What a fantastic President's Cup 2010 at Maple Ridge! We had a superb crew of handlers, judges and secretaries this year. This year the event received a sponsorship from Kellow Park Stud and Stables, allowing for good prize money and day sheets for the winners of each class. Our judge was Dr Senckenberg from Germany.

Free-jumping is a wonderfully visual spectacle. The point of the competition is to assess the technique, scope and attitude of the horse. This is based on the European model. If you have a young horse that is bred to be a jumper or if you are looking to sell a young, unstarted horse, free-jumping is an excellent way to evaluate your horse's potential over fences and to give him a head-start into the world of jumping.

The Belgium import, Homerus, winner of the South African free-jumping championship (Photograph courtesy of Fine Photography)

Benefits of free-jumping

For young horses, it is a great outing and a way to build their confidence as jumpers. By gradually building up the fences, they quickly learn that they are capable of jumping bigger jumps. The jumps are built at correct distances in a lane, which will prevent them from running out. Experienced handlers will keep the horse moving forward and aid the horse to keep its rhythm.

The judge assesses each horse individually and determines how many times the horse should jump and how high. Younger horses will jump smaller jumps. We avoid pushing them too far, too fast. Repeating the same exercise, once done well, can too often tire the horse that has given its best. This is carefully monitored by professionals as each horse is different and we cannot allow fatigue or burn-out in each individual. Free-jumping can be an excellent training exercise, but should be treated with care.

Scoring

It is not a high jump competition. Each horse is scored from one to ten on three components:

• Canter stride – overall impression, rhythm, control.
• Technique – suppleness of the body and use of the neck, tightness and quickness of the front legs and activeness of the hind legs with attention to overall ability and athleticism.
• Scope – the horse must remain careful and be able to handle the final width and height of the fence relating to his level of experience. Temperament, character and intelligence come into play.

And if you were wondering, here are the results of this year's President's Cup.

Two-year-old free-jumping

First: Hitoshi, an imported BWP colt owned by Capital Stud of Henning Pretorius: The sire of Hitoshi is Winningmood. This is Ludo Phillapart's latest Darco-bred ride, the previous being Parco who also competed Darco. Sioux de Baugy is in the bottom line of Hitoshi's pedigree and brings us back to the Grand Veneur, a line found in Henning stallion Ulior (who died last year) and in Beau Veneur owned by Franlaren Stud. Hitoshi is a beautiful grey and he received nines for his technique, scope and attitude/approach to the jump.

Second: Kellow All the Aces, locally bred SA Warmblood owned by Ryan and Kate Andrews: This is an Always One PR/Man of Property xx. Always One R is premium licensed by the SA Warmblood Horse Society and has lines of Zeus/Voltaire/Ramiro. The dam line is a Thoroughbred (indicated by xx after the name). She is the same dam as Kellow Courage who came second last year in the two-year-old class.

Three-year-old free-jumping

First: Homerus, Owned By Capital Stud of Henning Pretorius: He is a direct son of Darco out of a Cash (Cor de la Bryere/ Lord) line.

Second: Phoenix Kevlar, owned and bred locally by Roger Hesssen: This horse is the classic cross of a Thoroughbred stallion onto a Warmblood mare (Magniet/Doleriet) that needs refinement, but has all the talent and strength you could wish for. Keepers Flash himself had a spectacular loose jump and had Tilden in the bottom line.

Third: Furstlich Aramis, a colt owned by David Louw: Aramis is by Gallion, a Hannovarian stallion belonging to Dr Spath in Namibia, out of a Drosselklang I mare.

Fourth: Kellow Courage, a locally bred SA Warmblood owned by Ryan and Kate Andrews: By Clarinius out of a Fine Edge xx mare.

Four-year-old free-jumping

First: Riverleighs Wild Garnet, owned by Alex Page: Wild Garnet is by Sosaths Le Wildt (imported by Sheba Zagers). Le Wildt is by Landor S /Praefektor.

Tied in second: Branic Kublai Khan (by Darco out of Rival d'Or mare) who showed good technique and rhythm, and Weltmeyer Dartanion (by Dageraad out of Amera xx) built in an uphill way with good movement and willingness.
Fourth: Gondor Uberloo (Ubergabe out of Rex Grannus mare).

New class

Making its debut was a new event called "potential dressage loose movement – young horse classes" for two-, three- and four-year-olds, was added to our young Warmblood classes. It is based on the European format and is a method of determining which young horses will potentially meet the requirements of a top dressage horse. Horses are allowed to move freely and unassisted in a controlled environment, an oval enclosure of 20 x 40 m­, where the judge will mark them from one to ten on the following components:

• Movement
  o Walk – four-beat rhythm, ground covering strides and a regular, swinging, free gait.
  o Trot – swing, elasticity and balance, self-carriage, suspension.
  o Canter – united, light, uphill, covers ground, cadenced.
• Hindquarters – active, stepping through, strong.
• Quality of paces.
• General impression as a dressage horse.
• Overall picture: The horse thus gives the impression of doing of his own accord what is required of him. It displays a natural and harmonious balance both physically and mentally. Lightness of the forehand and the engagement of the hindquarters.
• Temperament – confident and attentive

Two-year-old

First: Vrijehof Graffiti, a South African Warmblood bred by Ina de Vry: This filly was by the Olssens-imported Trakhener stallion Holmgrove Gold Card out of a Wachmann mare. She had good conformation and moved in an uphill way with good hindleg action.

Three-year-old

First: Ulrikka Dane owned by Nadine Maheri: Mare by Ulior out of a Sidney mare.

Four-year-old

First: Schwaike Calisto bred by the Griessel family: She is out of their imported Nimmedor mare and sired by Capriccio. The mare has very good conformation and moved in an elevated way with elasticity and activity from behind.

SA free-jumping championship: Homerus imported from Belgium and owned by Henning Pretorius. Reserve went to Riverleighs Wild Garnet owned and bred by Alex Page.

SA loose movement championship: Vrijehof Graffiti, a South African Warmblood bred by Ina de Vry. Reserve Championship went to Schwaike Calisto owned and bred by the Griessel family.