Pg Mohd Nasir Pg Anak Ja'afar is back on the saddle and looking to secure a place at next year's Asian Games.
The first Bruneian to compete in equestrian at the Asian Games (2010) and SEA Games (2007), Pg Mohd Nasir took a year's break to focus on his studies - he just graduated with a degree in Business and Management from Brunel University in West London - and is using the next few months to "get back into the rhythm of things".
"I'm going to use this winter season to get back into ring shape and will begin international competitions in January at venues in Spain, Italy and Portugal," he said in a recent interview.
"The last time I competed was in Aalst, Belgium in July 2012 - and I didn't even sit on my horses since then.
"Things have actually come a long way since I resumed with three of my horses (Rudolf Z, Platinum and Arcadian) a couple of months ago, with my body and feeling adjusting quicker than I thought it would have taken.
"My main aim is still the upcoming Asian Games in Incheon, with the intent of upping my performance from Guangzhou in 2010," added the 24-year-old.
The 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games was the biggest stage of his life and the first Bruneian to compete in the sport at the continental tournament rose to the occasion by finishing 11th in the equestrian Individual Jumping final - just one spot away from a Top-10 finish in the Chinese metropolis.
Pg Mohd Nasir said he knew about next month's SEA Games in Myanmar, but since he had to confirm earlier in the year, he was unable to make the trip since he was still unsure about his plans and didn't know how long it would take to get back into riding shape.
He was set to compete at the 2011 SEA Games in Indonesia but a 90-day quarantine for horses that fly in from Europe and the United States put an end to those plans - which he hopes to resume at the 2015 SEA Games in Singapore.
Though Pg Mohd Nasir said that he has already let the Department of Youth and Sports know that he wants to fly the flag once again for Brunei at the Asian Games, he knows that there is still a long way to go until the Sept 19-Oct 4 multi-sport event in the South Korean city.
For now, the focus is on January's Mediterranean Tour in Oliva Nova, Spain, a three-star Competition Showjumping International (CSI) event with heights up to 1.50m.
He may have only gotten back to riding last month but he's confident that he will have no problem getting his game face back on.
"Of course jumping in the ring is a different story, but I feel that progress will come very quickly," he said.
"I've already started jumping at training shows and things should take off from there.
"I don't think it would be a problem in January as it's mainly down to knowing your horses.
"I know my horses very well, and of course I always try to perform the best I can with them.
"My target is to have good consistent rounds with my horses, mainly to get back all that competition feel, and also to get my competing mentality back.
"If all goes to plan it should be smooth sailing as I will be competing in many more international shows from there on.
"With riding we can pretty much learn something new everyday - it's just down to me keeping my focus and staying in shape."
