South African reiners excel at finals

The South African Western riding community is aiming to send a South African reining team to the World Equestrian Games in France in 2014.

As part of this drive, trained reining horses were sourced and selected abroad and imported to develop local riders and talent to their full potential. Two of these American Quarter horses, Sir Pine by Boomer, owned by Sarieta van Wyk and Honky Tonk Whiz, where flown to Sweden along with the American and Canadian horses to compete in the FEI reining world finals before completing their journey to South Africa.

I was lucky enough, Sarieta van Wyk, Boomer's owner, offered me a ride on the horse. Sir Pine by Boomer is a wonderful horse, fully trained and a very successful competitor. A fantastic addition to South Africa!

I competed in the CRI 1* event and achieved a third place, after only riding Boomer three times for an hour (according FEI rules). I also achieved a first place in the AQHA Novice Amateur division. This was a fantastic experience and a great honour to see the world's best reiners in action!

The imported horses arrived in South Africa in July for the first ever African Continental Reining Championships that will take place in September at the Afridome in Parys. Riders from the United States of America, Switzerland, Germany and Israel will take on South Africa in the first ever FEI reining event in Africa.

The FEI reining world finals were held in Malmö, Sweden. It was the first time that the finals were presented outside North America since 2005. Each national federation could send two athletes to represent their country in the annual championship with the title of reining world champion at stake. The South African riders were invited to take part as individuals in the FEI CRI classes.

CRI (Concours Reining International) are ratings for reining, given by the international governing body for the sport, the Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI). All FEI-recognised competitions, regardless of discipline, are rated on a star system. – Colette Erasmus

Colette Erasmus and Boomer

Christmas in July

Gauteng's regional competitions will be well under way when you read this edition of SA Horseman. Each year GP hosts a lower and higher inter-regional competition. Gauteng is divided into different regions that then compete in all disciplines in all grades at all levels, to determine which area will come out champion.

Teams of the best four rider/horse combinations in each grade are selected for each region. Every year the south region attempts to cover the total entry fee of all their team members, as many have to travel a fair distance to attend the finals held at the Kyalami Equestrian Park. This year the region hosted a "Christmas in July" themed dinner and auction to raise funds for their team. Many team members currently train with the Soweto Riding School and the region is hoping that with the funds raised these riders can be fully kitted out and their entries as well as travel expenses can be at least partially covered.

The event was held at Lapeng Conference Centre in Walkerville on 9 July. Many of the 'big' names in the equestrian world made an appearance. These included SA's top show jumpers Shaun, Gareth and Lara Neill (all members of the south region), owner and operator of the Soweto Riding School, Enos Mafokate, and SANEF chairman, Eric Bianchi, who resides in the south region and runs one of the bigger stables, the Southern Riding Centre. Prominent business people were also attendance, including Nicole Smith from Tackshop.co.za, Bob Neill from Delmon Mining and Civils and Maxine Hadiaris from Country Feeds.

Fantastic items were up for auction, courtesy of very generous sponsors. These items included a Pink Pigeon alcohol hamper from Kreate Brands valued at R1 000, a R6 500 close contact jumping saddle from Equestrian Affair, a hamper from Jenna Clifford valued at R1 500 and a R10 000 helicopter ride around Gauteng from CK Aerial Surveys.

The event rose more than R40 000 for the Southern Region and SA Horseman was also proudly in the mix. The latest edition of the magazine was included in the goodie bags that each guest received. It was a fitting gift considering South Region member, Bridget Haddath, featured on the cover with her stunning Boerperd, Vasvat Geduld! – Sam Wright

Suid-Afrikaanse Crabbet-konvensie: Parys 2011

Crabbet-Arabierperdteling is op 'n historiese hoogtepunt. Dit was een van 'n aantal opwindende feite tydens die onlangse Crabbet-konvensie wat vroeër vanjaar in Parys plaasgevind het. Hoewel die aantal perde in die bloedlyn steeds baie ver onder vorige syfers is, bestaan daar tans 'n momentum in Crabbet-teling gegrond op die toewyding van 'n toenemende aantal telers wat Suid-Afrika in wêreldperspektief, 'n ligpunt maak.

Nie alleen was dit duidelik dat daar tans perde van besondere hoë gehalte in die Crabbet-familie geteel word nie, maar 'n aansienlike toename in ingevoerde diere van hoë gehalte in die onlangse verlede, skep die potensiaal van 'n blink toekoms vir die perde.

