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Nooities react to Cornelia case
The so-called Cornelia cruelty case that was reported on in the previous edition of SA Horseman, caused severe and wide-spread reaction. In the process the Nooitgedacht Horse Breeders' Society (NHBS) was severely criticised. Here is the statement that they issued in reaction to the criticism:
"The recent Cornelia cruelty case, where a so-called horse trainer was found guilty of animal cruelty in terms of the Animal Protection Act (No 71 of 1962), has raised many concerns about some of the training methods used in the horse industry. The abused pony at the centre of this case is a Nooitgedachter, owned by Mr Kiewiet Hartman, who also happens to be the president of the NHBS.
Unfortunately this incident could be seen as an endorsement of cruel and unstructured training methods by both the NHBS and its president. Regrettably the NHBS was not visionary enough to immediately condemn these training methods. At the time Mr Hartman also failed to issue a statement that he did not condone such training methods.
Since the implications of this case have become so public and widespread, it is clear that there is a great deal of anger around these issues, and particularly at the Nooitgedacht Horse Breeders' Society itself. In retrospect it is clear that the NHBS has misread the situation and apologises for this rather belated response.
Mr Hartman would like to clarify that he does not condone any form of cruelty to animals. The NHBS wants to state clearly and unconditionally that it in no way endorses any mistreatment of animals whatsoever. After serious discussion and soul searching, Mr Hartman has vacated his position as president and board member of the NHBS with immediate effect.
This issue has also highlighted the need for a stricter code of conduct for horse breeders. The NHBS therefore calls on all horse breeder societies to join them in an effort to agree on a humane and wide-ranging code of conduct to be applied throughout the industry."
Oplewing in rytuig-versameling
In Suid-Afrika, maar beslis in die Wes-Kaap, is daar hernude belangstelling in die koop en versameling van outydse perderytuie en koetse te bespeur. Met Ben van der Westhuizen van Durbanville se historiese Landau-koets as aansporing, is twee replikas onlangs na die Boland ingevoer.
Ofskoon Ben se koets, wat in die 1870’s gebou is, waarskynlik die mees historiese rytuig in sy soort in die land is wat steeds op gereelde grondslag gebruik word, het Alan Nelson van die Agter-Paarl, en Danie en Alta Alberts van die Suider-Paarl afsonderlik twee sierlike Landau-replikas die land binnegebring. Die Albertse se koets is in Pole vervaardig en dié van Alan in Nederland.
In ’n verdere verwikkeling op dié gebied, is ’n uitstalling van 23 outydse koetse en waens op die wynplaas Blaauwklippen, buite Stellenbosch, geopen. Dit het saamgeval met die viering van die plaas se 325ste bestaansjaar. Hierdie buitengewone koetsmuseum sluit onder meer ’n koets-lykswa in – Hennie Basson.
Double gold for Maple Ridge
The Equine & Equestrian Grading Council recently announced the results of the recent grading assessments of Maple Ridge Equestrian Farm for the categories "Riding School/Livery Yard" and "Sponsored Show Venue". Maple Ridge achieved gold accreditation in both categories.
A set of minimum standards serve as a benchmark from which to work to establish the appropriate grading. The completed assessment form was then presented to the Grading Council by Equigrade assessor, Joan Bekker. Several criteria were evaluated and scored (at the time of the evaluation of the assessment, the Grading Council members are not aware of the identity of the establishment under review).
So it came as a welcome surprise, given the high standards, that these two assessments resulted in a gold grading with 100% of minimum standards exceeded for the "Sponsored Show Venue".
"What impressed me when I went to assess the riding school/livery yard, was that it was clearly 'ops normal' at the yard, with no scurrying around to impress me or make things look better – I got the clear impression that this was how the yard operated every day," said Joan.
The Equine & Equestrian Grading Council can be contacted at info@equigrade.com.
Boererate vir perdesiekte?
Perdeliefhebbers wie onlangs perde verloor het weens die vlaag van perdesiekte wat groot dele van die land getref het, meen dat die inenting van hulle perde teen die siekte geen doel gedien het nie, weens ’n weerstand wat perde teen die entstof opgebou het.
Baie glo selfs dat dit vir die huidige eerder beter sal wees om boererate te volg om die siekte te probeer beheer, soos om perde met die sogenaamde kakiebostee te bespuit. Die entstof teen perdesiekte word deur Onderstepoort Biologiese Produkte (OBP) vervaardig en deur verskeie farmaseutiese ondernemings versprei. Volgens dr Pamela Oberem, ’n bekende veearts, sal dié instansie so gou doenlik ’n nuwe entstof teen die siekte moet ontwikkel.
Beide die besturende direkteur van OBP, me Vuyelwa Penxa, en Jacques van Rensburg, produkbestuurder van Bayer Dieregesondheid, een van die ondernemings wat die entstof bemark, het die aantygings van ondoeltreffendheid verwerp. Volgens Van Rensburg sou baie meer perde gevrek het indien die entstof nie toegedien is nie. Bayer verkoop jaarliks meer as 100 000 dosisse van die entstof en tot 90% van die perde wat daarmee ingeënt word, word teen die siekte beskerm, sê Van Rensburg.
In provinsies soos Gauteng, Mpumalanga, die Vrystaat en die Oos-Kaap, is tientalle perde wat egter ingeënt was, oor ’n tydperk van drie maande dood weens dié gevreesde siekte. ’n Boer van Noordwes het 18 perde verloor, waaronder stoetperde uit ingevoerde hingste.
