I’m proud to be part of the resurgence in Showjumping Equitation classes. My good friend, Ms Ong Wan Ming reintroduced them at STCEC’s training show a few weeks ago. Yesterday, even as I included them in KLAP’s Christmas Show, the National Equestrian Centre in Singapore was simultaneously holding Showjumping Equitation classes with my courses designs.
With KLAP’s Christmas show only an in-house show because of Covid-19 restrictions at the club, there were not very many starters. The Royal Selangor Polo Club is mainly a polo club, but it is nice to have some real jumpers like Naylisya Idris’s Joyce Prova at our club and in our shows. That’s her in the top photo, a brilliant image by visiting Spanish photographer Carmen Luque, who shot yesterday’s show.
To see more of her wonderful photos, and a selection from other contributors, KL Academy of Polo has a photo album on Facebook. Please click here.
Wan Ming came to judge the Showjumping Equitation classes, which Tushaani Naidu volunteered to scribe. Wan Ming manages the STC Equestrian Sports Centre. Getting her to judge the Showjumping Equitation gives us an unbiased view of our riders, and perhaps a different perspective from the daily instruction our riders get.
Tushaani is a dressage rider and judge, who helps us judge our dressage events. She is always keen to learn and wanted to have some experience in showjumping equitation. There are some people who are critical of those just starting out as judges, but I think someone who tries should be encouraged, not put down.
At KL Academy of Polo, we have tried to build fun events, and marry the two sides of the equestrian and polo school together. Yesterday we had the polo ponies jumping the poles on the ground, and doing polo pops, jumping the height of the polo boards.
Covid lockdowns made it tough year for equestrian and polo sports, yet KL Academy of Polo has had an event every month since CMCO in June. It’s the most active the Royal Selangor Polo Club has been for many years. Using our polo ponies in lessons and in these shows means we have 20 active horses, making us the biggest school in Malaysia. 90% of our horses are Argentine-bred Criollos or polo ponies.
On the polo side, we’ve managed to produce five new polo players this season, which is about four more than we usually get a year. I ran courses like Polo 101, Riding For Polo, and Friday Instructional Chukkas. It’s led to 15 new polo trainees, the same in members joining the club, and the club having a cash positive equestrian section for the first time in years. All that while being blighted by haze, Covid-19 and AHS lockdowns, and enough rain to warrant building an ark.
We have reintroduced the Pony Club, and Showjumping Equitation. Next weekend we will have another digitalized dressage show. Just after Christmas, on Sunday 27th December, we will have our last event of the year, either Cushion Polo, if Covid-19 restrictions allows contact then, or alternatively we will run gymkhana games and barrel racing.
Doing things right is what I would like KL Academy of Polo to continue doing. We set our own standards, and we aren’t quite up to the standard I want yet. Next season, with spectators, and sponsors, hopefully we can produce even better shows for our riders and the equestrian community in Malaysia.
Related Links:
Unpressured Showjumping Equitation
Showjumping Equitation Revisited
Are Online Shows the New Normal
A Zoom Show
Managing a Second Lockdown
RSPC Pony Club Polo Camp by KL Academy of Polo
D-Day Dressage Extravaganza
Federation of International Polo
KL Academy of Polo