Dié potensiaal is onder andere raakgesien deur dr David Ward, bekende teler van Kanada, wat in die proses is om sy Fairview-stoet in vennootskap met Marnus Steyl in Suid-Afrika te hervestig.

Die oggend-vertoning van die konvensie het onder andere 'n aantal van hierdie nuwe perde ingesluit. Die totale spektrum van die diere het weereens die wese van Crabbet bevestig: uiters funksionele diere met ledemate van hoë gehalte.

'n Aansienlike aantal perde het getoon dat sorgsame seleksie 'n kwaliteit bygevoeg het wat voorheen skaars was en dat dit verkry is sonder om lyne buite die Crabbet-familie in te bring. Sodoende is die beroemde Crabbet-raam en -bene nie prysgegee nie. Hierdie prestasie mag nie gering geskat word nie, aangesien degenerasie in die verlede dikwels voorgekom het waar gepoog is om Crabbet-perde te moderniseer vir die skouring.

Dr Ward se uiteensetting van die verskille en ooreenkomste in die Crabbet-familie, naamlik Crabbet, Ou Engels en CMK, dat dit in wese een en dieselfde bloedlyn is, was ook waardevol.

Selfs vir gesoute perdekenners was die vertoning deur Daryl Gibb uiters fassinerend. Darryl het op 'n baie kalm wyse binne 90 minute 'n onafgerigte perd se vertroue gewen en op 'n galop gery. Die behoefte aan hierdie besondere kuns is duidelik so sterk, dat Darryl onderneem het om teen die einde van vanjaar 'n kursus vir afrigters aan te bied. Navrae kan gerig word aan Johan Theron by 083 388 1201. – Johan Theron

Die hings, Roxborough Bandoleer, ingevoer uit Australië, weerspieël die wese van 'n Crabbet, naamlik uiters funksionele diere met ledemate van hoë gehalte

Shaun rides off in a Navara

Shaun Neill won the prestigious 2011 Nissan Riders Show Jumping Championship of South Africa, fighting off stiff competition from Neriska Prinsloo and Lorette Knowles- Taylor, who tied for second position, and fourth-placed, Paige Shiller. The riders competed against one another on their own and each of their counterparts' horses.

Despite failing to win four clear rounds, a stipulation to win the Nissan Navara, Nissan South Africa decided to compromise and award the 4X4 light commercial vehicle to the overall winner for one year.

Said Nissan South Africa managing director, Mike Whitfield: "Even though the Navara wasn't won outright, we were impressed with the quality of the show jumpers over each of the four rounds."

Neill and Prinsloo each had a pole down in the third round when it was announced that there was still a chance to win a year-long sponsorship of the vehicle.

Neill ended on just four penalties over the four rounds, putting him in first place and giving him the chance to drive the Nissan Navara for the next twelve months.

"I thought it was all over after dropping a pole," said Neill. "I really appreciate Nissan's gesture, which has given me the opportunity to experience the thrill of the Navara, even if just for a year."

Prinsloo's horse, Balito Bay, was the top-performing horse with faultless rounds under all four riders.
– Press release

Pensteekspan seëvier in Brittanje

Die Suid-Afrikaanse Dames-pensteekspan wat onlangs in Brittanje gaan deelneem het, het die kompetisie totaal oorheers. Van die tien klasse waaraan hulle deelgeneem het, het Suid-Afrika 'n volle nege gewen. Colette Erasmus het twee eerste plekke en 'n tweede plek in die individuele items verower.

Die tien klasse waaraan hulle deelgeneem het, het bestaan uit vier individuele klasse, twee halfseksie-klasse (twee ruiters) en vier vierseksie-klasse (vier ruiters).

Die jaarlikse Britse Pensteekkampioenskappe is deur die Britse Pensteekvereniging by Bodney Camp in Norfolk, in samewerking met die Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment aangebied. Verskeie spanne uit die Statebond het deelgeneem.

Die Suid-Afrikaanse Dames-pensteekspan. Van links is Colette Erasmus, Hanerike Swanepoel, Beverly Baksa, Glynneth Meyer en Hannelie Heckroodt

Boerperd-kampioene

Die Suid-Afrikaanse Nasionale Boerperdkampioenskappe word eersdaags in Parys aangebied en is 'n mylpaal vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Boerperd Telersgenootskap. Vanjaar word die 25-jarige viering van die nasionale kampioenskappe aangebied.

Sterk kompetisie word verwag en verskeie streekskampioene in die universele en tradisionele driegang van die afgelope jaar gaan teen mekaar meeding. (Foto's deur Fotojan, Elpita en Sune Rowe).