Blood horse Mickey vs anxious-traveller Dajara: Fouaad Mirza’s choice headache

Seigneur Medicott is constructed like a ‘marathoner’, can battle it out in robust cross-country programs and is a frequent flier, unfazed by the change in environment. Dajara 4 is formed like a ‘powerlifter’, can assist pocket double the factors together with her swish jumps however is an anxious traveller.
Like different Olympics-bound Indian groups, Fouaad Mirza is watching a range headache of his personal. With the Tokyo Games lower than two months away, the Indian rider has to finalise which one in every of his two horses will accompany him: Medicott, the skilled gelding, or the younger mare, Dajara. “Both are healthy and fit,” Mirza says. “On paper, it’s very hard to choose between them.”
But select he should.
There are 60 horses stabled on the facility the place Fouaad Mirza trains. (Source: Express)
On Sunday, within the Polish village of Baborowko, Mirza confirmed his qualification for the Tokyo Olympics. The 29-year-old had received a quota final 12 months however in accordance with the principles, he needed to meet the Minimum Eligibility Requirement to have the ability to compete on the Games, which start on July 23. He accomplished the formality over the weekend, to formally grow to be the primary Indian rider to make the lower for the Olympics since Imtiaz Anees, who competed in Sydney as a wildcard.
Unlike different competitions, the 29-year-old will be capable of take only one horse to the Olympics. However, very like in every other sport, choosing the right teammate might be important. And as Mirza explains, on the subject of deciding on horses, is as a lot about analysing their temper as it’s about kind. “The experience of travelling around helps,” he says.
Medicott, nicknamed Mickey, has travelled a lot that taking a flight – the mode of transport to Tokyo – doesn’t hassle him a lot. “Mentally, he would be a bit more settled but for Dajara, everything is new. That’s the case usually with mares; if something had to change, it puts them off a bit. So wherever we are, our routine with them has to be as close as possible to home,” Mirza says.
Home for Mirza and the horses is Bergedorf, Germany. Over the subsequent few weeks, Mirza will conduct a range trial of kinds, placing them by way of completely different checks.
Medicott, he says, is what they name in equestrian phrases a blood horse. “It means he is like a racehorse. Mickey is built like a marathon runner. He has a lighter body type. Dajara, on the other hand, is built more like a powerlifter; heavier and stronger,” Mirza says.
August 26: Fouaad Mirza grew to become the primary Indian to win an Asian Games particular person medal within the equestrian occasion since 1982. Mirza received the silver medal in particular person leaping with a rating of 26.40. (Source: Twitter)
Dajara’s body, although, places her at an obstacle. Her dimension and the muscle mass she carries could make her torpid in a heat and humid local weather, which is how Tokyo is predicted to be throughout the Olympics.
Medicott has already confirmed himself in such circumstances. Astride the now 15-year-old, Mirza broke India’s 36-year-old medal drought on the Asian Games by profitable a silver medal at Jakarta 2018. It has been the best level of Mirza and Medicott’s lengthy relationship. But then, Medicott obtained injured and in his absence, Mirza teamed up with different horses, one in every of them being Dajara.
Dajara is 5 years youthful than Medicott. She lacks the expertise and temperament of competing in large occasions however her one high quality might be important in Tokyo: leaping. At the Olympics, the rider-horse workforce will compete in three rounds – dressage, eventing (which additionally features a leaping section) and leaping. “That is Dajara’s forte, so it’s definitely good for her,” Mirza says.
Both are roughly on the identical stage in dressage whereas Medicott pips Dajara within the cross-country. “Mickey holds a bit more experience as he has been around the block, has done some difficult competitions and knows his job,” Mirza says. “Dajara is just starting to do difficult courses. But in Poland, both of them did really well on a course and in conditions that were really tough.”
Poland was the final likelihood saloon for Mirza, who has spent a number of sleepless nights making an attempt to fulfill his MER. Almost the whole 2020 season obtained wiped off due to the pandemic. After the Covid-19 state of affairs obtained beneath management and equestrian reveals started throughout Europe earlier this 12 months, a herpes virus amongst horses lower quick the season.
Quarantine guidelines for Mirza in addition to his horses made it more durable for him to compete in loads of occasions, leaving him with simply two alternatives to safe his qualification. “There was one show in Britain but due to Brexit, the logistics of travelling there with horses was very tricky. So Poland was my last chance. If I had missed this, the Olympics would have gone as well,” he says.
Mirza says the strain, which frequently brings the very best out of him, has jolted him into motion so near the Olympics. Not solely him, the horses too. “They both put up a convincing performance and showed we are on track to peak at the Olympics,” he says.
All three of them might be vaccinated – Mirza obtained his first Covid-19 jab whereas the horses obtained inoculated for the herpes virus — however only one horse will journey with Mirza. And he says they are going to be feeling the strain too. “The horses will be able to feel the pressure. They can feel the urgency with your grip and then rise to the occasion along with you. Hence, the partnership between the horse and the rider is everything,” he says.