Showjumper Jay ‘Tiger’ Halim has a wonderful new home, and his Candy Stud is going from strength to strength – but he does want to raise some issues with the sport’s format…
“Howdy Tiger cubs,
As usual apologies for my tardiness, but this year seems to be flying by and if you don’t already know then I have some super exciting news to share. I bought my own equestrian property!
Shilton Edge farm is near Burford in West Oxfordshire. I have 16 indoor stables with an indoor and outdoor arena, a house with an annex and a separate cottage for my team to live in, all set in 18 acres. It’s a dream come true,
The new move is going to make me more available for training/teaching and it gives me more scope to take on more horses and clients, and as well as all of this my Candy Stud breeding programme is flourishing too.
We recently sold the homebred ‘My Zamba’ to Ireland to be an event horse. She is one of the first to have been sold and the first of which to leave the country. I am getting so much satisfaction from breeding. I have lots of lovely prospects up and coming. We are now finally getting stuck in with the rising the five-year-olds that are showing plenty of movement and jump plus they are very easy on the eye. I cannot wait to show them to the world.
My big boys have also held their own this year; Bart, VIP, Deby, Goodmans For Fun, and Abrisco have all (I think!) to date managed to win a class at pretty much every national and international show that they have been to, which I think is some achievement.
Moving forward into the New Year the aim is to get into the bigger shows. Sadly this is only achieved by being well ranked in the world ranking list or having the money to ‘buy in’ to some shows. Quite frankly it’s a tough situation to be in, if I am not at the shows in the right classes I won’t be gaining points, and sadly winning national classes in the UK has absolutely no benefit towards the international shows, including those in the UK. It’s a very frustrating position to be in.
In reflection 2015 has had some great outcomes, I am certain that 2016 is going to have its challenges but I am ready… I am the Tiger, after all!
I want to wish everyone out there a very happy Christmas, and a prosperous new year.
All the best”
Jay