Equilife magazine issue 13

Equilife Living the Lifestyle

Issue 13

DISTRIBUTION FREE NATIONWIDE

Riding... on the edge of Africa

Horse riding along the beaches of the Wild Coast of South Africa offers some of the most stunning and varied riding terrain found anywhere in the world. Our wide variety of horses are suitable for all levels of rider. For advanced riders, endurance fit horses make the pace fast and exciting. Rolling hills, deep gorges, and cliff tops that plunge into the ocean ensure that this is not just a beach ride; it is an adventure on the edge of Africa! As you meander through sleepy tribal villages, the greetings from the local Xhosa people are warm and friendly. Their villages seem all but forgotten in this rural African wilderness. On your riding holiday, you and your horse will become part of the Wild Coast as you ride undulating hills and endless beaches. Comfortable hotels await you, nestled in coves along the coast, providing perfect stop-offs for both rider and horse. You will find us in the coastal village of Kei Mouth on the Wild Coast of South Africa.

Wild Coast Horse Riding Adventures Mobile/Whats App +27 (0)82 567 0972 www.wildcoasthorsebackadventures.co.za

Jacqueline Wood jacqui@equilife.co.za Michele Wood design@equilife.co.za Jacqui S Photography jacqui@equilife.co.za

Dressage Turf Diaries Breeders

Equilife Online is growing monthly and with our competitive prices and large online following you can choose between print and online advertising. Look out for our online link, shared on our Facebook page, https://web.facebook.com/equilifesouthafrica/ Or on our Website: www.equilife.co.za. For more information about our online offering, drop us a mail on info@equilife.co.za As always we would love to hear from you, our readers, share your stories and comments with us on, jacqui@equilife.co.za, and keep #livingthelifestyle

Beyond Racing Polocrosse Stable Views

Endurance The Sketch Pad Gaited Traveller A Grooms Insight

Breeder Endurance All Editorial material is strictly copyrighted and may not be

reproduced without the publishers permission. Equilife reserves the right to reject any advertising or editorial material which may not suit the standard of the publication without reason given. Opinions expressed in advertisements and articles do not neces-

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Front Cover

Come and meet the team at our Equi-Feeds stand at Derby

With white tails smoking free, Long streaming manes, and arching necks, they show Their kinship to their sisters of the sea And forward hurl their thunderbolts of snow. Still out of hardship bred, Spirits of power and beauty and delight....... The spirit of horses that Roy Campbell painted in words.

8 8

The consensus amongst all who were involved with this first edition of The Shongweni Festival was that it was a resounding success. Top class course design, riders and horses of the highest standard from around the country including participants from Zimbabwe and Namibia, lucrative prize money and excellent crowd participation all combined to make a most memorable weekend.

18 The Durban Shongweni club was a realm of excitement and adrenaline during the Landrover Durban Polocrosse High Goal held last month. The best of the South African Polocrosse community, joined by some international visitors, came together in a parade of world class Polocrosse â&#x20AC;&#x201C; #SAonDisplay.

There are very few positives which come out of the African Horse Sickness predicament in South Africa. When the World Organisation for Animal Health placed a ban on the export of South African horses, after the AHS outbreak in the Western Cape in 2004,

Content Certain moments in life need their own adjectives. They need a craft beyond writing to capture. These moments earn their value not from achievement, not from going according to your plans, but from delivering to you the parts of yourself you did not know existed. 24

Content The Sketch Pad ~ Marlien van Heerden

Inaugural Dressage Forum

Showjumping ~ Inaugural Shongweni Festival 2017

Land Rover Durban ~ Polocrosse Highgoal 2017

Turf Diaries ~ Silvanoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Supremacy

Endurance ~ Dust, dreams and a ride called Fauriesmith

Grooms Insight ~ Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a groom on my stoep

Stable Views ~ What does the Tag label tell you?

Beyond Racing ~ Thoroughbreds Jumpout of the Park

Gauteng Dressage Championship 2017

Ten Pegging

Breeders ~ Far Hills Pintado Stud

Gaited Traveller ~ Riding on the edge of Africa

Riding down deserted beaches through the surf; exploring gorges and gullies on horseback. Evoking images of shipwrecks, storms, whales and dolphins, the Wild Coast, in the Eastern Cape offers true adventure for all horse riders.

46 46

B L E N D E D I N T H E W AT E R B E R G

Modern feed for the modern sports horse

www.equusfeeds.co.za See www.equusfeeds.co.za for stockist details. | Feeding Advice: + 27 73 423 5491 or + 27 83 998 6824

Marlien van Heerden With white tails smoking free, Long streaming manes, and arching necks, they show Their kinship to their sisters of the sea - And forward hurl their thunderbolts of snow. Â Still out of hardship bred, Spirits of power and beauty and delight....... Â The spirit of horses that Roy Campbell painted in words.

The Inaugural Dressage Forum

The Forum was held in the Lippizaner Hall in Kyalami and was very well supported by people who, eagerly, arrived dressed for the cold and keen to experience the initiative. The programme was diverse and thought-provoking. The first session kicked off at 10h00 and was presented by Bianca Rootman who showcased ‘The Biomechanics of the horse’ - Royal Darco, owned by Lynda Records, was colourfully painted in order to assist Bianca in presenting her clinic that peels back the skin of the horse. The audience was able to get an in-depth view of the muscles as well as their functions and understand the main muscle groups used in different disciplines as well as the skeletal system. The presentation took approximately 45 minutes thereafter the audience asked Bianca questions based on what they had just seen - the interaction and interest was palpable.

