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Landmark sentence against cruelty
Riona Marx, her mother Annemarie and her stepfather, André Venter, were sentenced in the Cornelia Magistrate’s Court on 8 April 2008. They had entered a guilty plea in relation to charges laid against them by the NSPCA in terms of the Animals Protection Act (No 71 of 1962).
The trio was sentenced to house arrest for 12 months and 196 hours community service. They may not own animals for five years and after the five-year period has elapsed, they are to be evaluated by an animal welfare organisation to determine if they are suitable to own animals again.
Sentencing also included a six-month jail sentence with no option of a fine, suspended for five years. Each received the same sentence. Magistrate Green was forceful and adamant that even though Riona was the perpetrator, her mother and stepfather were equally responsible.
The charges related to the “taming” methods being used on a horse Riona was hired to put under saddle. In the name of “breaking in” an equine, Riona Marx whipped a Nooitgedachter-type pony to the point that it collapsed.
NSPCA inspector Kay Prinsloo said she felt “enormous relief that no animals remain in the possession of the Venters.” Appreciating the magistrate’s words and sentencing, farm animal unit manager, Del Jones, stated that “sentencing here is logical and appropriate … we still believe that even stronger messages could be sent out to people who abuse animals that their actions will be taken seriously by our legal system and that penalties are severe.”
(For the complete NSPCA statement and to view the video, go to http://www.nspca.co.za)
Lippies’ fate still in the balance
On Friday, 29 February 2008, the Gauteng Horse Society (GHS) sent out an e-mail, announcing that they were in the process of evicting the SA Lipizzaners from the Kyalami Equestrian Park. The Lipizzaners lease the land from GHS and have not paid rent for three years. GHS handed this matter over to their attorneys in September 2007 and determined that the Lipizzaners would have to leave the premises.
The SA Lipizzaners issued a response on 1 March, acknowledging the financial difficulties the organisation faced, but highlighting the fact that GHS had not fully communicated the situation to its members as it had claimed to.
GHS members then requested a special general meeting. The request was based on concern for the welfare of the horses and the fact that Major George Iwanoski, who instigated the first Lipizzaner performances in South Africa and built the Kyalami indoor hall and Lipizzaner stables, had sold the land to the then Transvaal Horse Society with a gentlemen’s agreement that his stallions would always continue to have a home. The members wished to share their views and have representatives from both GHS and the SA Lipizzaners there to discuss the issue and possible solutions.
The meeting was held on 17 April at the KEP grounds. An estimated 600 people attended, but it is not known how many registered members of GHS were there. No official comment has been made by either party on the outcome of the meeting at the time of going to print. However, registered members in attendance said that no resolution was reached. Keep an eye in www.horsejunction.co.za to follow the events as they unfold. – Sam Wright
Einde van ‘n lang verbintenis
Toe Johan van der Merwe, kuddebestuurder van die Percheronstoet op Elsenburg in die Wes-Kaap, sy diens onlangs hier beeïndig het, het die betrokkenheid van twee families oor dekades by dié beroemde stoet tot ‘n einde gekom.
Johan se oupa, wyle Albertus Hanekom, het die stoet vir 42 jaar lank (tot 1983) bestuur. Jannie September weer, wat nou al 24 jaar met die diere op Elsenburg werk, se pa, Willem, was 32 jaar lank by hulle betrokke. Volgens Johan het hy en Willem as kinders saam op die perdewa gery en later selfs saam Percherons op die Kaapse Skou vertoon. Hulle laaste vertoning was tydens die jongste Hoefslagfees wat op Crow’s Nest in die Agter-Paarl gehou is.
Johan is ondervoorsitter van die Percherontelersgenootskap van Suid-Afrika en het saam met Eric Hanekom van Stellenbosch, ‘n eie Percheronstoet genaamd Gemini. Hulle teelmerries is by Wellington gestasioneer, terwyl die jong perde op ‘n Karooplaas gehou word. Johan en die voorsitter van die genootskap, Gerrie van Zyl, is die enigste keurders van die genootskap.
