Stephs Final 3. The Race

2008 WEC - The Race

I think that this event represented the maturity of our sport at the International level. It was a very tight race - a tightly contested race. I'm not sure how much more advantage can be gained in future events by 'getting better' at any aspect of competition. With more things being equal (training, nutrition, crewing, strategy) we are beginning to see the true brilliance and athletic ability of the horse and the skill and horsemanship of the rider prevail.

The winning horse probably had the best advantage in terms of race 'smarts' - Maria Mercedes Alvarez Ponton has been competing and training for years at the highest level, based out of Dubai (Emirates Stable owned by Shk. Mohamed bin Rashid al Maktoum and managed by Jaume Punti) in the winter, and competing in Europe during the summer. Experience, flawless crewing, calculated pacing, skilled riding - all part of the winning effort. And when applied to a brilliant athlete, trained and managed to peak fitness and health, a winning combination. This was as close to a well earned win as I have ever seen when all parts are weighed. Maria was asked at the press conference what problems she encountered during the race. She smiled - grateful and incredulous - and said 'really there were no problems, everything went perfectly'. Certainly the stars were aligned for Maria and Nobby, but it was a well earned victory. She did not falter, did not get lost, did not have tack problems, Nobby did not lose a shoe, and she had plenty of horse left for the final leg when she was challenged by the riders from Argentina and UAE.

And then there was the surprising and equally brilliant Silver medal performance by the Argentine rider Augustin Vita and his horse Baraka Ibn Al Tamah. Where the heck did they come from?? I saw Vita and Baraka as they burst out of the gate for the final 10km leg. A full gallop, the horse looked incredible, and they covered the final 10km at a speed of 28km/hr - that's over 17 miles an hour - at the end of a 100 mile ride... And the horse recovered from the sprint in 13 minutes! Vita certainly didn't have the experience that Maria Ponton had, nor the money and backing that many other riders had, but he had the youthful courage (I believe he is 17 years old), the smarts and the riding ability to guide a brilliant horse to a second place finish. It was a surprise, and another testimony to this sport that you can't always buy victory! I talked to Carle Larerra (the Argentine Chef d' Equipe) a little after the race. He had high praise for Vita and the horse, grinning and shaking his head. He also said that much of Vita's (and therefore Argentina's!) success could be attributed to the excellent horses produced in Argentina, and to the very well supported Young Riders program. Kids start riding early, it's very much a family affair, there are always well attended Young Rider divisions, and they are given support and encouragement and congratulations at every opportunity.

The Bronze individual medal and Gold team medal went to United Arab Emirates. The UAE was a very well oiled machine. They earned their medals. Sultan bin Suleyem rode a superb athlete, Tazoul El Parry, he rode a smart well paced ride, and deserves credit for the mental toughness required to place so well in this challenging night ride. You can have a top trained horse, a top crew, the best of the best, but you still have to ride the horse, guide the horse, every step of the way. All of the UAE riders did a fine job. But I was greatly disappointed that the entire team did not show up for the Prize Giving the day after the race. Suleyem was there, and Mohamed Ali Subose was there, and the trainer was there - but that was it. The other team member HH Shk Majid al Maktoum had already left, as did HH Shk Hamdan al Makoum, the other riders and crew. There was a big hole in the middle of the podium where the UAE team spirit should have been, in my opinion.

But Qatar and Bahrain made up for whatever lack of team spirit UAE demonstrated on the podium. The maroon and white of the very proud and enthusiastic Silver Medal Qatar team, and the brilliant red and white of the proud Bronze Medal Bahrain team led by Shk Nasser bin Hamad al Khalifa- they were obviously proud to be there and proud to be part of the World Championship. I have to admit that Qatar and Bahrain's victories surprised many. The UAE has been the dominate Middle Eastern country in previous International competitions, but apparently Qatar and Bahrain have been also working diligently and preparing their horses and riders and obviously have serious aspirations to excel in Endurance.

And what about the others? Portugal made a very very fine showing, only 1:30:00 behind Bahrain for a team medal, they finished four out of six riders, and they did this out of the commitment, skill and horsemanship of each individual. There is little Federation support for Endurance in Portugal, these guys financed most of the expenses of coming to the WEC (beyond the major expense which was born by Malaysia) out of their own pockets. They were stunning in their pure white shirts, proud of their flag, and their effort. And without a doubt they were the life of the party. Rui shipped 100 liters of fine Portuguese wine with the horses. These guys were fun, they were tireless, they were genuine and charming, and tremendously disappointed to have missed a medal by so little. Several of their riders got lost on one of the loops adding precious time to the total, and this and that ...and they were soooooo close! Whenever I think of them, I smile.

Chile - they did not finish a single rider, they were also quite disappointed - but they were without a doubt the best dressed team in Terengganu. Everywhere they went they had matching polo shirts, red or blue or white, always sharp, beautiful women, handsome men, they may not have won a medal but they turned heads everywhere they went!

Uruguay - perhaps they were cursed with whispers - "the fastest horses.... topped ranked rider... a good shot at the gold... their type of course" - all of it true, but it was not to be. And several new countries on the scene - Guatemala, Colombia, Costa Rica - they have much to learn, and Endurance programs yet to build, but they have started - and we all know that once we start this sport we can't quit it!

France - I still don't know what happened to France, the most consistent medal winners of the past decade. I did hear a little muttering about the state of the sport, the fact that the flat track courses aren't real endurance... who knows, but this was not their race.

USA - a huge disappointment in results - only 2 finished, and while the two that did finish (Valerie Kanavy and Kathy Brunjes) deserve congratulations, neither of them performed to their potential. They lost precious time at the first vet gate when their over excited horses took close to 30 minutes to recover. They rode to the Chef's plan, and performed well for their team, but between losing one rider to a violent flu episode, and having two riders experience a lightening strike, panicked and bolting horses, injuries sustained by both riders and horses... it was not their race.

Canada - go Canada! They did not set any speed records, but they finished 4 riders and a full team. They had difficulties the entire way with shipping and quarantine issues, delays, extra expenses, etc. But they did it, eh? Italy - a fine showing, not fast enough to earn a medal, but they finished 3 team members and ran a good race. Spain - for the second year in a row the individual Gold Medal went to Spain!

