Let us revere, let us worship, but erect and open-eyed, the highest, not the lowest; the future, not the past! ~ Charlotte Perkins Gilman
Olympic Tutu
There were plenty of Olympic dopes, but did this one jump a clear round?
Behold the Shiny New SEA-EF
A South East Asian Equestrian Federation has been formed to promote equestrian sports in the region. Headed by Thailand Equestrian Federation Vice President and Thai Polo & Equestrian Club owner Harald Link, it will focus on South East Asian cooperation. It will also work towards organizing a South East Asian Championship series in all FEI disciplines yearly.
Thank goodness for South East Asian cooperation!
Of Courses
Thailand and Indonesia have both decided they wanted to run promotional FEI seminars for showjumping course designers. Thailand has course designing legend Paul Weier confirmed, while Indonesia want Werner Deeg. It would be great to have South East Asian Course Designers attend both. That would be impossible though because both countries have chosen the same dates for their respective seminars.
Err, new agenda for new SEA EF – work on South East Asian cooperation.
SEA Facelift
Why stop there?
The South East Asian World Cup Jumping League’s website still list 2007 dates in its calendar and has no news or results whatsoever from 2008.
If they ever get around to revamping that website, the committee page especially needs an upload of new faces.
Thai Style
Thailand has proven that they are South East Asian Fashionistas. There was one showjumper who walked the course with two stilleto-ed models in yellow hotpants or miniskirts. These models are employed to rush into the arena with umbrellas to shade their boss when he falls off!
The horses are dressed to match from head to toe. This horse had a matching blue saddle pad and jumping boots, but it is the floppy ear bonnet that wins them the Fashionista prize of Jump-Off 71.
Busy ‘B’s
Malaysia is hosting a host of high profile events in the next few months: the FEI World Jumping Challenge, FEI World Dressage Challenge, FEI World Endurance Championships and the FEI Regional Dressage Forum. With that much going on you would be forgiven for thinking the EAM finally justify all their staff.
True, if only the EAM were organizing these events. The FEI World Jumping and Dressage Challenges are being held as part of the National Horse Show in nearby Kuala Terengganu, the FEI World Endurance Championships are being run by a group of Royal Loyalists also at lovely KT, and the FEI Regional Dressage Forum is organized by Asiapromote Ventures in Kuala Lumpur.
So what is the EAM staff doing? Jump-Off isn’t sure. What we do know is that whatever it is they are doing, they are not doing it on their website, which is bereft of information about these events.
The Sports Commissioner has given the EAM six months to hold their recently postponed AGM. While the incumbents are seeking re-election, they obviously feel their website image doesn’t need a polish.
Terengganu Month
Malaysian equestrian focus will shift to Kuala Terengganu in November as first Malaysia focus on the National Horse Show, which includes the FEI World Dressage and Jumping Challenges. All will be held at the Terengganu Equestrian Resort. This is followed the next week by the World Endurance Championships at the Terengganu International Endurance Park. The Monsoon Cup (sailing) will be held just off Kuala Terengganu at the end of the month.
Anyone for a month of Nasi Dagang?
Revolt of the Dressage Queens
Not everyone is so keen on Nasi Dagang. Jump-Off is told that KL-based Dressage Queens are not best pleased. Their argument is that combining the World Dressage Challenge with the National Horse Show actually reduces the number of dressage events they will have this year, and despite the free floating offered, most are not particularly enthralled about going all the way to KT for the WDC.
Paralympic Free-Style
Some volunteers from TLOTB insisted they should be the national coach for a certain Paralympian, despite neither ever having met the Paralympian in question nor knowing her horse. Having lived in the United Kingdom since the age of three, the Paralympian won 2 bronzes, even without their expertise.
Olympic Dopers
Four years after Cian O’Connor was stripped of the Olympic Gold Medal because it turned out his horse was doped, six horses (five showjumpers and one dressage horse) have tested positive at the Olympics. Rodrigo Pessoa, the man who inherited O’Connor’s Athens Gold, has this time been suspended 4 1/2 months for a doping offence at the Beijing games.
Will Equestrian Sports survive in the Olympics? Even FEI President Princess Haya has her doubts.
Zara Off Mushrooms
After having to withdraw from the Olympics because of an injury to her World Champion Toy Town, Zara had even more misfortune, falling at Burghley.
The Queen’s granddaughter was halfway around the cross-country course on Ardfield Magic Star when she misjudged a fence, the first “mushroom” fence. The former BBC Sports Personality of the Year was thrown over her horse’s head and slammed into the turf.
She was not the only rider to have a fall at this notorious fence. Here is a slideshow of the fall.
Ironically, the course, and the mushroom fence, was designed by her father, Capt. Mark Phillips.
Price Rises
Introducing glamour model Katie Price – the new face of British equestrianism.
Who may become a future Olympian, depending on who you believe.
No Pub For Peggy
Peggy has been banned from a pub. For being a horse.
Jump-Off has been reliably informed that SPCA has been called. Sue has been seen happily heading to the pub to sort out this clear case of animal abuse.
Horses for Divorces
A British divorcee has been awarded £50,000 a year maintenance - to keep her horses in the manner to which they have become accustomed.
Presumably with a pint a day at the pub.
Flu II
Another outbreak for Australia?
Featured Website: FEI World Endurance Championship 2008
http://www.malaysia-wec.com/
Transitions
Congratulations to Dr Julia Smith and Pravin Karan on the birth of their second child, a son, Ari Norman Karan, who weighed in at 3.25 kg on 24th September 2008.
Condolences to Regina Fabiny on the passing of her husband, Siegfried “Sigi” Fabiny. He passed away on 20th September in Germany. Our condolences also to his equestrian daughter Yasmin, who has lost her father.
Get Well Soon to Malaysian Eventer and Penang Turf Club Equestrian Centre’s Head Coach Johari Lee. Young Johari suffered a heart attack about a month ago, gaining entry to to an elite group of great horsemen with damaged hearts. He is expected to complete a good recovery.
Parted Company: James Ravindra is no longer with the Perak Turf Club Equestrian Centre.
Heading North: Nina (Melkonian) and Neils Heyer are heading north to Bangkok, Thailand.
Heading South: 2006 SEA Eventing League Champion Trish Braithwaite is currently touring USA. She will return to Malaysia to say her farewells before going back to Australia. Trish has been a stalwart of the Malaysian Equestrian scene since 2000. She is leaving the competitive equestrian scene and selling all her horses. It will be a teary farewell for many when the time comes.
To read previous editions of Jump-Off, please click on the links below:
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:
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
