A spokesman for HOSERS (Horseshow Organisers of SEA, Europe, Russia and Singapore) today announced that following the regional success of the South East Asian Open World (SEAOW) Showjumping Championships, there will be a dressage version of this event. 

 

The South East Asian Open World Dressage Championships will be run in 4 countries, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore in July 2004.  The judges will be flown from country to country, as with the FEI World Challenge.  In fact the concept is exactly the same as the FEI World Challenge. 

 

However, stung that critics have branded them unimaginative for the mimicry of the World Challenge in the SEAOW Jumping event, the HOSERS have made cosmetic innovations to this dressage version.  Tests, grades, arena sizes and even dress code will be different. 

 

In a bid to raise the prestige of the sport, all riders will be allowed to compete in top hats and tails, no matter what their level of entry.  Those who do not own a top hat and tails will also have the choice to compete in their country’s national dress.  For Malaysia this would be the Baju Melayu top and songkok or Baju Kurung top and selendang for ladies.  Batik shirts and songkok would be acceptable in Indonesia.  In Thailand, their traditional Moh Hom for men, or Jakapatdi for ladies.  In TLOTB, Singaporean riders will be allowed to wear a traditional all white PAP party dress code or top hat and tails.

 

Like its showjumping counterpart the SEAOW Showjumping Championships which recently was run in indoor-sized arenas outdoors, the SEAOW Dressage Championships will also be run in ultra small arenas.   “Everyone knows my family’s passion for football and naturally I own futsal courts.  So in Malaysia we will run this event indoors, on my futsal arenas.” said Quzierdinho Ambak of Real Setapak. 

 

All countries have to follow the size of the smallest common denominator.  New tests have already been created for these ultra-small arenas.  These tests were created by celebrity sports test designer Nur Himpalsion of the SEA Institute of Landsports (SIAL).

 

Intended to develop dressage in the region, the HOSERS said it will garner more interest than showjumping from the forever developing countries in this region that are unable to get past 115 cm in jumping.   TLOTB is expected to at least double their SEAOW entries to 4 in each of the various levels.

 

To attract more showjumping riders to participate in dressage, there will be some special SEAOW rules.  Speaking as one of the HOSERS, Quzierdinho said, “Everyone knows how much I love dressage, but my jumping horses can only do flat work with draw reins.  So for this competition, we HOSERS have decided to allow jumping horses to do their dressage in draw reins, and in any kind of special bit they want.  So long as they don’t enter the arena on long reins, you know, the type you trip over behind your horse.  Ha ha ha.”

 

“Like in showjumping, the horses will also be allowed to wear breastplates and bandages, and trainers will be able to rap them in the warm-up arena.  Err, I mean the trainers can unwrap the bandages in the warm-up arena.  Ha ha.”

 

Equestrian Commission of Jakarta chairman Rafique Radical said, “In Indonesia we always practise this form of dressage in training.  So it is much more like reality if we compete in all types of reins like draw rein, side rein and even heavy rain.”

 

There will be three levels of dressage in this SEAOW event.  The lowest level (preliminary-novice) will be a freestyle test.  To malaysianise it, it will be called the “Goreng”  level.  The mid-level (novice-elementary) will be the bread and butter of the competition, where we get the most entries.  In our case it will be the “Nasi” level.  The top level (Medium) will therefore be known as “Nasi Goreng Istimewa.”

 

The Ground Jury will consist only of FEI Candidate or FEI International Judges.  To give South East Asian nationals more exposure to judging internationally, each country will contribute one judge.  While the identity of the judges is not yet confirmed, Equestrian.Com.My believes they are En. Abdul Mattar Buta from the Majlis Sukan Negara Ku and Khun Sumtime Agreatnotion of Thailand.  Another is reputed to be the son of veteran Indonesian judge Bapak Faki, known to us only as Little Faki.  Singapore’s judge is likely to be Jane Doe, BHSAI, of Northumberland, UK.

 

An elaborate opening ceremony is to be held on the final day after the competition.  It is believed that Christine Fish will reprise her Mask of Zorro performance that was first staged at the recent SEAOW Showjumping Championships in Singapore. 

 

At a press conference held at a top F&B location, spokesman for the Equestrian Federation of Malaysia, Major D Zaster told Equestrian.Com.My, “We hope that this championship will be warmly received by the many participant. Maybe these, apa nama, HOSERS will set a precedent for the rest of the world to follow. In Malaysia most things Boleh, especially under the last gahmen. Eh, excuse me ah .. Mamak! teh tarik satu!”