2010 and since 2015 for the Golden Lions, he is a prolific speaker as well as coaches and mentors athletes from all walks of life. Each copy of the book had a personal message from Jannie as well. The second session was eagerly presented by Lilian Moller who is well known and liked in the Equine industry and, as she said a number of times during her talk, she really could have taken all day to depart her immense knowledge to the eager audience. Lilian’s presentation showcased the relationship that we have with our horses - the need to learn communication skills that far surpass verbal cues - she had two ‘horse / rider’ combinations that set to represent how important it is for us to have clear goals for every time we engage with our horses. Everyone was transfixed by the presentation and such was the engagement very few people had questions, it seemed as if everyone was truly taking in the knowledge and understanding from this industry legend.

Jan van Deventer

The morning seemed to rush past when everyone was happily let loose to enjoy a hearty lunch and find some much needed sunshine. Before the audience settled back into their seats another lucky draw was done for a much-coveted custom-made Fairfax bridle valued at R7000.

Before the second presentation a lucky draw was done for two copies of a book “The Sport Coach’ written and donated by Jannie Putter. Jannie was the mental coach for the Blue Bulls from 2006 -

PC: Life in Technicolour Photography

The first session of the afternoon was expertly presented by Jan Van Deventer who boldly showed the audience the progression in training flying changes - three horse /rider combinations including Elena Jankowitz on Karen du Preez’s horse Bolero, Sonica Engelbrecht on Apollo and Siobhan Records on Lynda Records horse, Royal Darco were presented whilst Jan explained how he trains this beautiful movement. Unfortunately a power failure hampered the sound but, without skipping a beat, Jan’s booming voice spread throughout the stand.

tainly shed some light on privacy settings and being fully engaged and aware of what we’re actually doing on the World Wide Web. The general feedback received by the Gauteng Dressage Council, from other council members, the audience, presenters, friends and family was very positive and much discussion is taking place around how the Forum can be improved for 2018. The main aim, over and above learning and networking, is to raise much needed funds for our beloved sport and this first initiative made an enormous effort towards doing just that.

Another two copies of ‘The Sport Coach’ were given away before the final session of the afternoon skillfully presented by Lizzie Harrison who touched on ‘Social media etiquette in the Equine World’ which had the audience on the edge of their seats - some of Lizzie’s examples were shocking and cer-

Lizzie Harrison

Lilian Moller

INAUGURAL SHONGWENI FESTIVAL THIRD QUALIFIER

2017

Lisa Williams (Kyalami) continued her impressive showjumping form with a dominant display at the inaugural Shongweni Festival held over the weekend (8-13 August) at the Shongweni Club. Consolidating her lead atop the South African FEI Jumping standings, Williams and her horse Discovery Campbell made the most of the fantastic conditions and the acclaimed course, built to international standards by German designer Stefan Wirth. The consensus amongst all who were involved with this first edition of The Shongweni Festival was that it was a resounding success. Top class course design, riders and horses of the highest standard from around the country including participants from Zimbabwe and Namibia, lucrative prize money and excellent crowd participation all combined to make a most memorable weekend. The Durban Shongweni Club’s top-class facilities and hard-working staff also made a telling impact on the success of the show. Jodi Wolhuter and Lorraine Peters of Highway Shows believed that “the concept of hosting the FEI World Cup Qualifier and top Championship Classes on Saturday followed by the Gala Awards on the evening was a winning formula. We most humbly and gratefully thank everyone concerned and especially the most valued sponsors for supporting our inaugural World Cup Qualifier Show and we hope to see everyone and their horses next year”. The Shongweni Festival has made its mark as a not-to-bemissed event on the South African equestrian calendar. Thank you to our valued sponsors for supporting The Shongeni Festival ~ First National Bank ~ Land Rover Durban ~ The Mobility Group ~ Artav

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th

Lisa Williams ~ Discovery Campbell Johnathan Clarke ~ Data Sciences Hummer van Het Bevrijdthof Anne Marie Esslinger ~ Alzu Oregon Barry Taylor ~ Herciro van’t Kiezelhof Govett Triggol ~ Callaho C Ultra Barry Taylor ~ Counter Attack Nicole Horwood ~ Mark White Nissan’s Capital Don Cumarco

1st. 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th

Martin Minett ~ Milling Technicks Zonjati Bonny Clyde Ronnie Lawrence ~ Gillian van Orshof Ian van Schalkwyk ~ Kuda Insurance Valanta Gregory Scott ~ Sparkling Jonathan Clarke ~ Data Sciences Enouche Rk Bronwyn Meredith Short/Quidchin Bellignies Z Oliver Bishop ~ Belvedere Nicole Horwood ~ Mark White Nissan’s Capital Look at Me D Ashlee Hausberger ~ Discovery Eldo Jodi Pieters ~ Kuda King of Hearts A J Radermacher ~ Ebb & Flow Font Count Capri

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th

Rainer Korber ~ Callaho Lansink Jonathan Clarke ~ Data Sciences Jerba van den Bishop Kelsey Rae Whitehouse~ Worldnet Logistics Zuperstar Jenna Barrow ~ Liberty Capital Contagion Jonathan Clarke ~ Esaro W Govett Triggol ~ Callaho’s Elektra Nicola Sime Riley ~ Clearplex Protection Pro Crispin Carol Nurden ~ Royal Fire Laurence Mowatt ~ Evergreen M Ivana Callender-Easby ~ Callaho’s Carnival La Silla Tamar Glicksman ~ New Rossee Tess le Roux ~ The Charmer Gareth Neill ~ Callaho Fargo Wells

