Julian Ashby Lancia is a kid that has been interning at Kuala Lumpur Academy of Polo for the last year. He is dead keen on horses and riding, and rides anything and everything given to him to work. Julian was in the first batch of graduates from KL Academy of Polo to pass his polo tests last year, when he was still 13 years old. The MCO2 lockdowns delayed his debut to polo, but on Thursday we finally had club chukkas at the Royal Selangor Polo Club, and Julian got to play, a day after his 14th birthday.
It was an outstanding debut. Not only did he score on the first play, a run to goal that he carried most of the way. The next goal was a tap in, from anticipating and then running onto a pass. Julian completed a hat-trick with a neat nearsider.
It was great to get him started in polo, because he has been so keen. Julian has devoured any information I have given him – books to read, videos to watch, movies to see. He has read Polo by ‘Marco’, Hunter Seat Equitation by George H Morris, and many other classics. He has even attended an on-line course by the University of Guelph, Canada’s top vet school.
Julian is lucky to be at school at ISKL, where both his parents are teachers, so he can walk there after riding in the mornings. KL Academy of Polo gives Julian spare horses to work. He rides at least one horse before school every day, mounting up at 6:30 am. The only issue is that I don’t get much feedback unless I press him for it. If not, when I ask him how a horse was, his standard answer is, “Amaaaazing.”
Julian rewards us with a great attitude.
It has been a fantastic experience mentoring this exceptional young horseman. The privilege has been mine.
