It's curtains for public riding school
Singapore's only centre open to public has been losing money since it was set up three years ago
By Jane Lee
SINGAPORE'S only public riding school is closing its stable doors today.
After losing money since it opened three years ago, the Sentosa Riding Centre has been axed as part of Sentosa's 10-year masterplan to redevelop the island into a major attraction which hopes to draw eight million visitors a year by 2012.
Explaining the decision, Mr Darrell Metzger, chief executive of Sentosa Development Corporation, said: 'Making money wasn't the issue but we couldn't even cover operating costs.'
He declined to reveal the costs, except that 'several million dollars was pumped into the facility when it was set up'.
He maintained that the closure was a 'very painful last resort' as no company or individual wanted to take over the running of the centre.
LOOKING FOR INVESTORS
DR MELVIN Goh can easily afford a riding club membership but he is sticking his neck out to set up another public riding school in Singapore.
The 42-year-old general practitioner, whose family took lessons at the Sentosa Riding Centre right up till its sudden closure, is looking for 20 people to invest in a new school.
He said they must be willing to fork out $50,000 each and "not expect to get the money back because it's difficult to make money from a public riding school". He has raised $350,000 so far, but needs about $1 million.
He plans to appeal to the Government to lease a 01.5 ha piece of land for the school.
Dr Goh, who owns two horses, has an altruistic reason for spearheading it. He wants to turn the "sport of kings" into something the masses can enjoy.
Said the father of three: "My 15-year-old daughter progressed from a non-rider to a champion rider in 2 1/2 years.
"If my children can progress so fast, I'm sure there must be a lot of children out there with hidden talent that has not been discovered."
The six horses and five ponies at the centre are now for sale.
At just 8,600 sq m, the centre is the smallest of the three places that offer riding lessons here.
However, it has taken top spots in both local and international equestrian competitions.
And one of its two instructors, Ms Inge Thorsen, is the national equestrian coach.
Being a public school, the centre does not charge membership fees. Students pay only for the lessons, which range from $35 to $90.
Many of the riders were devastated by news of the closure, saying that they will have to give up riding as they cannot afford to join either Bukit Timah Saddle Club or the Singapore Polo Club.
Membership fees at these two clubs range from $1,200 a year to a one-off fee of $8,500. On top of that, they must pay for riding lessons as well as monthly subscription fees of $80 to $95.
Singaporeans make up more than half of the 220 riders enrolled at the Sentosa centre. Most of the riders are children or youths.
This week, many of them brought cameras down to the island to take pictures with the horses while some bade a teary farewell to their favourite ponies.
Serena Chan, 16, said she spent a longer time than usual at the school on Thursday because she knew it would be her last ride.
'There's no way my parents - dad is a regional director while mum is an assistant nurse - can afford to pay for a club membership,' she said.
The Fairfield Methodist Secondary student chose her favourite horse, seven-year-old Crocodile Rock, for her 50-minute lesson. Afterwards, she rewarded the stallion with an apple and gave him a tight hug.
'Croc used to be his own man; he didn't like anyone to touch him. But he's come to tolerate me. I'll really miss him,' she said.
Serena was earmarked to be part of the national team for the 2007 South-east Asian Games.
Asked if she would hold on to that aspiration, she said, with a lump in her throat: 'Some dreams just don't come true.'