1st. 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th

Amy Engelbrecht ~ Artav’s Cruise Control Tamar Gliksman/ ~ Outeniqua Alwin van Breda~ Conquest Graham Winn ~ Seeis Eiros Ivan van der Sijde ~ Beachaven’s After Dark George Philippides ~ Alchemy’s Hercules Bradley McHardy ~ La Cawarra Martyn Swanepoel ~ Maxstar Dundee

1st 2nd 3rd 4th

Hannah Garton ~ Cleopatra Courtney Webber ~ Callaho Fontainebleau Kyla Brimacombe ~ Franlaren Bocelli Matthew Morrison ~ MCSA Alzu Luanda

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th 15th 16th 17th 18th

Oliva Garton ~ Phambile Amy Engelbrecht ~ Artav’s La Conda Bronwyn Meredith Short ~ Carlson 113 Katherine Asher Wood ~ Que Serra Janice Susan Callaghan ~ Caretina Candice Webber ~ Bali Jennifer Jacoby ~ Bon Soir Brendan McNiven ~ Callaho Contador Isabel Verwey ~ Will Hunter Julie Rossouw ~ Rossgate Christabella Ada Raine Ferguson ~ Perfect Impression Tatum Olivier ~ Capital Cortes Charley Crockart ~ Fantastic Flight Oliver Bishop ~ Charis Bgm Z Hannah Garton ~ Coco Roco Grant Langley ~ Fly D’I&J Oliver Bishop ~ Callaho Macy Gray Jessica Cheminais ~ Rathmor Cappucino

The LEMICO® stirrup leathers combine strength with extraordinary softness. The material fits comfortably to the rider’s legs. The surface property guarantees the reduction of noise from rubbing. The matt finish gives elegance, the softness makes fastening at the stirrup bars easy. The material always stays soft and does not crack. The classically designed stirrup leathers from premium calf leather are highly tear proof. Double stitched to guarantee durability.

DRESSAGE GIRTH RAINER The elastic property of this material guarantees high comfort. The softly padded belly zone from synthetic rubber prevents the saddle from sliding. Saddle girth ”Rainer” is made from breathable MEMOFORM® textile. The elastic property of this material guarantees high comfort. an Due to the anatomical shape the girth makes ideal pressure distribution possible. It relieves the breast bone and offers elbow room. This makes the girth also perfect for sensitive horses.

Durbanville 021 976 8044

SA on display at the 2017 Land Rover Durban Polocrosse High Goal

manship. The support of the tournament this year exceeded everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s expectations. Spectators, players, sponsors and the local community alike came together to watch the action-packed games.

The second annual Landrover Durban Polocrosse High Goal encompassed everything that brought the tournament about to start with â&#x20AC;&#x201C; top class Polocrosse, spectacular skills and unmatched horse-

Brent von Benecke, Chairman of the Landrover Shongweni Polocrosse Club explains: “We wanted to create a tournament where the country’s top athlete’s would have the opportunity to showcase their skills in World Cup level polocrosse. South Africa is one of the countries with the greatest depth of high level polocrosse players in the world, and these players needed a platform where they could play the level of polocrosse our national side gets exposed to.”

sponsorship bid in SA polocrosse history with the bidding of Jannie Steenkamp, our SA Mens Captain, to join the Rokwil team. The 2017 male wildcards were pulled from the victorious SA teams that beat Australia earlier this year: Jannie Steenkamp (Rokwil), Attie van Wyk (Landrover), Nico van Wyk (Landrover Discovery) and Stefan Harris (team B&G). The ladies wildcards were made up of the 2015 ladies World Cup side: current SA ladies captain Jean Hackland (Landrover Evoque), Celicia Jacobs (team B&M), Caley Higgs (Marriott) and Natalie Maclarty (Rhino Truck Sales).

“It was unbelievable to see such a large group of players and spectators coming together for the love of horses, for the love of the game and for the love of their team” comments von Benecke.

The Shongweni Polocrosse club has a great support in their player base, new and old to the sport. Since the world cup, the club has grown substantially and continuously welcomes new players into the circle. The Landrover Durban team has been a key player in the clubs success, supporting each event that is hosted.

The Landrover High Goal consists of 4 men’s teams and 4 ladies teams. These teams are formulated before the tournament by the relevant managers, coaches and sponsors. To add to the excitement, the tournament committee put together a pool of wildcards whom the teams bid on – these players are taken from the crème of the crop of polocrosse and are valuable assets to any team.

In closing, von Benecke comments “We are looking forward to the 2018 Landrover Polocrosse High Goal, and will work to bring an even better event that will showcase the sport of Polocrosse. We are the world champions, we have an unbelievable amount of top athletes and we have a community willing to build the next generation. There is no stopping us now.”

Much excitement pursued on the formal evening held at the Shongweni Club on Thursday, 22 June 2017, where the teams, coaches, managers and sponsors were presented to the community. Sponsors and supporters bid against each other for not only their pick of the wild cards, but also for the winning team. This year, we had the best recorded

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Photography Courtesy Gold Circle producing top racehorses, which included a very talented colt called Lomitas, in 1988. This eyecatching 16.0hh golden chestnut colt had a near perfect conformation. His sire was Ninisky, who was a son of the Epsom Derby winner Nijinsky II, and he was out of La Colorada, who in turn was by the Fährhof bred Surumu. But when sent into training with Andreas Wohler, he proved to be quite a handful. In his first start he displayed a serious aversion to the starting stalls, but the handlers at the start eventually bundled him into the gates and he won the race with great ease. Subsequently he refused to go anywhere near the starting stalls and was given a worldwide ban on racing. His stubbornness was severe and he was prone to violent outbursts when put under pressure to go back into the gates. But the Jacobs family were not willing to give up on Lomitas, and enlisted the help of world renowned “horse whisperer” Monty Roberts.

