Cover Qabil Ambak at 3Q Equestrian
Qabil Ambak at 3Q Equestrian
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A medal-winning sportsman, Qabil Ambak shares about horses and more
Qabil Ambak is a decorated Malaysian equestrian rider who achieved a historic milestone at the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023. He secured his first Asian Games gold medal in the Dressage Individual Competition, realising a dream he had held for 25 years. Qabil has represented Malaysia in more than six Asian and SEA Games, excelling in jumping and dressage events, and accumulating over 20 medals.
“My siblings and I got invested in horse riding thanks to our father; it started when we used to go fishing at what is now the 3Q Equestrian centre. There used to be some ponds, and one day my dad decided to get a pony to ride around the area—but at the time, we didn’t know how to ride, so we were sent to Australia to learn. There, our coach encouraged us to compete in pony classes, which I did around the age of 10. That’s when my brother, sister and I really got into it,” shares the 44-year-old.
Qabil goes on to share that there’s much work to be done prior to learning to ride. “We have to first learn how to interact and care for the horses. We need to get to know the horse, as each has a different character, and they can’t speak, so it takes at least a year for you to truly get to know your horse,” Qabil Ambak says.
Also read: Olympic equestrian Caroline Chew is aiming for glory at the Paris 2024
Above Qabil Ambak was introduced to horse riding at an early age, along with his siblings
Qabil Ambak was introduced to horse riding at an early age, along with his siblings
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“The horses themselves are the athletes in the sport. About 70 per cent of the game depends on them, while the remainder depends on the rider’s skill in controlling the horse. As a rider, the demands on you aren’t as taxing compared to other sports; that’s why you can see 60-year-olds still competing and winning medals in the Olympics—you’ll notice that there are no sex or age categories when it comes to most equestrian sports,” continues Qabil Ambak.
There are also various types of competitions. Qabil specialises in showjumping and dressage, but there are also endurance and polo sports. “All these disciplines have different types of horses. The horses under my command are mainly from Europe; they’re termed ‘warmbloods’ and they’re bred for competitions like dressage or showjumping. Their lineage can be traced back to other award-winning horses. And of course, equestrian horses are bred differently than, say, polo ponies, which are a bit smaller in stature because they need to be more nimble,” Qabil explains.
Among the challenges that equestrian riders face, on top of sustaining injuries, is being unable to compete after months of training because the horse gets sick or just refuses to perform. “That’s why it’s important to know your horse. You can’t push them too hard, or they might just get grumpy,” emphasises Qabil Ambak, who himself has broken a few bones on occasion.
As a parting note, we share this anecdote with Qabil: “Previously, many owned horses and the rich had cars. Now, many own cars and the rich have horses.” He comments, “I won’t deny equestrian sports can be expensive, but that’s at a certain level. If you’re interested in learning to ride, it can be affordable, and there are a few centres catering to people who just want to ride.”
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Images: Daniel Adams
Interview: Sim Wie Boon
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