So many personal victories, and dramas, and hopes and disappointments. But the overall the mood before, during, and after the race was good, it was exceptional. Very little blame went around, people accepted the challenge, dealt with the unique food and language of the host country, learned to drive on the 'wrong' side of the road, enjoyed the beautiful beach, tolerated the rains, they did their best, and they paid great respect to the Malaysian effort. Malaysia went out of their way to take care of the riders and horses, and everybody recognized and appreciated that. There was much festivity, new friends made, more experience gained, and already everyone is talking about the next one!

that's it for now (I think),

Steph

Steph's Final 2. Malaysian Riders

Malaysia met one great challenge - it proved that it could host an exceptional World Championship event. The other major challenge was to qualify a field of riders to represent the country. FEI has previously allowed the host country to field a double squad if so desired, although 2008 would be the last year to do so. This meant that Malaysia could start 12 riders: 8 would be riding as individuals, 4 as part of the team. At the time of the FEI's final decision to grant Malaysia the 2008 WEC, following the November 2007 Sultan's Cup, there were no Malaysians qualified. The additional condition imposed on the event, was that riders must qualify with not just 1, but 2 successful sub 13:20 hour completions of a 160km ride on the same horse - one within 24 months of nominated entry (August 21 2008), and another within 12 months. And by the time the FEI decided on Malaysia as host (November 2007), there effectively remained only 8 months for 16 riders to complete 2 160km rides on the same horse.

There were plenty of willing riders, but only a handful of 100 mile horses, and only a handful of 100 mile rides. They needed horses, and they needed sub 13:20 ride completions. They were going to have go outside the country for both the horses, and the rides. This would require a coordinated effort, and would require funding. Under the auspices of the Malaysia National Sports Institute a committee was formed, a project was developed, and a goal of qualifying a field of Malaysian riders for the 2008 WEC was set. Raja Mahmood Raja Hussein, a member of the Malaysia National Federation, and chair of the Endurance discipline spearheaded the effort under the direction of Dato Dr. Ramlan Abdul Aziz. Also part of the team were Dr. Bashir Ahmad (project veterinarian) and Mohamad Din Mat (project manager). This team would eventually send riders to Uruguay, Chile, Argentina, USA, UAE and Australia, multiple times, to lease/purchase horses, and hopefully obtain 2 successful completions. Trip by trip, month by month, mile by mile... by June there were five riders that had qualified including His Majesty, Tuanku Mizan. Horses were purchased and imported, several more rides were scheduled in Malaysia for local horses and horses that had been imported earlier, and by the August 21 deadline, 16 riders had fully qualified for the WEC! This is a fairly amazing accomplishment and I'm sure many of the adventures these travelers encountered will be told for years to come.

Malaysia has been on a very steep learning curve during the past several years. I doubt if there are many riders that have more than 1000 miles of experience, and in this sport, experience is essential! The travels that they made this summer exposed them to many different venues, and riders, and styles and every place they went they learned something. I was particularly impressed with Tuanku Mizan and the Royal Terengganu Endurance Stable. They made several trips to Dubai and Abu Dhabi during the 'quest for qualification', and were able to watch the UAE stables in action - fast efficient crewing, intense competition, HRH's, GPS, state of the art equipment. They watched and learned and brought a lot of what the observed back home with them. I rode with the RTES in Melaka this past spring and was amazed at their efficiency. I have also been impressed, and moved, by Tuanku's concern for the horse. He is a good rider, and a compassionate horseman. His concern for and sensitivity to the horse is obvious and I have seen him pull out of events of his own accord, if the horse was not doing well. His ego and ambition are secondary to his concern for the horse. He has my utmost respect, and I think it is qualities such as this that make him such a loved and revered King.

I truly wish Malaysia had completed more riders at the WEC. With only 2 out of 12 finishing there was a lot of disappointment. I felt like I knew every rider, they were my friends and I wished them well. And I was particularly hoping that Tuanku Mizan would finish. He finally opted to ride Ibrahim instead of Pharoah the Appaloosa which was having some back soreness. Ibrahim was the horse that he qualified with in UAE, a horse of Shk Mohamed al Maktoum's stable managed by Jauma Punti. A very good horse, fully capable of a solid completion. But for whatever reason the horse did not have a good day, they retired him at gate 5 - low gut sounds, and not eating well.

A tremendous effort on everybody's part, and plenty of reason to celebrate considering the massive scope of the event. And they are already planning for Kentucky, 2010! Now they have more horses, more riders, more experience and that super drive to succeed that comes with an 'almost did it' experience. Pick yourself back up and try again.

more later-

Steph

Stephs Final 1. Malaysia's WEC

The WEC - Final - Hosting a World Championship

The 2008 WEC has definitely topped all of the other WEC's in terms of quality of organization and grandeur.

In terms of the actual race, I think Malaysia' WEC has also set a new standard. The statistics this event was on par with previous FEI World Endurance Championships. The completion rate was 38% (Aachen 2006 was 40%, Dubai 2004 was 36%), the winning time was surprisingly fast - 8:48 at 18.16km/hr (Aachen was just under 10 hours at 15.96km). But what makes these race statistics so remarkable were the results, relative to the expectations and the fears. And, of the greatest significance, there were no horses requiring serious treatment. The biggest concern that the FEI had regarding the final determination to sanction a WEC in the tropics was that the combination of speed and heat and humidity could prove overly harmful to the horse - that if this event resulted in any horse fatalities or in an abundance of over stressed horses it would cancel all of the progress that Endurance has made over the past years in gaining a valid place in the world of FEI - of International equestrian sports.

In fact, this event may well have clinched the validity and acceptance of Endurance in the world of FEI sport. The results proved that Endurance has matured as a sport in terms of 1. the ability of the rider to race responsibly, 2. the athleticism of the horse in it's ability to perform and remain healthy, and 3. the management and oversight of the FEI in it's capacity to govern the sport at the highest level - in a manner which provides for fair competition and most importantly protects the horse.

By any standards this event was a tremendous success. I asked Ian Williams (FEI director for non-Olympic sports ) for a quick evaluation after the race. He didn't hesitate: "stunning" "superlative" "impressive" ! He commented that the venue, the organization, the effort and achievement was amazing, an absolute success. And it was.

This event also represented a landmark in publicity for Endurance. This was the first time that ESPN provided live coverage of Endurance. And they managed to make it exciting! By filming the first 2 hours (daylight) and the final 2 hours (also daylight) they were able to capture the drama of Endurance competition -(the excitement of the start, the emotion of the finish) and to avoid the hours of tedium (enduring) from the 25 mile mark to the 75 mile mark, where the real work is done, the battle for time and placement is primarily fought, but for the spectator it all looks rather tedious!

In terms of organization - it was the result of a very committed and competent team, and an abundance of people and resources. The interior Sports Ministry of Malaysia, the State of Terengganu, the military, the Mounted Police, the Royal Foundation of Terengganu (Tuanku/Sultan Mizan foundation), the Malaysian Equestrian Federation... this list goes on. I don't know what the final budget was for the event. When I asked Dato' Salleh - Chair of the WEC Organizing Committee what the budget was he smiled in that very Malaysian way (gracious yet revealing little :) and said 'a bit'. I heard the number one hundred million ringets tossed around by a few (that's about 30 million USD) - and I could believe it. I also 'heard' that ESPN alone cost close to 9 million...