Silvano is an unassuming plain bay stallion owned by Dr Andreas Jacobs. Dr Jacobs came to South Africa in 2002, and visited the picturesque Maine Chance Farms near Robertson in the Western Cape. “When my wife Natalie and I first visited Maine Chance Farms in early 2002, we could hardly anticipate that we would have the opportunity to acquire one of the most beautiful stud farms in the world”. The Beck family were streamlining their breeding interests, and Dr Jacobs jumped at the opportunity to purchase one of South Africa’s leading stud farms.

Photography Courtesy Gold Circles

Where It All Started Dr Jacobs is a third generation racing owner and breeder. His grandfather Walther J Jacobs founded the Gestüt Fährhof, near Bremen in Germany, in 1960. Initially he started to breed Warmblood horses but soon fell in love with the sleeker, more athletic, Thoroughbred. Shrewd purchases or wellpedigreed bloodstock meant that they were soon

Power Key holds on from Punta Arenas

Photography Courtesy Gold Circle

Marinaresco ~ Winner 2017 Vodacom Durban July

In mid-1991 Monty Roberts went across to Germany from the USA. He put his own life on hold for a few months to help Lomitas overcome his claustrophobia and fear of tight spaces. With the assistance of Simon Stokes, who was Lomitas’s handler at the time, Monty helped Lomitas regain his confidence in the starting stalls and he went on to win 10 races, including three Gr1 races. Monty regards Lomitas as possibly the greatest horse he has ever had the privilege to work with.

It was at stud that Lomitas’s connection to South Africa started. He covered a most appropriately named mare called Spirit Of Eagles (by Beau’s Eagle), who was small in stature, and she was unsold on a bloodstock sale, in foal to Lomitas. She returned home to Gestüt Fährhof, much to the chagrin of the stud manager. There she foaled down a small plain bay colt not long after that. They named him Silvano.

that time was that he had an unflappable temperament, even as an entire. He achieved an impressive Time Form Rating of 126 for his efforts on the racecourse, and he was all set to take over the mantle of his sire at Gestüt Fährhof when he retired. He covered a small book of mares in early 2003 in Germany. It was then that Dr Jacobs decided that it would be in his interests to shuttle Silvano to South Africa for the southern hemisphere breeding season. But in 2004 disaster struck. An outbreak of AHS meant that there was a movement moratorium on horse leaving South Africa. The authorities were not budging on the ban, so Silvano was stuck in South Africa for the foreseeable future.

When the time came for him to learn his trade, Monty Roberts was the person to start him under saddle. Silvano travelled the world as a racehorse. He won 7 races in total including Gr1 races in Hong Kong, Singapore and the USA. He won a Gr2 race in his home country Germany and was placed in graded races Dubai and Australia. He was one of the very first globetrotting racehorses and took it all in his calm stride. What became obvious during

Silvano

In a particularly fortuitous stroke of luck, Silvano’s now permanent residence in South Africa was very well received by the breeding industry. He covered a fair book of mares in his first season, including the very useful 7-time-wining stakes performing daughter of Al Mufti, Lady Brompton. King’s Gambit was the result of that mating, and he went on to become Silvano’s first Gr1 performer from his very first South African crop. After winning the Gr1 SA Classic and Gr1 SA Derby, he was exported overseas to race in Dubai and the UK, where he won a Listed race. Even with the path of export from South Africa now being open again, the lengthy quarantines would not suit a stud stallion, so Dr Jacobs decided to keep Silvano at stud in South Africa.

The cross with Al Mufti mares has been the most prolific for producing stakes performers for Silvano. He has sired no less than 15 stakes performers to date out of Al Mufti mares! Other broodmare sires which have produced multiple stakes performers include Fort Wood, Badger Land, Jallad, Elliodor, Jet Master, Rakeen and Northern Guest among others. In 2009 Bold Silvano won the Vodacom Durban July. He was the son of Al Mufti mare Bold Saffron, and he started an avalanche of July winners for Silvano. Heavy Metal, a son of the Baroon mare Percussion, was lead into the Winner’s Circle for the Durban July in 2012. Just 3 years later a record was set when three sons of Silvano fought out the finish of Africa’s richest horserace. It was a fierce heads up, heads down battle, Power King just managed to keep his nose in front to take the spoils in 2015. His dam is Northern Gale, who is daughter of Northern Guest. Another son of Silvano, Tellina, was a close up third. This had never happened in the history of the race! Silvano’s dominance as a sire in South Africa was becoming apparent. The following year the race was won by The Conglomerate, an Australian import, but just a quarter length back in second place, was a little bay son of Silvano. His name was Marinaresco.

This year’s Vodacom Durban July was a day that a few new records were set. On 1 August 2016 Candice Bass Robinson had taken over the reins from her father to head up the powerful Cape Town based Bass Racing Stable. She had grown up in her father’s racing yard and was his licensed Assistant Trainer for over 20 years. She is an accomplished horsewoman in her own right, and has represented Western Province in the Show Ring. Her father Mike is a part owner in Marinaresco, along with Bryn Ressel, Marsh Shirtliff and Fred Green. After the horse’s sterling run in the 2016 July, they had booked him on a plane to race overseas, but there were some insurmountable issues with the alternate route though the New York quarantine station causing the entire plan to be cancelled.

