Tanzanian horseman in SA

Faraja Stanley has just been promoted to assistant manager of the equestrian section of Singita Grumeti Reserves in the Serengeti National Park of Tanzania. His rise through the ranks is quite remarkable, starting only a few years ago as a groom with absolutely no experience with horses.

Faraja Stanley (right) with Di Pieterse

Due to a sound empowerment system in place at Singita Grumeti, Faraja and his fellow grooms had the opportunity to prepare for their Sanef exams, after Sanef Instructors' Plan Director, Di Pieterse, led an examination panel to Tanzania in 2007 to conduct the first equestrian exams in that country.

Faraja did exceptionally well and immediately started preparing for his module 3 exams, which he duly passed during a return visit by the examiners in 2009. Due to his keen interest and growing passion for his work, he was sent to South Africa to spend a few months with Verity and Tarryn-Anne Combrinck at Maple Ridge Equestrian Centre near Krugersdorp.

"The idea," explains Faraja, "was for me to experience exposure of various aspects of the equestrian industry, including running a commercial livery yard, competitions, competition horses and riding schools. I had the opportunity to attend competitions such as the President's Cup, an Interschools competition, as well as a TREC event."

Tanzania, he says, does not have a well-developed horse industry. There are relatively few horses and also very few equestrian opportunities: "Where I work we offer very nice horseback safari's, and we try to cater for any experience level. For that purpose we have a wide range of saddles to choose from, so we can cater for any preference."

"When I get home, one of the first things I would like to do is to organise myself better and motivate other Tanzanians to get themselves involved in the horse industry. I think that it is an excellent pastime, especially during weekends, when so many young people just lie around and do nothing."

His personal goals? "I would like to open my own riding school in Tanzania and present competitions."

Learning in isolation

When a yearling is separated for a few days from other horses for practical reasons, it is a great opportunity to get in some good quality training with that youngster, according to a new study by French equine behaviour researchers.

Yearling colts and fillies housed in individual stalls over a period of 11 days, were easier to train to walk and back up on command than their counterparts housed in group stalls, said Lea Lansade PhD. A researcher at the laboratory of behaviour, neurobiology, and adaptation of the INRA-CNRS (French national agricultural research institution) at Nouzilly, Lansade is the primary author of the study. The yearlings also responded more calmly to new sights and sounds as well as sudden surprises, and they showed fewer signs of separation anxiety (whinnies, trotting, and frequent defecation) during training sessions.

"In practice, we suggest that people take advantage of moments of isolation with their yearlings to handle and train them," she said. "This might be when they're being sold, or under veterinary treatment, or just if the pasture conditions are not ideal."

However, handlers should be cautious not to let the separation continue for too long, she added. "Previous studies have shown that such conditions (separation of yearlings for several weeks or months) can be detrimental to the horse's behaviour, as they can become more aggressive or develop bad habits (stereotypes) and have generally poorer welfare." –
www.thehorse.com

Verskeidenheid op Hoefslagfees

'n Keur uit verskillende perde- en ponierasse wat hul beste passies op die maat van musiek uithaal tot waaghalse op verwoede rodeobulle, maar ook emosiebelaaide oomblikke. Dít was van die hoofkenmerke by die Hoefslagfees op Geyerspan, Lichtenburg, wat deur sowat 3 500 mense bygewoon is.

Die indrukwekkende Friese van die Dageraad Stoet het een en almal bekoor

'n Groter verskeidenheid aktiwiteite as ooit tevore is deur die feesgangers geniet met onder meer erfenis-vertonings- en uitstallings. Dit het demonstrasies van wielkorting en sweepvleg en 'n ossewa met rooi Afrikanerbeeste vooraan ingesluit. Die kleingoed het hulle uitgeleef met die skattigste miniatuurperde uit die Stroptop-stoetery van Migdol en die MMC Miniatuurperdstoet van Potchefstroom.

