Throughout the world, the disciplines of equestrianism are many and varied.  Whilst the SLTC Apprentice School’s main focus in on the art of race riding, their horsemanship education was extended recently when they visited the Kuala Lumpur Academy of Polo in Ampang.

At the invitation of doyen Malaysian equestrian and high goal international polo exponent, General Manager of KL Academy of Polo, Peter Abisheganaden, the apprentices attended the Academy for an in-depth training session,  after their busy morning at trackwork.

   

Polo, which originating in the 14th Century BC, is one of only three games which must be played with the stick held in the ride hand. The  SLTC students were taken through the origins of the sport, its rules, equipment and the mode of play before the apprentices were mounted on the Academy’s polo ponies.

Pre Apprentcie Ejoy gets tips on mallet control.

Under the tutelage of Peter and his professional instructor, the apprentices firstly sat on the ‘wooden horse’ practice mechanism, before attempting to master the art of riding with double reins, each mounted on one of the ultra sensitive and responsive Academy’s polo ponies.

 Beautiful KL Academy of Polo grounds

The students then moved onto one of the Kuala Lumpur Academy of Polo beautifully manicured turf polo fields,  for a session of ‘stick and ball’ before a “Quickest Goal” contest.

SLTC Apprentice School student A Nazir won the “End to End – Quickest Goal” competition.

Tote Board of Malaysia’s CEO Puan Nor Hashimah attended the very dynamic session and was amazed at how quickly the students picked up the art of riding one handed and swinging a mallet to hit the ball.  

  SLTC Apprentices on the Academy’s polo ponies

Students enjoyed the hospitality of the KL Academy of Polo for lunch before presenting Peter with a SLTC Apprentice School memento for the occasion.

 App A Nazir receives his Quickest Goal award from General Manager of KL Academy of Polo, Peter Abisheganaden 

“A polo handicap is a persons ticket to the world.”

Winston Churchill

Poetic Guest

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