This would prove to be a most fortuitous change of plan for all. Marinaresco took his place as the top weighted horse in the 2017 Vodacom Durban July, as Candice’s very first runner in the race as a trainer in her own right. Bernard Fayd’Herbe, who had ridden Pocket Power to victory in the same colours, in the 2008 July, was engaged to ride the horse. In spite of his good form leading up to the race, Marinaresco was overlooked by many as a possible winner, due to the 60kg he was to carry. As the star studded field turned for home in the Greyville straight, Marinaresco was close to being the last horse to come around the turn. With just 400m to go to the finish line, that is not the best position to be in, especially with top weight. The Gr1 South African Derby winner and tote favourite Al Sahem, yet another son of Silvano, started to make his move as soon as he hit the home straight and when he switched to get a clear run, victory looked to be his for the taking. Marinaresco was calmly steered by Bernard towards the inside to make his final run, and at the 150m the small bay gelding changed legs and took off with a powerful challenge. His jockey stopped using his whip and urged him with his hands and heels in the end, and Marinaresco gave his everything to get his head in front to win. It turned out that the smallest horse in the race, carrying the heaviest weight, ridden by the tallest jockey would win South Africa’s premier race for a newly licenced trainer. This was the first July winner to be trained by a woman, in the 120 year history of the July! This meant that Silvano also set a new record. He has sired four July winners in the last 9 years. No other stallion has ever done that before. Jamaico came close, when he sired three July winners, Jamaican Music in 1976, Jamaican Rumba in 1982 and Gondolier in 1985. Silvano became Champion Sire in South Africa for the first time in the 2012/2013 season, a feat he achieved again in the 2016/2017 season. He is the sire of the most expensive yearling ever sold on auction in South Africa, which was sold for R6 million in 2016. With talented horses like Al Sahem heading overseas for international racing campaigns, we are likely to see Silvano setting many more new records in years to come.

Young Rider

Light Weight Rider

Rider

Horse

Rider

Horse

Ane van Deventer

Wishane Shakespear

Yolandi vd Kashorst

Kitama Silver Dream

Leone de Kok

Mardien Shakira

Susan Fouche

Kalishmar Shaya Moya

Chandri Human

Jellabi Sandri

Nicolene van Wyk

Roma

Gert Peet Visser

Patyo

Bosman Mogweemang Welgeval Lilly

Isone Swart

El Nize Shaya

Joseph Mogweemang

Ahktar

Standard Weight Rider

Heavy Weight Rider

Rider

Horse

Rider

Horse

Michael Coles

Tsunami

Ludwig Oberholzer

Janor Silver Fagr

Minette Botha-Nortman Jnm Thee Avalanche

Jean-Jacques Kasselman

Naseer

Stephanie de Jager

Kabous

Daniel Strydom

Corne Fick

Inshalla Shah Rukh

Lucas Fourie

Shakura

Frieda van Zyl

Ber-Kaz Vladimir

Samuel van Zyl

Lormar Skywatch

Child Rider Rider

Horse

Alri Bosch

Ratswolf Yadka

Zane Barnard

Sumika Zafox

Lea Cronje

Sanniesguns Tshepiso

Janike Joubert

Nagad Shaban

Karolien Labuschagne

FS Aurora Red

By Sikhangele Mbambo Having spoken to grooms spread right across the country and beyond, this month I had the privilege of speaking to a gentleman right on my doorstep. Many a time, I have gone past and seen him riding, lunging one of the horses or working in the garden. I found out from Janet Dewer about Sibusiso who had recently joined my neighbour Rosalie’s employ and how they both have great plans for him as a groom and a rider. We all know that I cannot resist a good story……

Tell me a bit about yourself

for the first time at the end of 2007 and came back to Johannesburg in 2007. The work was the same, grooming, exercising the horses and keeping them in shape for polo matches. Stonefield had 50 horses and I worked with and looked after 4 horses. My job there ended in 2011 when the place was sold. I then found a job in Paarl at another polo yard in the Val De Vie estate in Western Cape. Martin Venter owns the yard and I worked under the management of George Mumba. I did basic grooming, exercised the horses and took them for basic outrides. My son was very young and I wanted to be with him so after 6 months I left and came back to Johannesburg. Back in Johannesburg I found a job at the Turffontein Racecourse stables, working under Gary Alexander. I looked after horses, attended races and was responsible for getting horses ready for races. I was especially in charge of new young horses arriving to be trained for racing. At that time my favourite horse was Pierre Jourdan, and I looked forward to his outstanding performance all the time. My other favourite was Tommy Hotspur, a very good racer. After 6 months my father, who is a gardener at Stonefield, which was now under the new ownership of Menno Parsons, called me back and I went back. My duties were basically still the same although I was now in charge of 6 horses, 3 of which were Friesians, 1 plays polo and the other 2 are dressage and show jumping horses ridden by the owner’s daughter who is given lessons by Janet Dewer. I worked for the second time at Stonefield till February this year when I moved to my current job.

My name is Sibusiso Agreement Gabuza and I come from Dande in Kwazulu Natal. I am 31, married and have one son, Sibongokuhle Junior who is 7 years old and in grade 1 at the moment. While I am in Kyalami at work, my wife and son stay in Soweto and I see them over the weekend when I am free. I grew up in Soweto and when I was about 17 years of age my brother got me a job at Stonefield Polo in Sunninghill where he worked as groom. Stonefield was then owned by Charles Leo Bexter. His children were doing show jumping and I worked under the management of Ashley Hughes who is now a trainer at Turffontein Racecourse but then she was a showjumper. As well as helping the kids with their riding looking after their horses, I exercised some of the polo ponies working with the polo stick and ball, keeping them fit and ready for competitions. I was trained at the stables by Guy and Grace Watson, Guy was the manager of the polo ponies, a polo player and captain of the polo team while Grace was a vet who worked with the horses at Stonefield.

