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Due to limited space, we are unable to publish all of the letters addressed to SA Horseman. We would, however, like to thank each and every writer for their insightful comments, praise and constructive criticism. Letters are published unedited, but may be shortened due to lack of space.

Who is right?
Lesley H Ashton writes
The dilemma of standards of safety/cruelty/handling/tack has always fascinated me, as an outsider with a “love” for horses. In Europe this dilemma is simply maintained by the international accepted standard of The Pony Club. Unfortunately in this country the word “pony” has the incorrect connotation.

The South African Pony Club’s national chairlady is Isabelle Weyer. Like most organisations, it draws its strength from volunteers and therefore there are the usual complications of lack of capacity, or individual agendas that sometimes tax very good organisations. The SA Pony Club is functioning in the Western Cape, Limpopo, Gauteng, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.

However, the Pony Club standards are obtainable internationally and in the case of functioning Pony Club branches, the horse master knowledge is an excellent and sound basis for ALL horsemen to accept and put into practice.

The Pony Club standards have been adopted by the SAQA system of education as the “foundation” level, i.e. 18 years and under. In fact, Sanef National Instructors Plan (chair – Dianne Petersen) will give credits for Pony Club members who hold B and A certificates.

I believe that, should ALL horse bodies insist that the basics of the “Pony Club Way” be taught and implemented, we will eventually all be speaking the same language from the same page. I fully appreciate the different needs and emphasis on the different sports horse disciplines, but the welfare and safety should remain a common factor among all involved with horses and the sport.

Finally in terms of the National Sport and Recreation Act, 1998 (Act No 110 of 1998) and its current Amendment Bill – should all horse bodies come on board with the simple adoption of the “The Pony Club” system, it will go a long way to developing and transforming our sport.

This includes supporting the Department of Sports and Recreation’s policy to encourage a healthy lifestyle and empower our youth with relevant skills for sustainable livelihoods.

Some sites you may find of interest are www.nzpca.org / www.ponyclub.org / www.pcuk.org / www.canadianponyclub.org / www.ponyclubvic.org.au.

Baasperd Ghoe-Ghoe
Izak Vollgraaff van Nieuwoudtsville skryf:
In 1938 was my Pa nog 'n jong man, ongetroud en lus vir die lewe. Hy was nie net 'n goeie perderuiter nie, maar was ook baie waaghalsig. Wanneer daar jakkals gejag word, was hy altyd op die voorpunt om die jakkals te vang. Hy was ook 'n lekker ligte ruiter, wat dan ook 'n perd in ruwe terrein gepas het.

Hy het 'n goeie perd, Ghoe-Ghoe, en 'n goeie hond gehad. My Pa het egter 'n probleem gehad. Ouma was 'n velwerker – karosse sowel as velkomberse – met die gevolg dat my Pa nie by die huis mag kom met 'n stukkend-gebyte vel nie. Sy honde mag dus nie 'n jakkals of rooikat, of enigiets waarvan Ouma die vel kon gebruik, stukkend byt nie.

Eendag was my Pa in die veld met Ghoe-Ghoe en sy twee honde. Die wêreld was daarlangs besaai met ronde ysterklip-koppies, wat dit besonder moeilik gemaak het om met die perd te jaag. Die honde kry toe ook 'n rooijakkals en skraap hom. Toe die honde begin blaf, het Ghoe-Ghoe outomaties soontoe gehardloop met my Pa op sy rug.

Die jakkals hardloop, getrou aan sy aard, reguit na 'n klipkoppie en bo-oor, met die honde al blaffende agterna. My Pa jaag dan met die perd om die kop en anderkant vat hy dan weer die spoor of jaag op die geluid van die blaffende honde af. Daar is gewoonlik 'n vlaktetjie of straatjie wat sanderig is.

Daardie gedeeltes was maklike terrein en dan kon die perd voluit hardloop. Daardie dag was dit maar weer soos male sonder tal oor en om klipkoppies, totdat die honde die jakkals sodanig keer dat Pa met Ghoe-Ghoe bykom en bo-oor die jakkals jaag en die perd die jakkals doodskop of kap, wat die geval ook mag wees.

Daardie spesifieke dag het dinge egter anders verloop. Pa was op vol spoed agter die jakkals en die honde aan toe Ghoe-Ghoe in 'n klomp ertmansgate in hardloop. Die perd het in die gate getrap en bollemakiesie geslaan. My Pa, wat maar 'n ligte mannetjie was, het ver van die perd geval. Ghoe-Ghoe het opgespring en in volle vaart agter die honde en jakkals aan gehardloop.

Die perd het nou egter nie óm die koppies gehardloop nie, maar bo-oor soos die honde gehardloop het. Hy het natuurlik sy rigting bepaal soos wat die honde geblaf het. My Pa het niks oorgekom van die val nie, maar moes toe maar voetslaan op die perd se hardloopspore. Na 'n ver ent en bo-oor verskeie klipkoppies het hy toe by sy perd en honde gekom. Die honde het 'n paar treë van die perd af gelê. Die perd het by die jakkals gestaan wat hy doodgekap of geskop het.

Die perd was natuurlik sonder enige ysters aan sy voete. Sy hoewe was tot in die lewe afgebreek en sy bene was die ene bloed. Toe hy hom daar vat en probeer lei, kon hy nie uit sy spore kom nie. My Pa het die saal en toom afgetrek en huis toe geloop om te gaan hulp haal. Hy en 'n paar skaapwagters het toe die perd gesleepdra na die naaste water.

Daar het hy vir hom voer gebring totdat hy kon beweeg en wei. Daar by daardie water het Ghoe-Ghoe vir meer as 'n jaar gebly voordat hy gesond was. My Pa het my vertel dat die dag toe hy die perd opsaal en ry, was hy net so getrou en lus vir loop soos die dag toe hy seergekry het.

Ride and Tie in SA
Lyn Carstens writes:
Reacting to your article on Ride and Tie in the previous issue of SA Horseman, we certainly have had Ride & Tie in South Africa before and it was wonderful fun. We started with a Ride & Tie in Colesberg 24 years ago and it spread to Middelburg and Cradock.

Teams came from as far as Namibia and Cape Town and it was especially popular with the varsity students. Those that competed at Colesberg received a Ride & Tie buckle which was treasured.

If you wish for more detail I will gladly oblige as I was involved with the organising.

Please send all letters to izakhofmeyr@telkomsa.net or mail it to P O Box 1284, Pretoria 0001. Readers are also welcome to join us for a chat on www.horsejunction.co.za

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