SA Horse Expo 2010

A total of 181 delegates attended the lectures presented by eighteen international speakers at the recent SA Horse Expo, presented at Turffontein Race Track. It was the first time that all the different disciplines and interest groups shared a conference under one roof.

Various parallel sessions and topics ensured that there was something for everyone at all times during the conference. The parallel sessions were divided into the different interest areas: Racehorse trainers, breeders and owners; sport horses; horse owners; endurance; farriers; physiotherapy; veterinarians; and a general session – and all the sessions were filled with lectures of the highest quality. The speakers who presented at the event were all international experts in their fields of interest, with tons of information to share with the South African delegates.

Gillian Higgins presented an entertaining demonstration on the various anatomical structures of the horse with the use of paint on a live horse

Gillian Higgins’s performance on Thursday afternoon was picture perfect, as she demonstrated the varying anatomical structures of the horse with the use of paint on a live horse. Saturday was filled with a number of exciting activities and attracted lots of spectators. It was the first time that Arabian flat racing took place before the start of the November Handicap. Colleen Kelly gave the audience tips during her talks focused on improving the horse rider’s balance, seat and posture.

Clinical psychologist, Kim Kidson, and therapist, Rolynne Rensleigh, spoke about the fascinating subject of horses healing humans. EAPISA is the body that promotes equine assisted psychotherapy and they are working extremely hard at informing the public on how horses are used to heal humans.

The SA Horse Expo was coordinated by Vetlink Conferences and hosted by the South African Equine Veterinary Association. More conferences are planned for 2011. To ensure that you receive updates on these courses, visit www.sahorse2010.co.za or www.saeva.co.za and list your name and contact details.

SA junior champs in PE

The 2010 South African junior championships took place in Port Elizabeth from 11-19 December. The following riders overcame temperamental weather to finish top in their respective disciplines:

• Eventing: Katie Keller on Blue by Ou (GHS).
• Individual dressage: Michelle Glover on Font Lyndon (Eastern Cape [EC]).
• Freestyle dressage: Anthea Michaeletos on Ulivia STV (GHS).
• Open equitation: Chelsea Gertenbach (GHS).
• Showing: Nicola Mohr on Ef VL Sportschu (Western Province [WP]).
• Working: Tayla Tropolis on Jasmine Gold (EC).
• Show jumping 1,30 National Grand Prix: Bianca Steytler on Scooby Doo (GHS).
• Individual 1,30 show jumping: Hakahana Absolute (GHS).
• Female vaulting: Alexa Stals.
• Male vaulting: Bongani Mvumvu.

The coveted grooms’ soccer match was won by the team put forward by KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).

In the team championships the results were as follows:

• Eventing: 1st Western Province; 2nd GHS; 3rd KZN.
• Dressage: 1st KZN; 2nd GHS; 3rd EC; 4th WP; 5th Northern Cape.
• Equitation: 1st EC; 2nd GHS; 3rd KZN; 4th WP.
• Showing: 1st WP; 2nd EC; 3rd GHS; 4th KZN; 5th Mpumalanga.
• Show jumping: 1st GHS; 2nd EC; 3rd KZN; 4th WP.

SA Horseman would like to extend a hearty congratulations to all the juniors who took part in the competition.
–Samantha Wright

Pensteekkampioene gekroon

Die 2010 Suid-Afrikaanse Interprovinsiale en Nasionale Pensteekkampioenskappe het vanjaar vanaf 13-17 Desember in ‘n baie warm en droë Beaufort-Wes plaasgevind. Groot was die verbasing toe die weer omdraai en meer as 50 mm reën oor twee dae geval het. Die volledige program kon ook nie voltooi word nie en die organiseerders het besluit om slegs die vereiste 70% van die program te voltooi, sodat die nasionale spanne vir 2011 gekies kon word.

Protea Dogterspan: Van links is Dalene Baksa (afrigter), Annanje Schutte (kaptein), Natelie Klemm, Charlize Venter (onderkaptein), Charlotte Stipcich en Nena Mocke. Die spanbestuurder is Juanie Venter

Protea Seunsspan: Van links is WJ Smith (kaptein), Bertu Smith, Christi Smith, Fraser Heckroodt (onderkaptein) en Marnus van Wyk. Hulle afrigter en bestuurder is Bennie Heckroodt en Tienie Smith

Interprovinsiale kampioenskappe
Die interprovinsiale kampioenskappe is ‘n span-kompetisie. Die beste vier ruiters per provinsie word gekies om aan die kampioenskappe deel te neem. Deelnemers gebruik tradisionele lanse en swaarde om ‘n kartonpen van 300 x 75mm teen ‘n galop van 4,5 sekondes oor 50 m uit die grond raak te steek.

Vanjaar was ‘n besonderse kompetisie en die top drie spanne, KwaZulu-Natal, Noord-Vrystaat en die Vrystaat, het mekaar behoorlik opgekeil. Noord-Vrystaat en KwaZulu-Natal het gelyk in die eerste plek geëindig met 475 punte elk. Die Vrystaat was in die tweede plek met 473 punte.

Nasionale kampioenskappe
Alhoewel ruiters tydens die kampioenskappe aan ”halfseksie items” (twee ruiters wat saam ry) en ”seksie-iems” (vier ruiters) deelneem, bepaal die ruiter se individuele prestasie sy of haar posisie op die rangleer aan die einde van die kompetisie, waarna ’n nasionale seuns- en dogterspan aangewys word.