I started riding in 2006 and enjoyed it. The owner of Stonefield had other horses in Plettenberg Bay, also polo horses and we worked where we were needed most at any particular time. I went to Plettenberg Bay

My father and my brother have worked at Stonefield all

Mondays to Fridays and I spend the weekends with my family in Soweto unless I am needed by Rose. When I am off she attends to the horses and mucks out the stables, I really find that humbling very much.

their lives but I found myself wanting more. With this in mind, I got a driverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s licence and decided to look for another job. I happened to have a chat to Janet Dewer and she understood my plight an offered to help me advance my career in grooming and riding. She gave me really good advice, that I should follow my dream with horses instead of leaving to be a driver. She helped me find a job with my current bosses, married couple, Rosalie Rothner and Gregory Fullard. I have the added benefit of dressage lessons which I get twice a week from Janet and Rietha.

I am going to compete in dressage and continue with my groomâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s management course, hopefully one day manage a big yard and share my skills with other grooms. I would love to do some show jumping as well. When I was still learning to ride, one of the horses that I was riding ran away with me and I fell off and was badly hurt. I still have scars from that fall. The horse was later exported to England and it has been my dream for a long time to go there one of these days and ride him again, just to show him that I am a good rider now.

I am up at 5am every day, I watch a bit of TV and bath at 6am. At 7am, I go and check that the horses are fine then I feed them breakfast which is Epol Rider pellets. I clean their water buckets and feel them with fresh water. Depending on the day, I lunge the horses or if that was done the day before then I ride them then I leave them in their paddocks with grass and water. I muck the stables from 9am till 10 oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;clock which is then y breakfast time. Part of my job is doing the gardening, so when I get back from tea time at 10:15am I attend to the yard, sweeping, cleaning, cutting the grass and generally making sure that everything is neat and tidy. Lunchtime for the horses is at 12pm, I bring them in and give them their lunch. When I am done feeding them I load manure into the truck and drive to Pikitup in Kyalami and drop it off there. When I get back it is time for my lunch which is from 1pm to 2pm. For the next hour after my lunch, I finish off my gardening and at 3pm I take the horses in, groom them and give them their supper. On Tuesdays and Thursdays this varies because I have my lessons at 3:30 which means that the horses go in at 4pm instead. Afterwards on the days that I do not ride I attend to the vegetable garden next to the stables and then knock off, normally at 5pm or just after. I check that the horses have settled down for the night at 6:30pm, refill the water and grass for the night. If they need blankets I put them on then and I am done for the day. I work

It is very important for grooms to stay close to the horses that they look after. This is a specialised job and employers should take time to teach proper grooming skills to their grooms, international standard skills not just basic grooming and leave it there. Teach them other skills, like driving, towing horse boxes, shoeing horses, clipping horses, leather repair, help them enrich their lives more and everyone wins. Working with horses, one learns to love them passionately, it is like looking after a baby, they trust you with their lives, comfort and health. Be willing to learn from them, to understand them, give them respect and you will earn theirs in turn. Take your job seriously always be ready to go beyond the call of duty as a parent would for their child. Honestly, for me, a good groom is characterised by a true love for horses, if you love something you treat it right, you respect it and share in the success of your charge.

However taking time to read the label can provide you with some information to help confirm if the feed you use is suitable. Labels in South Africa by law don’t actually have to contain much information, so you will need to ask the individual manufacturer some questions, in order to get a full picture. The label is not the be all and end all. —this is not always going to tell you much but generally it will let you know what class of horse it’s aimed at – i.e. competition mix or a stud cube. —this statement will describe the species and the class of animal for which it is intended (breeding, hard work, growth). Again, this is there to help the buyer make the best choice. It also allows you to see if your horses’ workload matches that of the feed. i.e. if your horse is young and in hard work then “ ” is not going to be suitable. --for example, pellet, or meal.

ever contacting the manufacturer for a direct consultation on horse is always best. feed order.

- helpful when calculating your

—so you can contact the manufacturer should questions or problems arise. However if you get no response or poor info, is it really the company for you?? Although it’s not required, most feed companies provide a date of manufacture somewhere on the bag or label. Be careful when interpreting this as most people confuse the date of manufacture with an expiration date, and assume the feed is out-of-date. The average pelleted feed, correctly stored, has a shelf-life of about six months, and a meal or fat-supplemented product (which is more prone to spoilage), about three months. —In South Africa the only things that must be listed on a label are:

—this should list all the ingredients that go into a feed. Sometimes this can be vague. One reason for this is some feed formulas are designed to be variable, so that one ingredient (providing similar nutrition) can be substituted for another as prices fluctuate. The second is that manufacturers prefer not to divulge the exact formula to avoid copying by competitors. So, instead of putting specific ingredients like oat hay, or Lucerne, you may see “Forage products” listed , instead of soybean meal, you might see “plant protein products”, instead of brewer’s yeast, or wheat bran, you might see However the ingredients should be listed by %, so ingredients used in larger amounts will appear at the start, and ingredients used in smaller amounts at the end. So a label that indicates “Forage products” first will be a higher fibre feed than those starting with “ ” first.

