The Thai Polo and Equestrian Club Rides Once Again

A Passion for Horse Riding

Probably among the weirdest things you can witness in Thailand is the annual Elephant Polo Tournament which is usually organized in the Golden Triangle. Although it was inspired by polo played on horseback, very few foreigners living in Thailand (and, we dare say, even Thais) know that, only 150 kilometers south of Bangkok, on the beach resort of Pattaya, the Thai Polo and Equestrian Club has its gates open for anyone interested in horse riding or polo.

Recently, a team from ‘Bangkok Trader’ had the chance of spending some quality time with one of the living legends of Thai equestrians. On an occasional visit to Bangkok, we met up with Nara Ketusingha, or Om to his friends and acquaintances, a Pattaya-based horse riding and polo trainer, who was kind enough to share for our reader his inspirational life story and love for riding.

For the last year, Om has been heavily involved in Thai polo both as a player, trainer, and event organizer. But his love for riding started when he was only ten, that is, almost 20 years ago, when his child’s mind was attracted by the fancy jackets and boots that riders customarily have to wear when riding. “I saw that people dressed well and looked smart on their horses,” recalled Om melancholically.

Although he attended his first riding lesson at ten, as a child, he loved to ride the beach horses in Hua Hin, where he would spend short holidays with his family. His parents encouraged him to get involved in all kinds of sports and musical activities, but soon Om realized that what he really wanted was to become a professional horse rider. After a few years of learning the basics of horse riding, Om joined the Horse Scout Riding School maintained by the Thai Army and, three years later, he had his first breakthrough when he competed as a member of the Thai national junior team in Thailand’s Hose Riding Championship. On that day he brought home the trophy, which eventually turned out to become the norm in most of the competitions he participated in.

Listening to Nara Ketusingha talking about his love of horses and riding, we could not help not noticing that his participation, at the age of 15, in the Young Riders World Cup (which was held in Thailand), marked an important step in his future career as a horse rider. Although he didn’t win the event, but climbed on the podium as the second runner up, Om felt very proud to have proven that he was among the top riders of his age in the world. “And that was accomplished on a moody horse which nobody in the club wanted to ride!” said Om with a big smile on his face.

Soon after, Om was ready to become a professional rider and thus his parents sent him to a horse riding camp in Australia where he acquired more experience and confidence.  This initial trip to Australia became a recurring journey and, for the following five years, Om went regularly to Aussieland to compete in different events and to train together with his Australian mentor.

As a student at Kasetsart University, he continued riding but also started teaching children’s classes, an activity he still enjoys until today. During his university studies he had the chance of participating as a steward in the Asia Games, a time he explored to the fullest in order to improve his own skills.

Once he had his bachelor’s degree in his hands, he left once again for Australia where, in order to benefit from a student visa, he enrolled in a six-month English course and, at the same time, continued his horse riding training. His concern for the future was soon answered when he was accepted as a master degree student in Melbourne, where he chose to study Business Marketing. Unfortunately, the two years he spent in graduate school took their toll on his horse riding practice schedule and, thus, he had to quit riding for the entire period of his studies.

But the stars shone on Om once again. On his return to Thailand, he got a job at the Thailand National Equestrian Federation and from there he moved on to the Thai Polo and Equestrian Club in Pattaya. Here, he quickly and masterfully took on a range of responsibilities which involve both teaching and marketing. “It was at this time when I got interested in polo,” Om confessed. “Although the riding techniques are different, with my good foundation in horseback riding, it was not difficult for me to adapt. And soon I found myself loving polo as much as I enjoyed riding a horse when I was a teenager!”

Om is now involved in organizing the events which usually begin with the start of the Thai polo season, a job that for him is both challenging and fulfilling. His love for horses and his determination to fulfill his dreams stand proof that, no matter if you’re Thai or foreigner, if you really believe in yourself and work hard to achieve your goals, only good things can happen.

Thai Polo Season Starts

Although there are only around 1,000 riders in Thailand, every year, the Thai Polo and Equestrian Club organizes major events that attract quality polo players from around the world. This year they have scheduled four main events for the months of November and December:

All the proceedings from these events will be donated to charities, so we encourage all Bangkokians and other residents of the Thai eastern seaboard alike to take a break from their hectic lifestyles and enjoy a day or two watching world class polo. And, why not, maybe even try it out!

Thai Polo Facts

– In ancient Thailand, people used to play an Indian sport called khlee, which was later renamed by the British as polo.

– In 1890, His Royal Highness Krom Luang Devawongse Varopakarn, the Thai minister of foreign affairs, officially accepted the proposal of an Englishman, Franklin Hurst, to set up a racetrack and sports field in Bangkok.

– There exists evidence that polo was played at the Pramane Grounds (Sanam Luang) before the 1920s.

– In 1924, the Bangkok Riding Club leased land from the Crown Property Bureau just off Wireless Road. This became the Bangkok Riding and Polo Club, where various equestrian sports (including polo) were played three times a week.

– Polo matches also took place in the north of Thailand at Chiang Mai Gymkhana Club, which was founded in 1898 primarily by British residents living in the northern city as well as in Lampang, Nan, Phrae and Nakhon Sawan.

– Today, polo is enjoying resurgence in Thailand, with patrons like Harald Link encouraging increased interest in the sport among Thais and expatriates by sponsoring international tournaments and playing facilities.

If you would like to take up horse riding or polo lessons, or just go for a horse ride every since in a while, we recommend the Thai Polo and Equestrian Club in Pattaya. For more information you can visit their website, contact them via email [email protected], or call 026503055.

Photographs provided by Akira Ngamphathipong.

An edited version of this article was initially published
in ‘Bangkok Trader’ (vol.4, no. 12, November 2010)