It was an exceptionally run equestrian event, but it was also much more. It was a Malaysian Happening - a display of National pride; Malaysia welcoming the world in their very gracious and competent way. The small things, the little touches were everywhere. Things that require an attention to detail, and a true desire to make everybody feel welcome and well looked after. A taste of the art, beauty and spirituality of Asia - the serenity, the hospitality, the culture of revering one's guest. All of this was embodied in many different ways.

And the attention to detail, and ability to communicate was outstanding. A little pocket sized information booklet was given to everybody and contained almost all of the information the various riders, teams, chefs, etc would need to know about: dining, accommodation, transportation, logistics, several pages with complete track information including ride time from point to point at various speeds, crew points, water points, start times, distances, etc etc. There was a bulletin board in a central location for announcements and notices, the offices were always open, and willing to answer questions. Press, transportation, drivers, logistics, stewards - everybody that was involved with the organization had a brightly colored tshirt - it was easy to find a person to ask a question of, and easy to eventually identify the person that could best answer your question. And there was constant air of politeness. If people were tired or short tempered they didn't show.

Malaysian people have a milder culture than those of the western world - less anxious and energized, much slower in movement and softer in language, quicker to smile, perhaps less confrontational and more deferential, but they also 'get it'. They understand how the rest of the world functions, and they seem to be masters at making things happen.

And I still marvel at the love and reverence that Malaysians have for their King. I think that Tuanku Mizan is very special, even among Kings, with a very special wife and family. He is young, sporting, quick to smile, easy to talk to. His people absolutely adore him, and perhaps this has also contributed to the total success of the 2008 WEC. For many of the WEC force, their dedication to excellence goes beyond just doing their job, to doing it out of love for their King. I think that's a hard thing for most of us to understand - to have a person, as a symbol of uncomplicated allegiance and reverence. Beyond the politics, beyond the scope of life's daily grind. More like a movie star in some ways, a John Wayne. Or a religious figure. But with a deep history, centuries. It still surprised me at times to be having a conversion with 'regular folks' and have them make a reference to 'my King' with a look in their eyes that spoke of a depth of love and respect that we rarely see in other cultures.

I really can't say enough about the effort that went into this event, and the practically perfect result. I have watched from the beginning, and have been involved at some level with the core group of Malaysians that set the whole thing in motion to begin with. A clever and persistent group.

more later-

Steph

Steph's final story (almost). Part III

Malaysia (pre) Story, Part III

Preparing for the Sultans Cup - the Test -

During the year leading up to the 2007 Sultan's Cup there would be more events - and new events - held in Malaysia, and with each event came the question 'how will this help us prepare for the WEC - and the Sultan's Cup?'. The Royal Kedah International was a new ride, in the northern sultanate of Kedah - a celebration of the Sultan's 80th birthday. A gala event, with invitations handed out to all of the riders who attended the 2006 Sultan's Cup. So there would be foreign riders, and there would also be a bit of a test regarding horses, shipping and acclimation. Peter Toft was to import several horses into Malaysia 3 weeks before the event. The horses were already purchased by Malaysian riders - they would stay in Malaysia, but the test would be to observe how well they ran with only 3 weeks time in the country. The result was mixed. The horses spent most of their 'acclimation' period traveling - into Malaysia, to Ar Raudah, then north to Qedah. Two of the horses finished the 120km (though at a slow pace) in excellent form, two rider options (horses weren't eating well - weren't happy), one lameness and one metabolic (colic). In addition to the horse test, was a timing test - a new system using the swipe card (bar code) technology. Edaran Digital Systems, Tansri Tajudin's company, was the host - the OC - for this event. They did all the arrangements, FEI officials, etc - and they also tested a timing system that they were developing. It worked fairly well, though there were some rider/official/communication issues, and a few glitches in out times.

There were additional events held in Terengganu as well - to fine tune the venue and trail. In May the YDSM-PENN ride was held - another test of the venue, and a first opportunity for the new show director to see what Endurance was all about. Earlier this year the OC hired Azrin Zudhi to be the 2008 WEC (and 2007 Sultans Cup) show director. Azrin is a Malay woman married to a German national, educated in London, with ten years experience in England in the world of business and finance. Also an equestrienne - from the world of dressage and jumping. She came back to Malaysia to live and start a new career, and through contacts and associates - and having the right skills for the job - was eventually hired as the show director of the 2006 FEI World Cup Jumping Final. She learned about importing horses, about coordinating an equestrian event - and about building a team of dependable, hard-working people. Many of these people also signed on to help her with the Endurance event.. yet another huge challenge.

Azrin was hired in time to attend the FEI World Forum in Paris (March) where she started meeting the people - the players - and learning about the FEI, and the intensity of our sport. Her first real dive into Endurance was the YDSM-PENN event. She came as an observer, along with a few of her World Cup team members. An eye opener I'm sure! There's nothing neat and tidy about Endurance - and it goes on and on and through the night - and the complications of the sport are quite a logistical challenge.

This event was also to be a test of another bar code (swipe card) timing system - one that was developed for Al Wathba stables and the Emirates International Endurance Village (Abu Dhabi). The technicians and developers came (Tony and Charbel) with software and bare bones equipment, the rest was purchased for the event and would remain in Terengganu. The system worked very well, definitely a successful test.

The next event - Edaran Endurance Classic 2007 'Menuju WEC 2008' (towards WEC 2008) was scheduled for July and it would also be held in Terengganu. Another test of the trail and the venue. This race would see the fastest 160km finish time ever achieved in Malaysia - 10:45, 14.3 km/hr.

And during the entire season, the OC (with a new chair, Dato Salleh and new 'show' direcor Azrin Zhudi) would be in full gear. They would be closely involved in each Malaysian event, observing foreign events (they travelled to Compiegne France, and Idaho USA to observe championship level events) and putting the Sultans Cup event together.

The purpose of the Sultans Cup as a test was to bring in foreign riders AND foreign horses, simulate the shipping, quarantine, stabling and competition environment to be expected at a WEC, and see if top horses and riders could safely compete. The FEI permitted the OC to invite riders of their choosing. Given the importance of the results (less then 40% completion would nix the WEC in Malaysia) the OC wanted the ability to invite horses and riders with proven records, and riders who they felt were committed to a fair trial. There were some who were strongly - and vocally - opposed to holding a WEC in Malaysia. And there were some who felt that Malaysia would be a true endurance challenge - a technical challenge - and very much in keeping with the spirit of the sport. The choice of who to invite would be up to the OC - not the individual Federations. And the 40% completion criteria would apply only to invited foreign riders. Others (locals or special invitations) could compete as well - but the test was for the importation of foreign horses.