The Cosmopolitain LifeStyle Centre, Shop 2 Contact: Sara-Lee Ryan 078 201 1669 saralee@stablegate.co.za www.stablegate.co.za

-this usually includes a guideline for feeding amounts, based on the weight and workload of the horse. These guidelines usually are calculated so that, along with an appropriate amount of forage (grazing and/or hay), the feed will provide complete nutrition when fed at the recommended amounts. This section can also give you an indication of the amount of nutrients included. So if a feed manufacturer recommends 5kg per day and another recommends only 3kg per day then the later is likely to have a slightly higher level of nutrients per kg, meaning less feed is needed to cover the horses needs. This in itself can help you gauge how economical a feed really is. Yes, the bag may cost R200 (a) vs R270 (b) but if you need to feed 5kg of (a) per day then you’re spending R25 per day vs R20.25 if you feed 3kg of (b).

Equinatura

What people often don’t realize, is that the product will only do what it says if you feed it according to the directions. Feeding reduced quantities reduces the amount of nutrition provided, where as overfeeding can have serious consequences for your horse. Also adding in extras such as oats, or bran can affect the balance of your feed; therefore you may not get the results the manufacturer intended. Try to stick to the directions as much as possible--they are there for a reason. How-

Sport Salf R368.79 A revitalizing slave for horses’ muscles and legs, made with with Box Holly root and Japanese Mint Oil. Hoof Balm R303.75 A conditioning hoof balm containing natural bees wax!

Thoroughbreds Jumping out of the Park Two of her current 1.30 M and 1.40 M horses are 10 year old Thoroughbreds, both by the ill-fated sire Camden Park. Camden Park was bred in the USA by sire of sires A.P Indy, out of a Danzig mare. Having been champion sophomore sire, based on his first crop’s successes on the track, he sadly died in 2007. Ashlee acquired Camden Blue in 2012 and MacArthur Park in 2013, from Anthony Kay whose Ebb and Flow Stables in Port Elizabeth is a source of carefully selected Thoroughbreds off the track. Camden Blue (Blue) is competing in the 1.30 classes. He was in the 1.40’s but then suffered a hamstring injury which has set him back. Macarthur Park (Mac) competes in the 1.30 classes. Ashlee explains to us why she prefers riding Thoroughbreds: “I think that Thoroughbreds suit my style of riding. I don’t like to use a lot of leg and I like the horse to take me to the jump. Thoroughbreds do this naturally, being usually forward-going and willing. Their build is also more suitable to me, as I prefer to ride a tall, slim horse. I also love their personalities; they all have their own quirks. Another great thing about my boys is that I don’t feel pressured on them (to perform like an expensive imported warmblood.) They are inexpensive if you get them straight off the track and as long as you are willing to put in the time and the work they will increase in value. Blue was recently gelded as he was getting a bit too cheeky as a stallion - he is very vain. He was a terrible race horse, running only a few times and finishing towards the back of the field. He is a very special horse to me as he is the first I ever produced on my own. When I got him he was jumping 80cm. He has taught me a lot and for that I will always be grateful to him.

Discovery’s Macarthur Park

Mac is the most fun horse in my string. He is very naughty! He hates to work on the flat and stands in the corner and bucks when I put my leg on. He really only loves jumping and he is very good at it!! He recently won the 1.30 speed class and championship class at the Shongweni Show. He is very fast and loves his job. He was a good race horse apparently, raced for a few years, so I got him when he was a bit older.” Both horses were trained by Gavin Smith in PE but had very different results: Breeding: Camden Park (USA) - Allez La Bleu (AUS) by Dolphin Street (FR) Raced 6 times for no places. Camden Park (USA) - Inanda House by Krusenstern (USA), bred by Avontuur Thoroughbred Farm. Raced over three seasons for 3 wins and 8 places. Another rider is Alex Munn, who has two Camden Park geldings,,who are Admiral Camden and Kensington. Admiral Camden had 5 wins and numerous places for trainers Eric Sands and then Alan Greef over three seasons, while Kensington ran a number of places for trainer Charles Roberts and Diane Botes of FirstforHorses, another advocate of Thoroughbreds in the sporting arena. Both horses are doing very well in the show-ring, they compete in Medium Dressage, jump 1.30m and event! Good all-rounders!! It’s very interesting to see that a lack of success on the race track has no bearing on the horse’s ability in a new career. Horses for courses perhaps! Sadly with no more Camden Park’s around, a similar cross may be found in the progeny of stallions A.P Answer, Just as Well and Judpot. Most seem to have very good temperaments too.

Discovery’s Camden Blue

The Gauteng Dressage Council reintroduced the Inter-District competition, which was incorporated into the Gauteng Dressage Championships. The first leg of this competition, which saw the five Gauteng Districts; Ekurhuleni, Johannesburg, Sedibeng, Tshwane and the West, go up against each other, took place on 15 and 16 July for all qualifiers with the championships and freestyle classes held the following weekend. Both events were held at the beautiful Eaton Farm and saw enormous support from a large number of local companies from a sponsorship perspective.

Breeders

Far Hills Pintado Stud

By Audrey Moolman and Lisa Dixon Photography courtesy Tracy Robertson

ful Friesian to a coloured warmblood was Lana Dawn Allen from Acres Wild stud, who bred only a handful

Lolita van Fortina and Far Hills Pintado Zinovia

Due to all the interest we had in her we then decided to branch out and have our own Baroque Pinto program within Far Hills Pintado Stud. We have bred 6 Baroque Pinto foals so far and currently we have 8 Friesian -

remained mostly unnoticed, mainly due to being vey isolated from the public eye. She used the gorgeous warmblood stallion Waldemar G (KWPN) to her friesian mares and produced top quality foals from this match. One of these, a mare that we recently had the privilege of acquiring; Acres Wild Casca.