Weens die voortdurende veranderinge in die virusstamme wat voorkom, moet nuwe entstowwe jaarliks op die mark geplaas word. Die siekte word in hoofsaak oorgedra deur muggies, wat in warmer weer gedy. Van Rensburg beveel aan dat perde-eienaars saam met die inenting van perde, ook streng muggiebeheer moet toepas. – Hennie Basson
Success for free-jumping
"We want more!" is what the spectators and participants in the recent free-jumping competition at Maple Ridge were saying. The competition took place during the President’s Cup in April 2008.
To crown the country's top up-and-coming youngsters, two highly professional horsemen from Europe, Jaap Werners of the Netherlands and Herbert Blocker of Germany, were flown in for the occasion. Sancho Voerman of Belgium was also brought in for the weekend. He was the horse handler in charge and team manager inside the free-jumping arena. Other important figures in the arena were George Phillipedes and Brandon McNiven.
The competition was stiff. Forty horses competed in their respective age categories. It was thrilling to see all the breeds competing against each other. Participating breeds included Ponies, Thoroughbreds, Dutch Warmbloods, Holsteiners, Anglo-Arabs, SA Warmblood horses and a Spotted Horse.
Within their age classes (two-, three- and four-year-olds) horses were awarded marks in three categories: Technique, scope and overall impression by the judges. Many people were skeptical and wanted to "test the water" during a testing event that preceded the competition.
In the two-year-old class, Alchemy’s Cadermie (Contact x Kuntz-de Brem) took home the Alchemy Stud’s sponsored trophy, while in the three-year-old class Brandenburg Legal Action (Land Earl x Canello x Drumbeat) received the Brandenburg Stud sponsored trophy. In the four-year-old class Callaho’s Loni (Landor S x Compliment) took home the Lynch Family’s "At the Gallop" trophy.
Maple Ridge Equestrian Farm would like to thank all who were involved in contributing their efforts, money and time into the event. – Tarryn-Anne Liebenberg
Stubbs pioneers honoured
Two pioneers in the local horse industry were honoured at the Hoofbeat Festival, held at Geyerspan between Lichtenburg and Koster, in conjunction with National Horse & Livestock Promotions. Honorary certificates were given to David and Charlotte Stubbs for being two of the most prominent pioneers ever in the South African equestrian history.
For the last 60 years David has featured most prominently on the South African horizon, wearing many different hats – including that of rider, competitor, trainer, judge, selector and president of the South African National Equestrian Federation (SANEF). A versatile rider, he has filled many roles within the equestrian community, being awarded Springbok colours for showjumping and receiving his provincial (Transvaal) colours for polo.
In the mid-1950’s he represented South Africa abroad on his own horse, Willie Waterloo. The pair won the British national showjumping championship at Swindon and qualified to compete in the King George V Cup.
Just like her husband, Charlotte has left deep footprints in the South African riding scene and none more so than by introducing the equitation competitions in the country, as well as a system for training and examining instructors. She has been directly responsible for permanently shaping the South African equestrian standard. Charlotte started her illustrious career in horse racing, at 18, riding in the ladies race at Kenilworth and Durbanville. – Hennie Basson
Glory in Brazil
South African endurance rider, Carmen du Preez, recently won the Paraopeba Brazilian National Endurance Championships over 160 km. She was riding her own mare, Nag Sharon Bez, whom she keeps in Brazil. Carmen tells the story:
"I rode her the day before the ride and could clearly feel there was a bomb beneath me ready to deploy into outer space. The temperatures at the ride were very hot, dry and windy which created a dust problem. The terrain was undulating and rocky.
"The day of the ride started at 04:30 am. After the first loop I had very little control over the mare, as she was charging. The second loop was more controllable and she set into her pace at 17,5 km/h. The third loop was still nice and cool and I just tried to keep the pace and catch up the 15 minute gap on the leaders.
"Fourth and fifth loop was hot as hell and the pace dropped down to 16,5-17 km/h. At the start of the final loop I had grooms clutching her reins as she was very eager to catch the leader. Like a race horse she set off at a gallop chasing down the four-minute gap on the leader whom she catches and wins with ease. Her average speed over the course of the 160 km was just under 17 km/h.
"It was a lovely experience and all the riders, trainers and organisers from Brazil always treated us with utmost warmth and friendship. I have participated in three Brazilian rides and plan on doing so for many years to come."
Kursus groei by SA Vlaamperde
Weens die tekort aan opgeleide beoordelaars wat tydens SA Vlaamperdskoue kan optree, is ’n uiters geslaagde beoordelaarskursus vir voornemende beoordelaars op die skouterrein op Malmesbury gehou.
Dit is aangebied onder beskerming van die Ryperd-beoordelaarsvereniging van Suid-Afrika, by wie die SA Vlaamperdtelersgenootskap geaffilieer het. Die voorsitter van die Hackneytelersgenootskap van Suid-Afrika, Chris Bredenkamp, en Aubrey Richardson van die Saalperdtelersgenootskap van Suid-Afrika, het as kursusleiers opgetree.
Veertig belangstellendes het die kursus bygewoon. Volgens die voorsitter van die SA Vlaamperdtelersgenootskap, Marius Kemp, was die belangstelling buitengewoon. "Wat ook verblydend is, is die feit dat talle jongmense teenwoordig was. Dit voorspel dus net goed vir die uitbreiding van die ras", sê hy. – Hennie Basson
Record for Instructors' Plan
The Sanef Instructors' Plan achieved a record number of entries from candidates wishing to take the examination for the various exam levels presented by the Instructors Plan. No less than 69 candidates reported for the examinations in Gauteng recently.
"It has been our aim to make the examinations as accessible as possible, and the fact that so many equestrians want to better themselves through taking these exams, bodes well for the future of the horse industry in South Africa," remarked Instructors' Plan director, Di Pieterse.
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