- more later, the ride-

Steph

Steph's final story (almost). Part VI

Malaysia (pre) Story, Part VI

From the moment the rain began to fall, to the moment that Rui (the rider from Portugal) got his completion nod from the vets to be the 8th completion (marking the 40% completion goal), to the moment when everybody realized that not just 40% of the riders would complete, but more like 70%, ... the words I kept hearing were 'amazing', 'unbelievable', 'incredible'.

It seemed that with the torrent - with the craziness of the rain, the lake that was once a crewing area, the rivers that were once trails - came a settling of the nerves, and tension turned to laughter. Unbelievable! And the rain was warm, and it almost didn't matter how wet one got because it was warm, and stayed warm, and as soon as you got dry you'd just get wet again anyway. The riders came in off the first loop blinking and dripping and laughing. HRH Mizan arrived and his attendant met him with an umbrella - he laughed and declined. Crews began pouring buckets of water over sopping wet horses to cool them and get the pulse lowered for presentation to the vet - that seemed funny. And the buckets of water, lined up in the crewing area... they looked silly too. Harumi san met Hasume san with 2 big fluffy towels to dry him off while the rain was pouring all around - they both laughed at that too.

And so the night went. The lead changed off and on during the night, some riders got off trail, some sped up, some slowed down. In the dark and the never ending rain it was hard to tell who was on the trail with you. Some rode with bright headlamps, others didn't and were virtually invisible to other competitors. The pace was steady, and horses were coming in and pulsing down very quickly. They were staying fairly cool with the constant rain pulling the heat off their skin. The riders were in good spirits, but the wet tack and clothing started causing a few rubs - a new experience to be so totally soaking wet for so long.

Crews were getting sleepy. waiting and waiting with the rain, and the dark. It was almost impossible to go out on the trail to meet rides at the crew points - deep deep mud, a real likelihood of getting stuck - and a hazard for the horses on the course. This venue is not conducive to on-trail crewing, and only a few checkpoints are even remotely accommodating to the zillions of rigs and people that one often sees at crewpoints during the WEC's. There has been talk of eliminating crewing points - allowing for people to send stuff out with authorized staff, or only allowing crews to go out in authorized rigs. we'll see - safety is most important - and with 7 phases, 6 vetchecks and long holds, perhaps crewing on the trail, or at checkpoints isn't even necessary.

While the riders rode and the crews waited, all the OC stuff was still going full bore. A DJ was positioned on the walkway above the ingate - keeping everybody entertained, and amused with his music choices - plenty of 'who'll stop the rain' and the 'umbrella song' and all sorts of obscure music that matched the mood. The GPS tracking guys were hopping. The units were working fine, but the data pipe wasn't big enough and their software kept crashing. They were able to view the tracking points manually at times (such as when a rider was perhaps lost?) or questions arose about riders off course. But the original plan of projecting the riders positions on a big screen didn't work. Tony and Charbel with their timing system were also hopping - printing off vetgate status for crews and press and the curious. Updating the system as riders came through with vetgate times (recovery times) - they did a very good job. When we need ride status info, it was there. The system ran smoothly. The live video guys from Germany were filming and filming. Again, the data pipe at the venue was too small, so the 'real time' video broadcast was reduced to archive clips - downloaded when possible, but the filming never stopped. The vets never stopped - standing in their stations, riders coming and go. waiting for riders to come, talking with each other, laughing at the rain. resting with chin on chest. The in timers never stopped - though I did see a few fall back in their chairs now and again. The officials worked the night through.

I really don't think anybody expected such an unbelievable event, such an unbelievable outcome. It really did feel other-worldly at times. Dato Salleh (chair of the WEC OC) said that his grandfather was a 'medicine man' (the Malaysian equivalent) and his powers were strong. Salleh said he was going to look for a medicine man for this event - he'd ask for perfect weather and good luck. I'm not sure if he was joking or not, but perhaps he did ask, and did get the perfect weather (and a little magic) - just not what anybody anticipated.

Two USA riders (Crandell and Brunjes) finished in 5th and 6th place - galloping in together, looking fantastic. The USA was back! Four USA starters and 3 finishers, and 2 in the top ten - finishing with the world's best.

After Rui finished, the 8th completion, after it was final - the 2008 WEC would be held in Malaysia, the DJ got into the festivities and the music cranked up a notch, Malaysians were dancing (by now it was morning and the sun was shining), everybody was grinning. Salleh grabbed a flag and he and a few others from the OC did a victory lap around the cooling area - laughing, running with the flag streaming behind - it was a great moment!

And the riders kept coming in, and kept completing. The first Malaysian rider finished to great fanfare, and a flag to ride in with, and cheering. He and several other finished in CoC time - great spirits, horses looked good. Magic.

HRH Mizan finished along beside Australian Paul Brown who was riding one of the Royal Stables horses - they didn't arrive in CoC time, but they completed, proudly, and with horses looking great.

That night there was a wonderful dinner and prize giving ceremony at the Terengganu State House - delicious food, a festive atmosphere, all finishers being recognized and applauded (not just the winners). Traditional music before and during dinner, and after dinner and prize giving we were treated to a fantastic world fusion band - Shajara, who came from Bali - they had celtic singer and fiddle, asian drums, trumpet, the long pipe played by the Australian aborgines - dithery-do? - it was an incredible mix of world sounds and very talented musicians. They played their last set and people started heading home - buses taking most people back to the hotels, a handful of us hung around a little more - and Azrin came up to me saying - you need to stay! the Crown Prince (the King's younger brother) just called, he wants to come hear some of the music because he heard it was so good. The band came back, and started playing again - this time the room was mostly empty, some tables were cleared to make room for a little dancing, the caterers were taking down decorations from the high ceiling walled and huge room, lights were going out, decorations, chairs, tables hauled out, and the band kept playing and we danced a little and listened to the music and enjoyed it immensely. magic.

Steph

Steph's final story (almost). Part V

Malaysia (pre) Story, Part V

I arrived in Terengganu about a week after the foreign horses arrived. The horses were shipped from various points around the world - Los Angeles, New York, Buenos Aires, San Paulo, Doha, Dubai, Amsterdam - routed through Europe, and into quarantine at Kuala Lumpur. They were then transported via military transport plane to the Terengganu (TGG) Airport. By the WEC next year TGG will be an International airport - they are extending the landing strip 1 kilometer - into the sea - to make it long enough for the big transports to land. This will also open up the eastern part of Malaysia to more tourism and industry.

Riders and grooms and horses were settling into a routine and seemed quite relaxed and content. They were happy with the stables, the trail, the afternoon swim in the pool... it was a very peaceful. And wonderful to see friends and familiar faces! My good friend from Argentina - Mercedes Tapia - was there, the American riders John Crandell, Kathy Brunjes, Heather Reynolds, Hasumi san (and Harumi and Yaguchi) from Japan, Leonard Liesens from Belgium - people I have known for years, from other rides, other places. And many other familiar faces, good people, from previous rides.

