28 horses: officer prince says thanks

Malaysian prince Tumku ‘Teak’ Ismail Ibrahim is serving a short commission with the Indian Army in Jaipur. And so happy is his fat...

Malaysian prince Tumku ‘Teak’ Ismail Ibrahim is serving a short commission with the Indian Army in Jaipur. And so happy is his father with the training his son has received that he has made a unique gift to the Army—imported polo ponies worth nearly Rs 4 crore.

Teak’s father, the crown prince of Johor province in Malaysia, has already sent 20 thoroughbred Argentine horses for the Army’s 61st Cavalry headquartered in Jaipur. ‘‘Eight more horses are on their way,’’ Commanding Officer of the Cavalry Col J S Virk said.

Teak, grandson of King of Johor, is in India under an exchange programme that allows members of the royal family to be trained at the IMA and then serve as an officer for a short period here.

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After passing out from Dehradun, Teak was commissioned as a lieutenant with the 61st Cavalry in January this year.

‘‘I had suggested to my father that our team could become better if we had better horses. He immediately placed an order for 28 of the finest in Argentina,’’ he said.

Each of these horses, according to the book value calculated by the Army, is worth nearly Rs 15 lakh.