Belangstellendes is welkom om die jaarlikse veiling van Percherons op 9 Julie by Elsenburg by te woon. Die jaarvergadering van die rasgenootskap word na afloop van die veiling gehou – Hennie Basson
Vaulting reaches new highs
Some 26 teams from five countries competed in two levels over two days in the recent Inter Africa Vaulting Cup in the Lipizzaner Hall in Kyalami Park. It was a development competition for the FEI Group nine countries in which teams from Swaziland, Malawi, Mauritius, Zambia and South Africa competed.
South Africa entered club teams from Soweto, the Willows International Equestrian Centre in Pretoria, Riba in Kyalami and River Park in Sandton. At the end of day two, Mauritius walked away with the laurels, followed by Malawi and South Africa's River Park club.
Willows International Riding Centre competed in their first competition taking three teams to the event. Their top team finished in 12th place overall.
Wêreld se oë op SA Hackneys
Kort nadat Hackneys onlangs vir die eerste keer uit Suid-Afrika na Europa uitgevoer is, het belangstellendes uit drie verskillende lande die pas-afgelope nasionale kampioenskappe vir dié ras op Beaufort-Wes bygewoon.
Die moontlikheid van verdere uitvoere het verstewig en besoekers uit Engeland, Nederland en die Verenigde State, het die verskillende items met arendsoë gevolg. Inteling begin sy tol in hierdie lande te eis en daar is eenstemmigheid dat Suid-Afrika tans oor van die voorste Hackney-bloedlyne ter wêreld beskik.
Meer as 100 van die room van die land se Hackneys het skouspelagtige vertonings gelewer. Frits van Rooyen van Heilbron, Beverley Katz van Caledon en Izak Volgraaff van Nieuwoudtville, het as beoordelaars opgetree.
By die voorafgaande jaarvergadering van die rasgenootskap, is Chris Bredenkamp van Bultfontein tot nuwe voorsitter in die plek van Danie Alberts verkies. Danie was vir 13 jaar lank voorsitter. – Hennie Basson
Eenvormigheid van Friese beïndruk
Die nasionale skou van die Vereniging van die Friesperd-Stamboek van Suidelike Afrika (FPSSA), wat onlangs by Maple Ridge in Gauteng gehou is, het met vertonings van 60 perde gespog. Volgens Jan Hendriks van Nederland, wat die beoordeling saam met sy landgenoot, Ed Paauw, waargeneem het, was die gehalte en eenvormigheid van die jonger diere kenmerkend van die skou.
Die ingevoerde hings, Friso van S van die Doorndraaistoet, Pretoria, is as die senior kampioenhings aangewys en het ook die grootkampioenskappe in die enkeltuig en vir perde onder die saal verower. Yolande Schreuder was die vertoner. Die senior kampioenmerrie was Jellie fan Skoaeterlan van die Milford Stud van Tim en Kate Baynes.
Soos verlede jaar, het bestuurslid van die FPSSA, Nico van der Walt, se jong perde die junior kampioenskappe oorheers. Sy junior kampioenhings is Viando B en die junior kampioenmerrie, Treinke VdW, kom ook uit sy Esfané-stalle.
Die reun, Hobnob van Nelmarie van Zyl van Herbertsdale, is beide as die senior kampioenreunperd en reun in die enkeltuig aangewys. George Smuts het hom vertoon. – Hennie Basson
SA wins Tri-Nations
It was South Africa all the way, in the Dressage Tri-Nations Series at the recent Kelt Capital Horse of the Year Show in Hastings, New Zealand. From day one, South Africa retained its lead, setting the pace for other countries to follow. Australia nudged New Zealand out on the final day, leaving the host country trailing in third place.
The Tri-Nations Series sees two riders each from Australia, South Africa and New Zealand compete on borrowed horses. Riders have just 30 minutes to acquaint themselves with their mount, drawn at random.
South Africa's Andrea Harrison managed an impressive three from three records, while fellow South African, Jaco Fourie, managed fourth place, keeping South Africa in the lead.
Says Fourie: "With our three nations all isolated from European competition, the Tri-Nations is so important to the sport. It's a great chance to meet other competitors, ride different horses and share ideas." – Lisa Potter
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