As the weeks progressed a wonderful camaraderie developed. If felt like being at a World Championship - so many people from all around the world - but without the real stress, without the competitive edge. Everybody here was on the same team, with the same goal: to test the course and to perform their best, with the caveat - to finish is to win. A very different type of race. Twenty one riders were there by invitation to 'see if it could be done'. The prize money would be divided equally among all riders that completed - $5000USD for finishing the ride. Placement only matter for prestige, for FEI ranking points, for a shot at Best Conditino, for ego. Twenty riders would represent Malaysia - and even though they weren't in the test group - they still had everything to gain by finishing. And three riders would represent UAE - on special invitation from the OC, but not part of the 'test group'. It was a very pleasant atmosphere. I suspect the tropical climate, ocean breezes and smiling faces of the Malaysian people had a lot to do with the friendly atmosphere as well.

And while the riders and horses were settling in, the OC (Organizing Committee) was working around the clock. Working so very hard. Zulu (Derek Liebenburg) had been on site since the first of the month. In addition he had spent the month of July in Terengganu - working with Azrin (director) and others from the OC - trying to figure out what still needed to be done at the venue, and how to get it done in time for the event. The stabling and trail became Zulu's focus - plus coordinating the remaining construction, the different groups of people working together (military, local police, medical and veterinay personel) and generally keeping track of things. Everything had to be perfect.

Azrin and her team (Salim, Fida, Juan, 'Boy', Marouf, Mimi ... others) - working so hard - living and breathing Sultans Cup. Arranging transport and accommodation, rental cars, SUV's (a rare item in Malaysia - they shipped over everything they could find from KL), arrangements for officials, printing of programs, maps, awards, dinners, ceremononies, VIP's, arrangements for vets, riders, grooms, etc etc etc! Dealing with daily demands and complications, they were still smiling but a little glassy eyed. The OC also made a great effort to show their guests the real Malaysia - trips to the offshore islands, batik factories, local markets. They did as much as was possible!

The veterinary inspection was on Friday, and the race would begin Saturday afternoon. One of the foreign horses would not start - the mare from Stephan Chazel that Leonard would ride spiked a fever the day before - I'm not sure what the diagnosis was, but ultimately the mare was treated and would not start. Otherwise everybody was ready - and focused - and now the last minute flurry of preparation. Setting up the crewing area- food for horse, rider, grooms - buckets, hay, ice, yoghurt, potato chips, coca cola, electrolytes... chairs, towels, change of clothing, umbrellas? raingear? all that stuff - and for all night - this was going to be a long night, and most didn't really know what to expect. And it was difficult to figure out how - or if - to sleep before the ride. Some tried to get extra sleep the morning of the ride, but it was tough - especially after having already gone through a night to day transition on arrival to Malaysia. Mostly people would just sleep Friday night and then plan on no sleep Saturday.

Saturday at the venue was very hectic. The press core had arrived, lots of VIP's, visitors, spectators, everybody asking questions, wanting things, getting last minute accreditation, all that stuff that drives ride management crazy, but is just part of an event and has to be dealt with. Many people (especially press) wanted to be taken out to the various crewing areas and water points so they could plan their photo shoots - when to see the riders come through, when was there going to be the most action. John had arranged to have everybody meet at noon and caravan out to the check points. Of course one group came an hour later and had be taken out again. Various languages were being spoken (Bahrain press was there to document the event, send back pictures and info since they didn't have riders there), much confusion - who has what car? who can take this group? where do we go? it was a bit frantic. There was a very nice press room set up, with internet, and wireless connections, printers, etc .
and it was a flurry of activity. In and out, questions and questions. We all took our shoes off before entering any of the rooms - press, office, accreditation, etc - because the tile floors quickly became dirty. It was fun seeing the piles of shoes outside each door.

We managed to get almost everybody out to most of the selected crew points to make their photo plans. I had to return the car I had used to take our group out onto the trail, and afterwards asked Esther (one of the team from KL there to help - communications, press, etc) to take me out to one more point so I could see how far it was, travel time, etc. I had plan to catch the riders on their first loop about half way through and take the Japanese press out on the track - they spoke very little English, no Malay, and were a bit overwhelmed. It was 2 hours before ride start so we need to hurry a bit - and Esther said she knew a good way to get there. (She had been on her own the day before, having to figure out where to take people and pretty much had to figure it all out herself). She knew of one way to get to the point, and thought it would be fastest. Ok - lets go, and then we can get back in time for warmup and flag off and transporting the press back out on the course. We had to drive a combination of access road and trail (the trail mostly followed dirt farm roads and palm oil forest roads) and it was a little wet and swampy in places - but she seemed confident and seemed capable of handling the 4WD. We got to one particularly wet area - almost at the end of the section of trail and it got worse and worse - but no place to go but foward.

At this point a driver experienced in mud or snow or deep sand would get aggressive - don't lose momentum - keep the speed up but not so fast that you'll slide off the road or take to the air - but Esther was a KL city girl - game, but not experienced - she got worried and slowed down.. and slowed down... and then that was it, we were stuck. The wheels spun mud in every direction. We were high centered. Damn - and one hour before the start. At least we weren't on the first loop! I surveyed the situation... no rocks or logs or anything to jam under the tires, impossible to push. So ... better start walking. We were very close to a control point (actually the first control point of the race, where the two loops came together) - there were guys there filling water tanks, and setting things up. I communicated (somehow) that we were were stuck in the mud, pointed to the direction of the truck, and they nodded and smiled and grabbed their cell phones. I can only imagine what they must have thought about seeing a tall white woman emerging from the swamp, barefoot in the mud. But they smiled and nodded and communicated (somehow) to me that help was on the way.

I slogged back through the mud to the rig, Esther was on the phone, looking very distressed - of course she was in a bit of trouble - out on the course, stuck, with one of the 4WD's, and me, and the race about to begin. It was really my fault, and it felt like a perfectly natural situation to me - in a bit of a bind, the clock was ticking, more adventure... So I assured her I'd explain to everybody that I was responsible. I'm not sure she felt much better, but she was really a good sport about everything - every bit as muddy as I was and not a bit of complaining.

Two guys came in a jeep with a chain - no english speaking at all - the chain hook wouldn't fit in the towing loop - loop was too small. no rope, nothing in the 4WD, no small chains... much time spent with chin in hand pondering the situation...finally I grabbed the wire handle off of one of the kerosene lanterns used to light the trail (there were several extras in the back of their jeep) and after a couple attempts at securing the chain to the chassis it held, they pulled, I worked the gas pedal, we slipped, slid and then the wheels found purchase. Hooray! Esther was happy to have me drive, we had a few more deep muddy spots to get through - but I kept our speed up and we hit the road, waved thanks to our jeep guys, and made it back to the venue with 15 minutes to spare!

