Mounted up for the Asian Games

HER ROYAL HIGHNESS Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana, having competed internationally on horseback herself, is going all out to promote the Thai equestrian team’s chances at the Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, later this month.
“Spirit Incheon”, a short film about the newly unveiled team – captained by the Princess – is now showing on TV and in cinemas.
At the squad’s presentation to the press this week, the Princess insisted she’d be happy with any result from the games, knowing how hard the members have worked in preparing and fully aware that everyone is doing their best.
“It’s always about the competition within yourself and between you and your horse,” she pointed out.
Princess Sirivannavari has been on the national team since last year’s SEA Games in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, where she finished 10th in individual dressage and fifth in the team standings.
In Incheon she’ll be riding Prince Charming, 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding bought earlier this year in Germany, with which she has quickly developed a “partnership” under the guidance of French dressage master Alain Francois.
“Since the SEA Games last year the team has adhered to a rigid practice schedule, but, because of my fashion-design work in France and my familiarity with the language, I decided to practise there,” she said. “I’ve been deeply dedicated to practising, five days a week since April. I also do fitness training and swim to be in top shape for the tournament.”
Princess Sirivannavari has ridden horses since childhood, following the example of her sister, Her Royal Highness Princess Bajrakitiyabha. She took a successful detour into badminton, also with the national team, but a few years ago, while studying and working in Paris, was drawn back to equestrian sports and began enthusiastically practising dressage and show jumping. In July last year she completed a course for riding instructors at the Ecole Nationale d’Equitation.
“I prefer dressage because it’s the foundation of equestrian sport and requires such a great deal of concentration,” she told the press this week. “The rider and horse must develop a strong bond and be able to communicate with one another, more so than in any other equestrian regime.
“And, since I love art so much, I find dressage very elegant and beautiful. Every posture is marvellous, and the rider has to dress up too. I also like free style, in which the rider has to control the horse according to the rhythm of the music that’s played.”
Having her own horse at the Incheon event is a big advantage over the “borrowed horse” system used at the SEA Games, she said. “Under that system the riders and horses have such a short time together. So I think this will be quite a good games and, as usual, I’ll do my best.”
The Thai team is comprised of 11 riders sharing among them the three Olympic disciplines – dressage, eventing and show jumping. The members’ individual qualities and their natural camaraderie are evident in the short film “Spirit Incheon”, with which the Thailand Equestrian Federation is building public awareness about the sport and the squad that will be representing the country in South Korea.
The film can be see on the public TV channels, TrueVisions, Workpoint TV Digital and Siam Sport TV and at SF cinemas. The rock group Big Ass performs the theme song, “Jai Soo Fun”, which was written with the help of music whiz Vinij Lertratanachai.
 INCHEON EVENTS
 The equestrian events take place from September 20 to 30, with six medals on offer.

DRESSAGE
n Team members: HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana, Chalermcharn Yotviriyapanit, Pakinee Pantapa, Ravisara Wachakorn
n Dressage is first, with Captain Sirivannavari and her riders attempting on opening day to offer one the 30 best combinations in order to move into the next round. The team needs at least a 65 per cent average score among all members.
n South Korea reigns supreme in dressage, having won gold in all recent Asian tournaments, followed by Japan, China and Malaysia.

EVENTING
n Team members: Colonel Fuangvich Aniruth-Deva, Sub-Lieutenant Supap Khaw-Ngam, Promton Kingwan, Supanut Wannakool
n Heats take place from September 24 to 26. This is where Thailand has the best chance to win gold. In the 2010 Asian Games the Thais, led by Olympic rider Nina Ligon, almost bested Japan for the gold, but had to settle for team silver and fourth in individual scoring.

SHOW JUMPING
n Team members: Sailub Lertratanachai, Alexander Davis, Siengsaw Lertratanachai
n Scheduled for September 27 to 30, this discipline will see Thailand represented by three relative newcomers to the international level. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar usually do best in show jumping, but Japan, South Korea and Taiwan can never be counted out. Many of these riders are members of world cup leagues.