Ook uit Potch het die vertonings van veral nege ingevoerde Frieshingste van die Adelpragstoet, deurentyd die oog gevang. Die professionaliteit, netheid en grasie waarmee die "musical kür" deur vier afsonderlike hingste uit hierdie stoet uitgevoer is, was indrukwekkend. Só ook Cheré Burger en Jean van Deventer se "pas de deux" op onderskeidelik Eelke en Haye wat die toeskouers behoorlik in vervoering gehad.

Daar was ook 'n optog ter ere van wyle Eugène Terre 'Blanche. Terre 'Blanche is postuum as perdeliefhebber- en kenner vereer. Hy was tot verlede jaar 'n gereelde deelnemer aan hierdie fees.

Onder die minder bekende perderasse wat in die arena te siene was, was Geyerspan se perde wat uit antieke tye dateer: 'n agtstuks Norikers wat Piet Botha uit Oostenryk ingevoer het. Ook Hanlie Mostert van Lichtenburg se Warlander is vir die tweede keer hier vertoon. Hierdie ras is uit Andalusian- en Friesperde geteel.

Hoewel die veiling van tien elite-perde weens die swak ekonomiese toestande uiters teleurstellend was, het die arena-items die feesgangers se gemoed deurentyd opgevrolik. Volgens Botha, die hooforganiseerder van die fees, sal dit voortaan jaarliks op die laaste Saterdag van Meimaand gehou word. – Hennie Basson

Team goes Totally Animal

Belinda Haytread riding Totally Animal's Ocean Motion

Constantia mom and daughter equestrian team, Jenny and Belinda Haytread, have been chosen by local Cape Town business, Totally Animal, as their sponsored riders in the Western Cape for the 2010 equestrian competition calendar. Totally Animal manufactures magnetic veterinary magnetic wear for animals in the form of boots, beds and collars. Jenny and Belinda have already successfully competed under their new sponsors at local events being placed in all classes.

Bolanders in Noorde vereer

Twee voormalige voorsitters van die Friesperdgenootskap van Suid-Afrika is vereer tydens die jongste Hoefslagfees wat op Geyerspan gehou is. Dit is gedoen uit waardering vir hul bydraes ter bevordering van die Friesperd- en trekperdbedrywe oor dekades in Suid-Afrika en hul ondersteuning van tradisionele skoue.

Dawid le Roux (links), ‘n bestuurslid van die Friesperdtelersgenootskap van SA, by baanbrekers Pieter Loubser en Jannie Louw, en Piet Botha, hooforganiseerder van die Hoefslagfees. Die koetsier net agter Dawid is Hardy van der Merwe van Koppies

Beide Pieter Loubser van Malmesbury (81) en Jannie Louw van Wellington (72) is in styl met outydse perderytuie die arena binnegebring en het blommeruikers en oorkondes ontvang. Louw, wat vanaf 1989 tot 1994 die voorsitter van die genootskap was, kom uit een van die beroemdste muil- en trekperdfamilies in die Wes-Kaap – van die plaas Eikeboom by Hermon.

Sy Oupa, wyle Kleintjie Louw, het die uitsonderlike prestasie behaal deur die gesogte grootkampioenskap vir 'n span van agt muile op Rosebank vir vyf agtereenvolgende jare te verower.

Pieter Loubser word as een van die beste lewende koetsiers in die land beskou. Sy grootse leermeester was die beroemde SA Vlaamperdvertoner, wyle Lambert Smith van Vondeling, Agter-Paarl, by wie hy sedert die 1960's die fyner kunsies van hierdie vaardigheid geleer het.

Hierdie bekende Friesperdteler en -vertoner het ‘n besondere prestasie behaal deurdat twee van sy hingste sedert 1980 feitlik klokslag die grootkampioenskap vir dubbeltuigperde op die Suid-Afrikaanse kampioenskappe van die betrokke rasgenootskap ingepalm het. Hulle is net een keer dié eer ontneem – juis deur ‘n paar karperde van Jannie!

Pieter het reeds ‘n aantal Frieshingste uit Nederland ingevoer en vanaf 1993 tot 2006 het hy as voorsitter van die genootskap gedien. – Hennie Basson