John was out on the warmup field taking photos and I decided to stay put, at the observation deck, and try to salvage what little time was left. The flag was waved, the race began - 4:30pm, 2 hours of daylight before the night fell - the riders were off - some moving to the front right away, others trying to keep their horses under control, still others hold back in hopes for a more controlled start. Everybody went into motion - crews, press, staff - find the rigs, drive out to meet the riders, begin the routine of the long ride. And then it started to rain, and really really really rain. Thunder and lightning and deafening sound of rain on the roofs and the ground, streams and rivulets forming in seconds, grassy field turning into a lake. And all of a sudden all the fretting about photo ops, crew points, etc - became moot!

I had arranged to have our driver take us out on the course for photos. (a driver and liason person and a Toyota SUB had been assigned to John and I during few days prior to and after the event - Rhuda - sweet young librarian in Terengganu with a curiousity about foreign affairs - a volunteer for this event). We (me and the Japanese press - with a cameraman from HorseTV there to document Hasume san's ride) had planned to meet Leonard and follow him out on the course - but in the rain, and the confusion, we somehow missed our rendezvous and I decided to just head out on the course and take our chances on finding the place we had selected for our first photo shoot. It was raining so hard we could barely see anything - barely even see the road. We got to the first spot and settled in to wait. I didn't see any horse tracks so figured the riders must not have gotten there yet. Hmmm... longer than I would have thought. And then a couple crew cars went zooming past us from another direction and I realized we must have missed the riders, all the tracks had simply disappeared in the rain. A quick turn around, quick map study, and we headed for the next spot. We got to a corner of the trail just in time to see the first riders approaching in the distance... dark gray moving objects in a very watery gray landscape. This would do! We stayed there until most of the riders had gone by - the Japanese camera man seemed content, I got a few photos and videos, routed Jack Begaud back on the trail when he turned right instead of left... and decided that there was no reason to try to get back out on the trail at that point unless it stopped raining (which it didn't). Photography was not going to happen in the tropical torrential rain.

- this story is getting really really long... - but a little more - later (I'm almost done!) -

Steph

Steph's final story (almost). Part IV

Malaysia (pre) Story, Part IV

I arrived in Malaysia two weeks before the event, John came a week after I did. We wanted to capture the activity leading up to the event and to keep the Endurance world's eye on Terengganu.

This was a fairly monumental event - the entire scope of the effort that Malaysia was putting into their commitment to host the WEC was - and still is - astonishing. I keep trying to draw parallels with what other nations have done, and United Arab Emirates and Malaysia both stand out as extreme examples of the uniqueness of our sport.

Anybody can compete in this sport - at any level - in any country. Kings and Princes and Sultans and Sheikhs and grooms and accountants and housewives and mechanics and trainers and jockeys - big people and small people, rich people and poor people, can ride side by side at the highest level of competition. And most of the people that ride will ride anywhere that a horse can take them. Desert, mountain, hot, cold, flat, rocky, sandy, it really doesn't matter to most of us! Our needs are fairly simple - a fit horse, a well marked course, and somebody to keep track of the time are about all we really need. In any given year, one can experience a wild range of competitions. Even at the FEI level - the highest International level of our sport. A dusty ride through a game preserve in South Africa where horses and zebras may run together. A scenic course in the Old Country, riding on cobbled streets and past castle ruins. A sandy trail around swamps and bayous with alligators in the water and spanish moss hanging from old cypress tree limbs. A race across pioneer trails, following the cattle and wagon routes, experiencing wide open spaces with no sign of civilization. A gala event riding through village streets in Asia - celebrating the Sultan's birthday with thousands of people gathering in the streets to see their nation's King on a horse. A wild race across Arabians sands with horses and SUV's competing for the trail - thousands of dollars riding on the outcome, the winner glorified and the winning horse worth its weight in gold.

The first World Endurance Championships saw horses tied to trailers or stabled in make-shift paddocks, following whatever course might be available through fields or woods or streets. Now we are seeing entire 'cities' and 'villages' built for the sole purpose of hosting an Endurance event. We are seeing Endurance courses created - bulldozers, drainage systems, scraping away the dunes, softening the hard spots, hardening the soft spots. Stables with fans and misting coolers - anything and everything that can be done to 'improve' conditions for the sport.

And then the United Arab Emirates pretty much set a new standard. When UAE was granted the bid to host the 1998 World Endurance Championship, it was a huge leap of faith on the part of the FEI. Competing in the deserts of Arabia, sand and heat and wind, travelling so far with horses, different quarantine and disease issues. But the UAE offered to foot the bill - they would pay for the transport and housing of the competitors - the horse, rider, groom and owner. The Dubai Endurance City was built (thousands of laborers working around the clock) and more or less finished in time. Horses were stabled at Polo complexes, riders and crew were housed in 5 star hotels on the Persian gulf, SUV's were rented and provided to competitors, and the gala dinners and parties and celebrations were first class. Many wide-eyed people at this event. Since a huge effort was made to include as many Nations as possible, the qualification criteria was lowered, and the opportunity was extended to any nation - any person, any horse - to meet the minimum qualification criteria and then have an all expense paid month in Dubai, courtesy of the UAE. It was a grand time, full of crazy things, demanding people, appreciative people, excitement and worry.... SUV's littered the desert as people learned how to drive in the dunes. A core of people worked incredibly hard to make the event a success. And by most standards it was a huge success and a landmark in our sport. There were a few problems - the army inadvertently turned off the electricity during the ride and the timing system shut down, many riders lost their crew out in the desert, their SUV's buried in a dune, some horses suffered the sand and travel stress and ambitous riders, but some horses and riders shone.

The UAE again hosted the World Championship in 2005. By this time the Dubai Endurance City was complete - quarantine stables for all the horses, some villas for riders, and the Bab Al Shams 5 star hotel built to house officials and as many competitors and VIP's as could fit. There was still overflow, and many were housed in Dubai, a 45 minute drive from the venue. But of course everybody was also provided with an SUV for transport and crewing. This event didn't quite have the magic of the 1998 WEC - but it certainly provided the best of the best for all.

It was after the 2005 WEC that Malaysia and Bahrain submitted their bids - both countries fully aware of the standards set by UAE - and both countries having the backing of their government and their royalty. When Malaysia was granted the bid they looked to UAE as an example to follow. They studied the Dubai Endurance City and the Abu Dhabi (Al Wathba) Emirates International Endurance Village before constructing their own venue in Terengganu. The layouts are similar: Wide arrival gate area with observation deck above, horses pass through to an expansive cooling and recovery area (Malaysia constructed shaded cooling stations, with fans and misters and tanks), Vet-gate entry stations the entire width, to vet stations with white fence-lined trotting lanes. A full veterinary clinic and hospital, chalets for VIP's on each side of the venue... the works. And in Malaysia, the Endurance venue has a beautiful asian architectural flare - graceful and colorful.

