Arabian Nationals

The Arabian Horse Nationals were held over four days from 23 to 26 March at the Afridome in Parys, Free State. Breeders from across South Africa congregated to show off their purebred Arabians in a variety of disciplines.
Among the numerous ridden classes emphasising the diversity of the Arabian horse, were the easy-going Western riding classes with horses tacked up in shining western gear with flashy cowboys aboard. In sharp contrast to these, were the highly energetic costume horses dressed in colourful Arabian traditional costumes – always a favourite at any Arabian show. There were also the usual English and country pleasure classes and the highly disciplined show hack and hunter classes. All of these were judged by the American judge, Bill Melendez, while the English ridden classes were judged by the distinguished THS judge, Rose Lever.

The halter classes were judged by Bill Melendez (USA), P Rota (Italy) and Basil Jadaan (Syria). Six scores were given by each judge for each horse. These were all individually read out and calculated to decide the winners.

Many Arabian breeders proudly showed off their horses and renowned studs such as Elkasun (winning both foal championships), Johrehmar, Baobab, Rasheeq and the Maritz's took home quite a few championships. But in the end it was the Strydom Arabian Stud that won the Supreme Mare Championship with Hanae HAS and SJB Maritz who walked off with the reserve for Shaheer Bint Helwah.

The supreme champion stallion was FS Luis Figo owned by Haroon Bemat, snatching the title away from his sire, triple crown winner San Joaquin V (owned by Al Badr Arabian stud) who had to be content with the reserve title for the first time in four years.

This year saw a very good entry of 336 horses, the highest number in four years. Approximately 200 of those were halter horses, of which quite a few also took part in riding and driving classes over the next three days.
The event was concluded with a prize-giving ceremony at a gala dinner in the main arena on Saturday evening, where everybody could finally unwind after four days of hard work! – Welma Joubert

The Supreme Champion Stallion, FS Luis Figo owned by Haroon Bemat (H2 Photography)

Nooities hou jaarvegadering

Die Nooitgedacht Perdetelersgenootskap het hulle algemene jaarvergadering in Maart gehou. Twee nuwe raadslede is verkies, naamlik Chantelle McCabe van die Fijnboschstoet by Plettenbergbaai en Driaan Fourie van die Marmaristoet by Pietersburg.

Tydens die vergadering is die hings, Pretman Tornado, met 'n oorkonde vereer vir die uitnemende wyse waarop hy die Nooitgedachterras deur sy lewe verteenwoordig het. Sy eienaar is Claudia Snijckers van Pretoria. Dié kombinasie het onder andere al die 'supreme champion working horse' by die Avis Derby gewen.

'n Verslag van SA Stamboek oor die graad van inteling in die ras, is ook tydens die vergadering behandel en daar is op maatreëls besluit om dié dreigende gevaar die hoof te bied.

Die raad wat die genootskap vir die volgende termyn sal lei, is Marinus van Dyk (president), Izak Hofmeyr (vise-president), Braam Olivier, William Bondesio, Chantelle McCabe en Driaan Fourie.

AHS takes its toll

According to figures released by the African Horse Sickness Trust (at the time of going to print), the toll of this dreaded disease this year was 628 horses dead out of 945 approved cases. Only 317 horses survived the disease.

Reported cases by province:

Cases reported per month:

November 2010 15
December 2010 7
January 2011 37
February 2011 142
March 2011 539
April 2011 173
May 2011 32

Nooitgedachters gekeur

Sewentig Nooitgedachters van een teler is onlangs vir keuring voorgelê. Dit is waarskynlik die meeste diere van dié ras wat nog deur een teler op een slag vir keuring voorgelê is.

Die diere behoort aan Braam Olivier van die Breivilo-stoet en is op sy plaas net buite Villiers in die Vrystaat gekeur. 'n Span van vyf senior en twee junior keurders het die keuring hanteer. Keuring vind volgens 'n negepuntskaal plaas waarvolgens individuele eienskappe van die perd, byvoorbeeld sy kop, nek, voorkwart, middelstuk, agterkwart, voorbene, agterbene en hoewe dan gepunt word. Punte word ook gegee vir beweging, temperament, tipe en algemene voorkoms. Behalwe dat 'n perd dan 'n gemiddelde punt van hoër as vyf moet hê, mag hy ook nie vir meer as twee eienskappe minder as vyf behaal nie.

Die genootskap het onlangs begin om diere wat tydens hulle keuring 'n gemiddelde punt van agt behaal, 'n merietetoekenning te gee. Tydens die keuring het een perd, Breivilo Noupoort, so 'n toekenning behaal.

Breivilo Noupoort het 'n merietetoekenning ontvang tydens die keuring

Genootskap vir antieke ras

Ofskoon die eerste Norikerperde net sowat drie jaar gelede na Suid-Afrika ingevoer is, word die stigting van 'n rasgenootskap vir hierdie antieke Europese perderas reeds in die vooruitsig gestel. Die eerste vul van dié ras is onlangs op die plaas Geyerspan, buite Koster, gebore en is reeds van die hand gesit. Dr Paul Parsons van Witbank het die hingsie gekoop van Piet Botha, eienaar van Geyerspan.

Die aankoop van hierdie goudbruin hingsvul en 'n toename in plaaslike belangstelling in die ras, het die idee van 'n organisasie vir telers en voornemende telers gestalte gegee, sê Botha. Hy is 'n bekende teler van trek- en ryperde wat in 2007 die eerste ses Norikers vanuit hul stamland, Oostenryk, ingevoer het. Die ras het daar oor duisende jare in die berggebiede ontwikkel.

