 2007
Jump-Off 57 - 8 November 2006
Jump-Off 56 - 1 October 2006
Jump-Off 55 - 6 September 2006
Jump-Off 54 - 25 July 2006
Jump-Off 53 - 25 May 2006
Jump-Off 52 - 19 April 2006
Jump-Off 51 - 15 February 2005
Jump-Off 50 - 14 December 2005
Jump-Off 49 - 21 November 2005
Jump-Off 48 - 21 October 2005
Jump-Off 47 - 3 September 2005
Jump-Off 46 - 20 July 2005
Jump-Off 45 - 2 June 2005
Jump-Off 44 - 12 April 2005
Jump-Off 43 - 24 February 2005
Jump-Off 42 - 24 January 2005

Jump-Off 41 - 30 December 2004

Jump-Off 40 - 5 November 2004

Jump-Off 39: Not The Equestrian Awards - 20 October 2004

Other fun:

• Dato'  JJ Elected President For Life
• i-Ride sponsors Asian Equestrian Association
• Instructor Licenses Available On-Line
• Malaysia to reintroduce Grading System
  
• PENIS Formed
• Malaysia to host 2008 Olympic Equestrian Games
• 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