The stage was set.

-more later -

Steph

Steph's final story (almost). Part II

Malaysia (pre) Story, Part II

So... in 2005 Malaysia was granted the bid to host the 2008 FEI World Endurance, construction of the Terengganu International Endurance Park (TIEP) began, and everything was a 'go'. But wait... there were doubts. Malaysia?? Impossible - this is the tropics, it can't be done. A World Championship in the tropics has never been done, it is too hot, horses will suffer, the world doesn't want a WEC in the tropics, it can't be done safely. Yes it Can. Then Prove It.

And so began the effort on the part of Malaysia to show the world - and FEI - that a WEC could be held successfully - and safely - in the tropics, in Malaysia. Two years of moving forward with the construction of the Terengganu International Endurance Park, two years of hosting rides in Terengganu, two years in which Malaysia made every possible effort to prove to the world (and to themselves) that the 2008 WEC rightfully belonged in Malaysia.

The first real 'public' test was Sultans Cup 2006. Previous 160km events had few entries, and low completion rates - there were simply not very many 160km horses and riders in Malaysia. So the 2006 Sultan's Cup was to be an invitational ride - experienced foreign riders were invited, to ride local horses (no foreign horses would be shipped for this event). The FEI officials were part of the test - observations would be made, riders would be interviewed, everyone was in observation mode. The result of the 160km event: 23 starters, 13 finishers - 57% completion rate. Winning time 12:38 (12.65km/hr). Only 1 horse was pulled for metabolic reasons - a mild colic quickly resolved. Everything ran well - the bottom line was that horses could run 160km in the tropics.

But still the FEI was not ready to commit to Malaysia. One more test. Malaysia had to prove that horses could be shipped from around the world, adapt to the conditions, and then run 160km. The 2007 Sultans Cup would be the final test - horse and riders would be shipped from Europe, North America, South America, Middle East... housed for 3 to 4 weeks - horse/rider/groom - Malaysia would pay for everything. And then - unless 40% of the invited riders completed there would be no 2008 WEC in Malaysia. With so much already invested, and so much to lose, Malaysia doubled their efforts and determined to do everything in their power to make it happen. Professionals, lawyers, state and national involvement... This was not simply a sporting event at stake. With the country's King involved - both as a competitor and as a host - it was also a matter of National pride and a moment when Malaysia would take center stage in a world arena.

Then next public affair for the WEC 2008 was the World Forum on Endurance in Paris, France - March 31. Delegates came from around the world to represent their National Federations. There would be meetings and workshops to discuss all of the issues facing the sport of Endurance. And Malaysia created a very big presence at this affair. They hosted a dinner for all attendees,presented a slide show of Malaysia, the sport, the nation and traditions... and a very public '2008 WEC Signing Ceremony - the Handing Over of the FEI Flag'. The Organizing Committee was there in force, also the Malaysian ministers of Sports and Tourism. This was just a ceremony, the real contract signing happened elsewhere - But this was Malaysia's way of saying 'We are serious about this and we want the world to know it.'

With the World Forum behind them, all energy was now to be focused on the final test event. An experienced show director was hired, committees were organized, jobs were delegated, everything was now to focus on the final test event, the Sultan's Cup Terengganu International Endurance Challenge 2007. There was another brief scare when FEI Technical committee announced a new set of qualifications for a Malaysian WEC: horses and riders must earn their CoC (Certificate of Capability) qualification by finishing a 160km ride in 15km/hr (about 10 1/2 hours ride time). Previous CoC was 12km/hr (13 1/2 hours)- this would require very fast ride times - and would basically preclude Malaysia from qualifying and competiting in it's own WEC! At that point the fastest 160km time recorded was 12.6 km/hr, it would be virtually impossible for Malaysians to qualify without going outside the country - and few could afford to do so. This proposal was not very well received and many of us were wondering why the FEI kept changing the game...

But I suppose all's well that end's well. The FEI dropped the 15km/hr CoC idea (see final qualifications). The 2007 Sultan's Cup - the official final Final test event and WEC pre-ride went even better than anybody could have imagined, and in the end, Malaysia will host the 2008 FEI World Endurance Championship, November 6-9 2008, at the Terengganu International Endurance park, Terengganu, Malaysia.

- more later on the Amazing 2007 Sultans Cup -

Steph

Steph's final story (almost). Part I

2008 WEC - Final Story

It's now 5 days after the 2008 WEC, I'm still struggling to find a way to write my story. I can easily describe the successful race, which in itself is an amazing story... But, in my mind the only way to do real justice to the event, and to Malaysia, is to tell the whole story. The story which goes back to the time that Endurance in Malaysia matured to the point that this small country (with huge ambitions) submitted a bid to host the next FEI World Endurance Championship. I'm going to start by re-telling the story of the 2007 Sultans Cup event which clinched the deal for the FEI and gave Malaysia the final green light to 1. host the event and 2. qualify a full squad (12 members) of Malaysian riders to participate in 'their WEC' the first WEC to be held in the tropics. Several posts will follow -

Malaysia (pre) Story, Part I

Anymore it seems like the only time I have to reflect on or write about the places I've been, is on an airplane to someplace else. John and I just got off the plane from Malaysia, spent 2 days in Idaho unpacking and packing, drove two horses and our LQ trailer from Idaho (where Merri is taking care of things for the winter) down to Arizona (where our friends Kevin and Rusty give us a place to park ourselves during the winter), took a day to get organized, take a short ride in the Sonoran desert, and then board a plane for Argentina. We're in transit now, and will soon see our friends Miguel and Celina Pavlovsky for a day in Buenos Aires, and then off to El Reparo - where Mercedes Tapia and Eduardo Becar Varella have their home and Endurance training center on the pampas. They are hosting Argentina's National Endurance Championship this year, at the Cazon Endurance Village which they built in the nearby town of Cazon - with the aid of their Polo friends and contacts. Mercedes and Eduardo are both veterinarians, and have strong lasting friendships with their clients. But more of that story to come, as the adventures of the next couple weeks unfold - including joining Malaysian riders in Uruguay and Chile as they hope to increase their stables of Endurance horses and qualify for their place in the 2008 WEC.

