Hello rider! This is Daniel Foo. This page shares information about Horse Riding in Malaysia.
If this is the first time you are searching for horse riding in Malaysia, I’d like to welcome you to the exciting world of equestrian by giving you a free book as a gift:
Click here to download the book: Horse Riding 101 – A Comprehensive Guide for Beginners by Daniel Foo (180 pages, 110 MB)
Click here to download training syllabus: Beginner – Horse Riding Syllabus (36 pages, 8 MB) if you want to learn horse riding.
Took us approximately 2.5 hour to cover slightly over 10km, which is enough of riding for the day.
Kyrgyzstan Horse Riding Day 4 is a bit of a short ride but it’s fine.
The weather is a little too extreme to ride for long.
That wraps up our riding tour.
We spent a few more days in Bishkek and Almaty before coming back to Kuala Lumpur. Those are more touristic traveling in the towns so I will leave those stories for another day.
If you want a similar horse riding experience, you may contact Aigul (+996 553 280 881 or email applehostelkg@gmail.com) to refer to my itinerary or feel free to customize the riding tour base on your preferences.
There are several yurt camp sites along Song Kul Lake.
We stayed in one of the more special one (glamping) yesterday as we already tried the traditional yurt camp on the first night. Both offered amazing experiences.
Since we went on the wrong trail, we had to trot and canter a little more to catch up with the distance.
After more than 4 hours of riding, covered slightly over 17 km, we arrived at our 1st yurt camp.
Arriving at Yurt Camp
Mehdu is untacking the horses to allow the horses to rest.
Tired faces hiding under the shades upon arriving at the camp site.
Not forgetting to take some photos of the amazing view.
The yurt camps are set up right next to a river.
Horses are just simply roaming freely.
A row of yurt camps for accommodation and dining area.
Lunch was served in one of the yurt camps.
Extra blanket and pillows are available to keep the night warm.
The yurt camp is equipped with solar powered light and a heater that burned for a few hours until mid night. Apart from that the setup is pretty minimal.
No charging for the phones, so yes, bring your power bank.
This is how Kyrgyzstan Horse Riding Day 1 ended. We called it day early as we were pretty exhausted from riding under the extreme weather.
Once we landed, we head to Almaty Hotel for our first night stay.
We did some groceries shopping and have ice cream by the road side under the chilling weather.
We have to start traveling early the next day at 7:00 AM.
The hotel buffet breakfast will only start serving at 8:00 AM so we requested the hotel to pack breakfast boxes for each of us.
We stopped by coffee store at petrol station for our morning coffee.
It’s such a blessing to get good coffee during road trip.
During the drive from Almaty (Kazakhstan) to Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan).
This is our Journey to the West bread because it has been through 7 x 7, 49 disasters.
Photo with our driver, Nuric. We stopped by for toilet break (yup, that one).
The crossing of border from Almaty to Bishkek is 5 hours of travel by private car.
Getting into Kyrgyzstan
The immigration checkpoint took us approximately 1 hour. However, walking outside under the afternoon heat is rather torturing.
After the immigration, it’s another 1 hour of driving to get to Bishkek.
We have lunch with Aigul (center), the owner of Apple Hostel in her cafe.
We engaged Aigul for arranging our riding trip. We really enjoyed her attentiveness and wonderful hospitality.
We selected Aigul to organize our trip because she offers the most value for money all-in package (transport, food, accommodation and horses) after our research and we were impressed.
If you want a similar experience, you may ask her to refer to my itinerary or feel free to customize the riding tour base on your preferences. Aigul’s WhatsApp +996 553 280 881 or email at applehostelkg@gmail.com
After a quick lunch, we hop on to another car to drive to Kyzart.
From Bishkek, it takes another 5 hours to drive to Kyzart, the small village where we get started with our riding tour to Song Kol Lake.
The sky was almost dark by the time we got to Kyzart.
A tastefully decorated homestay. It is one of the best accommodations in Kyzart.
Simple yet delicious dinner prepared by Azima’s kitchen.
Collection is a vital aspect of equestrian training that enhances a horse’s balance, strength, and responsiveness.
It involves the horse engaging its hindquarters, lifting its forehand, and moving with increased lightness and suppleness.
In contrast, hyperflexion and riding without collection can have adverse effects on the horse’s performance and well-being.
This article explores the concepts of collection, hyperflexion, and the absence of collection, providing insights into their benefits, challenges, and training techniques.
What is Collection?
Collection is the state in which a horse carries more weight on its hindquarters, lightens its forehand, and moves with increased engagement, balance, and responsiveness. This training is characterized by a shorter, more elevated stride and a rounded frame.
While the horse shows a round neck, this is not an ideal example as the back is a little hollow (yellow line).
Here is a good example where the body has a round frame and engaged hindquarters.
Note: It’s not always easy to ask for a collected state like the example above, especially if you are starting out. Sometimes there are horses are not trained or just cannot get into a collected state yet. So, do not be too hard on yourselves.
Benefits of Proper Collection:
Enhanced Balance for the horse’s weight is more evenly distributed, improving overall balance and reducing the risk of stumbling.
