Article: A personal passion for horses

Saturday June 6, 2009

The King has turned horse riding into a top-class tourism draw.

Yang Di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin has turned a personal passion for horse riding into a top-class tourism draw benefiting the rakyat in Terengganu – and also helping to put Malaysia in the map of international equestrian tournaments.

Since 2002, the King was instrumental in getting the state ready for equestrian tournaments, culminating with the successful hosting of the Federation Equestre Internationale (FIE) World Endurance Championship in 2008.

Tuanku Mizan riding Jakim Murphy in the Melaka Grand Invitational Endurance Ride in Malacca on April 11. — Bernama

"Tuanku Mizan personally went to France in 2005 with the Equestrian Association of Malaysia (EAM) to bid for the Endurance Championship to be held in Malaysia," according to an article in the National Sports Institute of Malaysia's official portal.

"Despite bidding against other more established endurance nations, Malaysia was conditionally granted the opportunity to hold the World Endurance Championship 2008," added the article.

Endurance riding is a special sport held outdoors over rough terrain and includes uphill and downhill trails, water crossings and wooded areas.

It is the only equestrian sport where a horse can cross the finish line first and yet be eliminated on veterinary grounds.

The welfare of the horse is therefore the foremost determining factor in the competition.

Two years before the 2008 championship, Tuanku Mizan had played a keen role in establishing the Sultan's Cup Terengganu Endurance Race as an effort to promote sports tourism in the state.

The Sultan's Cup Terengganu Endurance Challenge 2007 served as the trial event to the World Endurance Challenge in 2008.

"Through his ambitions, His Majesty created awareness and interest in this discipline, locally and internationally," said an article in the World Endurance Championship Terengganu 2008 website.

The King has participated in many international events in Australia, France, Spain, New Zealand and others.

Tuanku Mizan also set up the Royal Terengganu Endurance Stable (RTES), which was formed to prepare the state for participation in equestrian sports locally and abroad.

Upon his appointment as Yang di-Pertuan Agong in 2007, he had some of his Arab horses transferred from Terengganu to Kuala Lumpur so he could continue to ride with his favourite animals during his five-year reign as King.

The King's passion for horses has rubbed off on his son, Tengku Muhammad Ismail.

At the Melaka Grand Invitational Endurance Ride 2009 in April, father and son finished creditably in their respective categories.

Tuanku Mizan took part in the 80km event and finished third out of 14 finishers from a field of 26. The Agong, astride Jakim Murphy, rode under RTES colours.

Tengku Muhammad Ismail, also riding under RTES's colours, finished fourth among the 34 finishers in the 40km category astride Harmere Cairo.

Tuanku Mizan also took part in the Edaran Endurance Classic 2009 in Terengganu last month, where he joined 15 other horse riders in the 120km category while 94 other riders took part in the 40km, 80km and 160km categories of endurance racing.

Last year, the King participated on a bigger stage - he carried Malaysia's flag in the Federation Equestre Internationale (FIE) World Endurance Championship at his homestate of Terengganu.

However, his horse "Ibrahim Paschal Larzac" was eliminated after the fifth loop as he rode under a heavy thunderstorm through the race.

"I'm sad because my horse could not continue but I am happy that there were so many fans who came to watch the event," said Tuanku Mizan.

This article was taken from: The Star Online: News: Opinion  6 June 2009