Making way for the Equestrian Olympics in Hong Kong, most SEA riders packed their gear, and sent off their horses for a well deserved rest. For South East Asia to have the Olympics  so close is an event not to be missed.

This season, the World Cup final round in SEA  was less exciting, Helena Gabrielsson had accumulated all the points she needed and  was already the clear winner without even having to compete in the last qualifier. But she did, a nice and calm round with no pressure.  Qabil declared his second best horse and let Parvina rest and recover from a leg injury. They were the only ones to go into the jump off . The final scores: Helena (Swedish rider based in Thalaind)  with 28 points, Qabil (Malaysia) with 26, Jennifer Chang (Hong Kong) with 21.

Qabil Ambak let Parvina rest and recover from a leg injury.

A new Team Event was the highlight of the weekend. Teams were  made up of 4 riders, with each horse rider combination for each team  riding at 1.00, 1.10, 1,20 and 1,35.  All riders went for the second round over the same course. The arena party was kept quite busy putting the jumps up each rouond and then back down again!!.  Only the 1.35 rider horse combination went in for the jump off at the end of both rounds over a shorter and higher course.

The event started in the afternoon and ended  at twilight. The pressure of riding for a team had different effects on most riders. Some who had cruised with flawless performances, yielded under pressure with rails down, Nazroff and Tom Cruise,  others who struggled to stay  on and complete some rounds jumped confidently, Natasha on Starwicky. Mixed emotions and camaraderie were the theme of the day. Eda Wong and Señorita  who had a fall when they missed the distance to a jump and both horse and rider somersaulted into the fence, at the Malaysian Open, encouraged her friend Deborah who was riding Señorita in the Team Event from the stands. Hong Kong Team had a shock when their team mate Jennifer had a stop with her top horse Luc Skywalker over a small fence. Quizer cruised as Mr. Cool always does to clinch the gold for his Mixed team - Frankie goes to Hollywood.  Silver went to the Hong Kong team - Stuart´s Angels and bronze to - Shrek and his Princesses  (Qabil, Shazna, Deborah and Natasha)

Deborah Botterau riding Señorita

It was a short but eventfull season.  Alter the Olympics and the Fasting Month the next show will be the National Horse Show in Terengganu in October.

Photos are courtesy of www.marwaneq.com