SA Boerperd toon veelsydigheid

Die SA Boerperd word nie net in tradisionele en universele driegang-, vyfgang- en karretjieklasse vertoon nie, maar kan ook gebruik word as beesperd en Western perd. Rivierveld SA Boerperd-stoet gebruik skoukampioene soos Lang Carel Zambesie en Mahashi Le Noël, asook Jarec Blydskap en Li- Juan Edel – tans van die land se beste Western-perde – vir die beoefening van die Western-gymkhana.

Fica Nel en Jarec Blydskap

Die Western-gymkhana bestaan uit vier dissiplines, naamlik drom, vlag, sleutelgat en paalvleg. Daar is ook ‘n rodeo-afdeling waartydens perde die bulle en broncos in die arena werk en terugdraai na die kraals toe. Al vier dissiplines word teen tyd voltooi en indien ‘n ruiter enige van hierdie hindernisse omstamp, laat val of uittrap, word ‘n vyf-sekonde tydstraf bygevoeg.

Al die speletjies word volgens die American Quarter Horse Association se standaarde uitgemeet en tye word elektronies geneem. Wanneer die perd se bors by die ingang verbygaan, word die elektroniese tydstelsel geaktiveer. Sodra die perd se bors weer by die ingang uitgaan, word die stelsel gedeaktiveer.

Dromresies: Drie dromme word hier in ‘n piramiede gepak. Die ruiter moet in ‘n klawerblaarformasie links of regs om die dromme ry en elke keer sy of haar spore kruis.

Hier is dit belangrik dat jou perd ewe goed na albei kante toe kan draai op ‘n jaag-galop. Paalvlegresies: Ses paaltjies word ‘n vasgestelde afstand van mekaar geplaas. Die ruiter gaan teen die paaltjies af op ‘n jaag-galop, draai om die onderste paaltjie, vleg terug tussen die paaltjies deur tot by die boonste paaltjie, dan weer om die boonste paaltjie, vleg terug na die onderste paaltjie en kom uit op ‘n jaag-galop. Die perd moet baie soepel wees en sy leibene tussen elke paaltjie verwissel (fl ying change).

Sleutelgat: Die baan bestaan uit ‘n sirkel met ‘n ingang wat soos ‘n sleutelgat lyk. Die perd moet ingaan op ‘n jaag-galop en dood stop (sliding stop), 180 grade na links of regs draai, en uitkom op ‘n jaag-galop sonder om die lyne te raak.

Vlagresies: Twee dromme word op mekaar geplaas. Die onderste drom het vyf vlaggies. Die ruiter moet links of regs om die vlaggies een-een van die onderste na die boonste drom skuif. Hier is dit baie belangrik dat jou perd nie vir die vlaggies skrik nie, dat die dromme staande bly en die vlaggie nie laat val word nie.

Draai van bulle en broncos: Hierdie perd moet op ‘n tiekie kan draai. Die ruiter moet van die perd se rug kan sweepklap en die perd moet nie ‘n vrees vir bulle hê nie.

Fika Nel van Rivierveld met sy perd Jarec Blydskap Tank, is ’n bekende gesig by rodeo’s en ry tans onder die top vyf mans in die land in onder andere die drom-, sleutelgat- en paalvlegresies. Tank is geskool in al vier die Western dissiplines sowel as om bees te werk. Die SA Boerperd se intelligensie, vlugvoetigheid, spoed en temperament maak van hom ‘n gesogte perd vir Western-speletjies en rodeo’s. Hy kan met gemak gebruik word om kompeterend in al vier dissiplines deel te neem.

New saddle in the making

Ben Liebenberg from Franco C Saddlery has been commissioned to develop and produce the new HBA Marathon Saddle range for Hassan Bin Ali from Dubai. The first consignment of HBA Marathon 1 saddles was shipped at the close of 2010. This fully synthetic saddle is also available in South Africa.

AHS update

Due to this season’s (2010/11) suspected African Horse Sickness (AHS) outbreaks reported to date, horse owners should exercise caution when intending to move horses directly into the AHS controlled area of the Western Cape. To date no general ban on movement into the Western Cape has been imposed by the state vet authority. However, all horse owners requesting permission to enter the AHS controlled area, must apply to their local state veterinary office. For general information, go to the African Horse Sickness Trust website.

The following areas have reported suspected cases of AHS: Pretoria North, Pretoria West, Hammanskraal and Grahamstown. For the benefit of all South African equestrian sports disciplines, we wish to protect South Africa’s export status as well as the resident population of horses in the AHS controlled zone. An outbreak of AHS in the AHS controlled area, will jeopardise international participation by South African horses. – The African Horse Sickness Trust

Cape HCU needs support

Established in 1995, the Cape of Good Hope SPCA’s Horse Care Unit – one of only three horse care units in South Africa – is dedicated to preventing cruelty to all equines. Some are kept in poorly ventilated, parasitic and unsafe conditions and fed a poor diet. These horses and ponies are often worked long, exhausting hours, pulling unroadworthy, overloaded carts.

Every week the SPCA Horse Care Unit’s two full-time inspectors carry out dozens of inspections at the most unsuitable and desperately inadequate places where horses are kept. Their first approach is to remedy a problem through education. Unwanted, abused, neglected, sick and injured horses, ponies and donkeys are brought back to the specialist unit in Grassy Park, where their condition is assessed and where they are nurtured back to health if at all possible under expert veterinary supervision.

The facility includes seventeen outdoor and four indoor stables for animals requiring intensive or specialised treatment and can at any time accommodate up to thirty equines. The unit, which costs around R50 000 a month to run, has two horse boxes and three vehicles capable of getting to locations situated off the beaten track. The Aubrey Jacobs Feed Store enables the unit to keep adequate supplies of feed for its horses, ponies and donkeys.

If you would like to contribute to the cost of caring for rescued horses, donkeys and ponies, go to www.spca-ct.co.za