RI riders to handle tough horses<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesian riders may have to waste time
\ntraining horses during equestrian events at the 18th Southeast
\nAsian Games in Chiang Mai.<\/p>\n
Ardi Hapsoro, Indonesia's ace rider in dressage competition,
\nsaid yesterday that he and his teammates were forced to try out
\nmany horses after hearing that the host country would provide
\ninappropriate horses.<\/p>\n
He quoted an international judge, Wolfgang Niggly of
\nSwitzerland, who said that Thailand would allocate thoroughbreds
\nformerly used in horse races.<\/p>\n
"The disadvantage of using such horses is that their ability
\nto understand instructions are limited," Ardi said. "Even if they
\nare trained intensively for a long time, they will never match
\nthe original horses," he added.<\/p>\n
"Ability to quickly get familiar with, and control the horse
\nis the key to victory," Ardi said.<\/p>\n
He admitted, however, that the host country has the right to
\nchoose the horses. Race horses, usually called cold-blooded
\nhorses, are cheaper than those used in riding events.<\/p>\n
Competitors will only have free practice on Dec. 8 and an
\nofficial training on Dec. 9 before the competition.<\/p>\n
An official of the Indonesian Horse Sports Association,
\nRubyanto A. Hamidjojo, said that despite the disadvantages,
\nIndonesia could dominate the dressage competition.<\/p>\n
"It's not easy for Thailand to beat our experienced riders in
\ndressage. One year is not enough to get skilled in that event,"
\nRubyanto said. Ardi, 24, has been training in dressage for eight
\nyears.<\/p>\n
Ardi won the ASEAN dressage competition in the individual
\nevent in Singapore in July. His teammate, Indra Rosendi, took the
\nsilver. The two also helped Indonesia triumph in the team event.<\/p>\n
Indonesia will parade nine riders to Chiang Mai, including
\nArdi, Indra, Endariyanto and Putri.<\/p>\n
Ardi and Indra are Indonesia's hopefuls in dressage and show
\njumping. Endariyanto will compete in the dressage and three-day
\nevent. Teenager Putri, the only girl in the team, will be fielded
\nin the dressage only.<\/p>\n
The national team will undergo its final try-out at the Asia-
\nPacific Equestrian Games in Melbourne, Australia, from Nov. 10 to
\nNov. 20.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the National Sports Council (KONI) plans to display
\nthe world's longest banner when it sends off the nation's
\nsportsmen and women to the SEA Games on Dec. 6.<\/p>\n
The banner, expected to reach a length of 34 kilometers, will
\nspan from KONI's headquarters at Senayan, Central Jakarta, to
\nSoekarno-Hatta airport, Cengkareng, West Java.<\/p>\n
First the banner will be divided into small pieces by KONI and
\ndistributed throughout 314 cities in Indonesia. People will be
\ninvited to add their signatures, or write a statement encouraging
\ntheir team, on the banner. All these smaller banners should be
\nposted, without stamps, to reach KONI by Dec. 1.<\/p>\n
The program, jointly organized by KONI, the state-owned postal
\ncompany PT Pos Indonesia and private television station RCTI, is
\npart of the nation-wide program to boost Indonesia's performance
\nduring the Dec. 9 to Dec. 17 games.<\/p>\n
KONI will announce the line-up of the Indonesian contingent
\nfor the Games by Nov. 15. The athletes will take part in 26 of
\nthe 28 sports contested during the biennial event. (arf\/icn)<\/p>",
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