Increased Strength and Suppleness as collection develops the horse’s hindquarters, promoting strength and flexibility.
Improved Responsiveness for a collected horse is more attuned to the rider’s aids, allowing for precise and subtle communication.
Elevated Performance during collection is essential for advanced movements in dressage and other equestrian disciplines.
Achieving Proper Collection:
Engagement of Hindquarters by encouraging the horse to step under with its hind legs, carrying more weight behind.
Elevation of Forehand by promoting lightness in the forehand by encouraging the horse to lift and round its frame.
Balanced Aids by using a combination of seat, leg, and rein aids to maintain the horse’s balance and engagement.
Hyperflexion: Understanding the Controversy
Hyperflexion, also known as Rollkur, involves over-bending the horse’s neck so that the chin is drawn tightly toward the chest, often at the expense of proper collection.
This practice is highly controversial and widely regarded as abusive due to the physical and psychological harm it can cause to the horse.
Issues with Hyperflexion:
Compromised Collection in Hyperflexion can interfere with true collection by restricting the horse’s natural movement and engagement.
Breathing Restriction during this unnatural position can restrict the horse’s airway, making it difficult for the animal to breathe properly.
Stress and Discomfort in Hyperflexion causes significant stress and discomfort, both physically and mentally.
Physical Damage when Long-term use of hyperflexion can lead to muscle strain, joint issues, and spinal damage.
Avoiding Hyperflexion:
Natural Position by focusing on achieving a natural, relaxed head and neck position for the horse.
Correct Training Techniques by using appropriate training methods and avoid shortcuts that force the horse into an unnatural posture.
Prioritize Welfare by always consider the horse’s comfort and well-being in training and riding practices.
Riding Without Collection
Riding without collection means the horse moves in a more extended frame, with less engagement of the hindquarters and a lower head and neck position.
While this is acceptable in certain situations, such as warming up or cooling down, a lack of collection can indicate insufficient training or physical limitations.
Challenges of Riding Without Collection:
Reduced Balance when without collection, the horse’s weight is less evenly distributed, increasing the risk of imbalance and stumbling.
Decreased Responsiveness for a horse lacking collection may be less attuned to the rider’s aids, resulting in delayed or inaccurate responses.
Lower Performance Level of certain advanced movements and exercises require collection for proper execution, making them more difficult without it.
Encouraging Collection from an Uncollected State:
Transition Exercises by use transitions between gaits and within gaits to encourage the horse to engage its hindquarters and lift its forehand.
Lateral Work by incorporate lateral movements like leg yields, shoulder-in, and haunches-in to promote engagement and suppleness.
Balanced Aids by focusing on using balanced seat, leg, and rein aids to guide the horse into a more collected frame.
Conclusion
Understanding and correctly applying the concepts of collection, hyperflexion, and riding without collection are crucial for the health, performance, and well-being of the horse.
Proper collection enhances balance, strength, and responsiveness, while avoiding hyperflexion and addressing a lack of collection ensure the horse remains comfortable and injury-free.
Always prioritize the horse’s welfare in all training and riding practices to foster a harmonious and effective partnership.
It’s the durian season in the month of July. We thought it was an interesting idea to bring our horses to Segamat, Johor for trail ride in the durian farm.
The Saville Equestrian Park (SEP) team floated the horses over. The team did an amazing job to prepare for the weekend rides.
It was really exciting because it is the first time ever we do such a program.
Let’s roll the tape…
We did not have a big stable with all facilities set up in the durian farm.
The SEP team is resourceful enough to prepare what we needed for the riders for a safe and pleasant ride.
1st Durian Farm Trail Ride
We started our 1st ride in the Saturday evening. Most of the riders could only travel (from KL to Segamat) in the Saturday morning.
Rider’s photo time.
In the trail, the view from horse back.
There is also a sweeper at the back to ensure no rider is left behind.
A group photo while we were in the middle of the trail.
Carrying a durian while riding is definitely challenging.
Back to the durian farm after the trail ride.
2nd Durian Farm Trail Ride
We have another trail ride on Sunday morning with some friends from overseas.
Wasted no time, we headed into the trail.
Riders in the trail having a slow walk upon entering the trail.
We took the ride slow and easy with lots of time to enjoy the peaceful trail.
Of course, not forgetting to take some photos.
Before heading back, we passed by a short stretch of tar road.
3rd Ride
On the Sunday evening, we have the 3rd group of rider who recently completed riding 160km in Mongolia.
The track was a little wet due to the earlier rain, where we did a lot of walking.
There were also plenty of long and dry track for us to do slow cantering.
And smile!
One more group photo before we exit the trail.
Once we returned, the group enjoyed the durian buffet.
The farm workers opened the durian continuously to satisfy the hungry stomach after the ride.
The trail covers approximately 9km.
It was not a very long track but it was definitely one of the most interesting trails that combines riding horses and durian buffet.
Great job to the Saville Equestrian Park team with the flawless coordination and wonderful hospitality for a fantastic trail ride. Good job, team!