Die eerste perde wat vanuit die Salzburg-omgewing hierheen gebring is, was twee jong hingste en vier merries. Hulle is goudbruin met bykans wit maanhare. Hierdie medium-swaar trekperdras kom egter in vyf kleurskakerings voor. Daarom het Botha 'n jaar later ook nog drie grysblou en drie gespikkelde Norikers ingevoer.
Perde van hierdie kleurvolle ras vooraan 'n bierwa sal van die hoof-besienswaardighede wees tydens die jaarlikse Hoefslagfees wat op 28 Mei op Geyerspan gehou word.

Dr Parsons wil ook in die tweede helfte van die jaar met sy hingsie begin skou, sodat die ras van meet af groter blootstelling in ons land kan kry. Hy meen dat die ras 'n groot toekoms in Suid-Afrika het – nie net as werks- en skouperde nie, maar veral ook as toeriste-aantreklikheid.

Belangstellendes kan dr Parsons by 083 769 0509 kontak. – Hennie Basson

Yearling sales down

The 2011 Emperors Palace National Yearling Sale ended on a high note when lot 599, the penultimate lot on sale, was knocked for R1,2 million to John Freeman. The chestnut colt, consigned by Varsfontein Stud, is named True Master. A son of Jet Master, he is out of G3 winner Bushra.

Overall, the sale posted an aggregate of R115 310 000. Of the 600 yearlings catalogued, 557 went through the ring, and just 65 failed to find homes.

The sale average was R244 301, down slightly from last year's average of R324 557. No fewer than sixteen yearlings made R1 million plus. The top priced yearling to sell was lot 196, Heart's Content, who fetched R3,2 million. The filly, consigned by Varsfontein, is by champion sire Jet Master out of the stakes winning mare, Jalberry.

Varsfontein Stud enjoyed a fantastic sale, and ended up as the leading vendors by aggregate. Their seventeen lots to sell made R7,055 million, and averaged R415 000. Leading vendor, by average, was also Varsfontein Stud (as agent). They sold seven yearlings for an average price of R706 429.

Form Bloodstock were the most prolific buyers, and purchased 20 yearlings for an aggregate of R10,2 million.
Champion sire, Jet Master, sold 35 of his 37 yearlings on offer, for an aggregate of R21 325 000, making him the leading stallion by aggregate. He averaged R609 286, which also made him the leading sire by average, with five or more sold.

Thoroughbred Breeders' Association CEO, Jan Naudé, was resigned about the sale: "These prices are a realistic reflection of the economy. There was plenty of good money for the top horses, but the middle market struggled."

Top honours for Nabab Forever

The 2011 Nissan Easter Festival was held from 16 to 27 April at the Kyalami Equestrian Park in Gauteng. The highlight of the eleven days is the Adult South African Showjumping Outdoor Grand Prix. This year saw 26 starters in this prestigious competition, including favourites such as Barry Taylor, Shaun Neill and Anne-Marie Esslinger as well as some new faces such as Francesca Maddalena and James Lowe.

By the end of the first round of competition this year's President's Cup winner, Shaun Neill and Clyde Z, Dominey Alexander and Capital Shiraz, and Paul Hart on Erlenrode Colbart, were all on one time penalty. Jade Hooke on A New Era, Barry Taylor on Nissan's Nabab Forever and Brendan McNiven on Crystallise, all jumped clear rounds.
Grand Prix classes are run over two rounds – the person with the least number of penalties wins the class. In the second round all six riders went clear, forcing a jump-off between the three double clears. Jade went first, producing a clear in a fast time. Barry Taylor jumped a textbook jump-off round, going clear and shaving four seconds of Jade's time. Brendan knocked the second fence and elected to retire.

So the sponsor's horse was crowned this year's South African Adult Showjumping Outdoor Grand Prix winner. Nissan will also be sponsoring a Nissan Navara to the rider who obtains four clear rounds on four different horses at this year's Riders Champs which takes place later in 2011. – Sam Wright

A's first Quarter Horse Extravaganza

The Parys Afridome saw South Africa's very first Quarter Horse and Western riding extravaganza show from the 12th to the 17th of April this year. The show proved to be a success and was well attended by competitors and spectators alike. Instructional clinics on cutting cattle, reining and showing were held by the judges before the competitions began. Two top US judges, Steve Ross and Gene Carr, attended and judged the many classes at the show. Classes ranged from in-hand showing to reining, trail, ranch horse, western pleasure, horsemanship and English hunter classes. Spectators were entertained not only by the competitors, but also by Armand, the Singing Cowboy, and his dancing grey SA Boerperd as well as a concert by The Campbells. General-breed Western classes ensured that riders with other breeds could also compete. Competitors and spectators thoroughly enjoyed the cow cutting classes – of the first ever held in South Africa – this is sure to attract more people to the discipline of Western riding. The show was also the debut appearance of freshly imported reining Quarter Horse mare, Miss Whizzin Jac, all the way from Casey Deary's stable in Texas, USA and now owned by Cheryl McCrindle of Arabesque stud. She received a whopping 72 points, winning the international reining championship class, ridden by Steve Ross. The show also held a Quarter Horse auction and a variety of Quarter Horses were sold from around R8 000 to R50 000. The last day ended with a large Quarter Horse parade attended by all the horses that competed at the show. This show is sure to be even better next year and will help demonstrate the fun and versatility that is the American Quarter Horse. - Andrea van Rijswijk