But this story is about Malaysia - about this small country's determination to host the FEI World Endurance Championship of 2008. A truly amazing story about dreams and determination and commitment, and an uncanny drive and ability to do whatever needs to be done along the path to success. This small country is full of highly educated and talented people. Centuries of cultural mixing - from the invading Siamese armies in the south to the introduction of Islam into population which previously embraced various types of 'ancient' religions, as well as Hindu/Buddha. From decades of British colonial rule to years of Japanese occupation during WWII. Complex cultures and dialects, tropical climate, fishing traditions and ocean bound societies - centuries of rebounding from occupiers and invaders - a very nationalistic people with a deep understanding of the best - and the worst - that the rest of the world can offer. In everything the Malaysians do there is a strong sense of art - of beauty - a fullness of color and form - and a precision of line. The Malaysian people have a kindness and calmness about them - a quick smile and genuine warmth and an easy going manner- but a very strong and determined core. They seem to be able to adapt to and understand the western ways as well or better than other 'developing' countries.

They can build the cities and the industries and the academies, they can pump the oil and produce the electronics, they can play in the global market - but they don't seem to jeopardize their unique culture in the process. They revere their royalty - the King, the Sultans - the art and dance and textiles and crafts of Malaysia are strongly supported and proudly displayed. The society is quite complex. Generations of Indian, Chinese and Malay cultures seem to have settled into roles in society (apologies for my stereotypical categories - this is my personal observation) with a large segment of business owners and trading companies being of Chinese descent, Indians as professionals and educators, and Malays as the core of government and cooperative business growth. And of course the underlying friction in a society that has a wide range in socioeconomic status, a range of religious and ethnic factions, and conflict between the desire to maintain traditional values and the need to adapt to modern ways in order to be a player in the global economy.

A classic example of the dicotomy - the tension between traditional and modern - is in the definition of 'weekend' in Malaysia. In most of Malaysia, the 2 days per week allocated to 'weekend break' are Friday and Saturday. Friday is the muslim holy day (comparable to Sunday in Christian cultures) and Saturday is the 2nd day of 'weekend' holiday. Government and schools resume on Sunday. But in Kuala Lumpur - the capital city of Malaysia and center of business and economy - the weekend is composed of Saturday and Sunday, as it is in most of the rest of the world. Basically businesses and national government cannot afford to lose a day of trading and communication with the rest of the world in order to survive, and surpass.

So yes, I am a tremendous fan of Malaysia - a place I never ever would have imagined going to, much less becoming involved with to the degree that I have! I'm fascinated with their beautiful people and beautiful tropical climate, with their politically ambitious society, with their balance between religion and industry, art and economy, royalty and parliamentary democracy, poverty and wealth, and gentle but effective persuasion.

My first trip to Malaysia was in May 2005, thanks to Dr. Nik's impulsive notion to bring me over to his country - to experience, first-hand, Endurance riding in the tropics, Endurance in Malaysia. Which then gave me the opportunity to use the internet to share Malaysia and Malaysian endurance with others around the world. (Dr. Nik's clever ulterior motive!) . I received an invitation to come and ride in the Edaran Classic, the country's premier and most professionally run Endurance event at the time. Tansri Tajuddin, owner of Edaran Electronic Systems, is a patron and supporter of Equestrian sport, and an equestrian himself. As Malaysia began to embrace the sport of Endurance riding more strongly, so did Tajuddin. He brought a high degree of professionalism to the sport by guiding his staff in the creation of a first class Endurance event. Located at Tajuddin's Ar Raudah Equestrian Center (north of Kuala Lumpur) an Endurance training center evolved, and a network of trails was created to offer a challenging event. Tajuddin created a first class Endurance event and invited his network of friends and associates to support the sport - and further it's growth in Malaysia. My first experience was amazing - I fell in love with the country, with the people, and made lasting friendships. And was tremendously impressed with the organization and professionalism of the event coordinators. The venue was excellent and the trails were challenging - and interesting! Through palm oil plantations, and villages with curious children and farmers, past farms with goats and dogs and water buffalo, past quarries and ponds with bull frogs piercing the night with loud exclamations. Experiencing amazing heat and humidity and rain and the vivid colors - silk batiks and men with brightly colored clothing and bold signs and banners and the overwhelming jungle greens of the day, and the reds and purples of a sunset on a tropical coast. It was absolutely amazing and captivating and I fell in love with the country.

Malaysia's first dabbling with the sport was in the 1990's on the coast of Sabah (west coast of the island of Borneo). Peter and Penny Toft of Australia helped pioneer the sport, and their stories of tigers and jungle trails and seeking relief from the oppressive heat and humidity by riding in the ocean- and all the growing pains associated with a new equestrian sport are amazing. Malaysia entered the world endurance stage in 1998 by sending a team to the World Endurance Championship in Dubai. An intrepid group of riders, including Dr. Nik and Dato (Awang) Kamaruddin who are still passionate endurance riders, came to Dubai with an assortment of Polo ponies and race track thoroughbreds. They managed to qualify for the event by completing a 120km course set up with the guidance of the FEI, consisting of lap after lap around a race track. That's all they could manage at the time, and that's all that they needed. I recall seeing the group from Malaysia in Dubai, and was delighted and amazed that they were there - with boundless enthusiasm and an odd assortment of horses. And I believe 2 of the riders actually completed the event! (those were in the good ol' days when the FEI actually allowed 24 hours to complete a 100 mile course). That was in 1998. A slow and steady growth of the sport followed - with more individuals taking on the challenge, adding venues, buying horses, competing abroad, carrying the sport forward.

Then in the fall of 2005, the year that Dubai hosted their second WEC, the year that I rode at Edaran and many of us first became familiar with Malaysia as a place where they really did have Endurance rides... in that year Malaysia submitted a bid to the FEI to host the 2008 World Endurance Championship. 2006 had already been granted to Aachen, Germany - and the 2008 WEC was a choice between two bidding nations - Bahrain and Malaysia. Both countries were relative newcomers to the sport, both countries had national support but had not yet hosted a major international event, and the bid went to Malaysia.

By this time Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, the Sultan of Terengganu and next in line to become Malaysia's King in fall of 2006, had also taken up the sport. HRH Mizan was already an accomplished equestrian, with years and family generations of polo and jumping, and he took to Endurance naturally and enthusiastically. And also in 2006, construction of Malaysia's venue for the 2008 WEC, Terengganu International Endurance Park, began. Terengganu was the obvious location for an International venue in many ways - it is one of the few places in Malaysia where there are flat, sandy trails. Tropical climate and mountainous terrain do not combine well to produce a venue appropriate for a world championship - too tough, too dangerous, too hot, too long. Terengganu was the perfect location, and as the home of Malaysia's King, it was a go. Construction of the Endurance village began - the FEI had granted Malaysia the bid, now they had to do it right - and in typical Malaysian fashion this meant the best of everything, as good or better than any other International venue - and not just functionally perfect, also beautiful.

-more later-

Steph