Friesian. Meteor R

Photography: courtesy Ashleigh K. Photography

Imported Homozygous Tobiano KWPN stallion, Zerro

We have also since partnered up with another stud, Ruach Pinto Sport Horses, with whom we share the same breeding goals and dreams, to bring in and swop out bloodlines.

Far Hills Pintado Super Girl horses, show horses, vaulting, riding and driving horses. As we do not have a Baroque Pinto registry in South Africa, we have decided to register our horses with the South African Sport Horse Federation as this society is the only one currently able to accommodate the recording of the breed crossing that we do.

Together we own three top quality, imported homozygous warmblood stallions to use on our Friesian mares, and we also recently purchased an imported friesian Stallion, Meteor R in partnership to bring in new Friesian bloodlines to our program. Baroque Pinto’s either referred to as Barock Pinto or Baroque Pinto is a perfect all-round family horse. The original type aims for the greatest amount of Friesian

ed with SASHF.

with the colour coming from the infusion of the original Dutch warmblood.

breed has gained among our equestrian riders. Baroque pintos are doing fantastic in the dressage arenas as the warmblood blood added to the Friesian gives them a greater athletic ability and thus makes them better performers than the standard Friesian.

inclusion of warmblood to produce a lighter sportier type horse for those who prefer this. To ensure a foal of colour, it is usually best to make use of a homozygous tobiano stallion or mare. Homozygous warmbloods are very few and far between, with only a handful found in South Africa. That is why we are so excited to have three homozygous warmblood stallions, KWPN stallion ZERRO, Oldenburg stallion SUPER NATURAL, and IHW warmblood stallion JOEPIE between our two studs. South Africa also has so many imported Friesian stallions standing stud, that we have an unlimited choice of pedigrees to use in our breeding programs to ensure top quality Baroque Pinto foals. The main line introduced to maintain the colour is the Samber breeding or the KWPN Warmblood. It goes without saying that the more Warmblood you mix with the Barock pinto the “hotter” the horse will be, so it is really up to you as to which type of Barock pinto you modern sportier models crossed with warmblood. Because of the admirable characteristics of the Barock pinto it makes them ideal family members, circus/trick

Mystic G and Far Hills Super Girl

Super Natural

The Responsible Breed Federation did not want to see a coloured groninger stallion as an ancestor and therefore revoked his breeding permission. This did not detere mare owners since the coloured horses were so popular and Bonte Nico continued to breed more mares than ever. Another failed attempt at Breeding rights approval saw PS Hellinga threatened by the Breeding Federation to castrate or kill Bonte Nico. Finally Bonte Nico succeeded in gaining special breeding approval again where he then covered 118 mares

Nico (also known as Nico van Friesland), his mother was a purebred Friesian and his father was a Groninger (original native Dutch Warmblood which KWPN horses descend from). From here, all true Barock pintoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s deSimon Hellinga Irnsum was the most popular and controversial horse in all of Holland. He was recognised in the Dutch Warmblood program were afraid of their own breeding. However this did not stop the popularity of Bonte Nico when not a week went by without a mention of him in the papers

again at 9 years of age. formed and many stallions has since been licensed within this registry. Today there are some fantastic Baroque Pinto stallions standing stud world wide as their popularity increases daily.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;milk prices are falling, but Bonte Nico is still on the way upâ&#x20AC;?!!!

Far Hills Pintado Stud ~ Audrey Moolman audreyfarhills@gmail.com www,farhillsstud.co.za Ruach Pinto Sports Horses ~ Lisa Dixon dixonlisa@icloud.com www.ruachpintosporthorses Far Hills Pintado Zerine

A true adventure ... on the edge of Africa

nights depending on your needs. Ride for part of the day or choose full day rides with picnic or pub lunches. Longer stays can include two nights at one of the welcoming hotels located along the coast. Time in the saddle is tailored to your needs and allows for free time to explore on foot or by car if desired. From the Guest Lodge, the beach is within easy walking distance. Nature reserves, coastal walks, golf and a game reserve are just some of the additional activities within Kei and the surrounding area, making it a great place to stay. Or you may just want to ride as much as possible! The Kei based trail means the holiday is completely adaptable to your requirements.

The family run, Wild Coast Horse Riding Adventures is the place for you to start exploring. Situated on the Southern bank of the Great Kei River, Wild Coast Horse Riding Adventures is the gateway to riding in the Old Transkei. A true horseback adventure, in an area that is one of South Africa’s hidden gems, the Wild Coast offers the complete horse riding holiday package- spectacular scenery, long beach canters and an array of comfortable accommodation. All rides are led by experienced guides who follow the tides for exciting but safe riding, including gallops and river crossings. Established over 15 years ago, Wild Coast Horse Riding Adventures extensive knowledge of one of South Africa’s remoter areas means guests explore a part of the Wild Coast that few others get to see. Golden sands stretch before you as you ride, varied with a rondavel dotted patchwork of hills, cliff top tracks and steep, Jurassic style gorges- all in a day’s riding. Cows, goats and the odd fisherman are usually the only observers on your route. Two exciting holiday options are available for guests. For all riders (novice to advanced) the bespoke Kei River Riding Holiday offers a flexible riding program which can be anything from 2- 7

pace to make river crossings. Add deep ravines and kilometres of empty beach for some adrenalin pumping riding. Your final night is spent back at the Guest Lodge. Here, a sociable Friday night braai, gives you chance to re-live your horse riding adventure with new friends from trail.

Highlights of the holiday include; crossing the River Kei by pont. The only way to reach the beaches across the river is by one of the 3 remaining car transporting river ferries in South Africa which also takes our confident, ferry riding, horses. Walking onto the pont you will notice your horses ears become pricked and their gaze reaches out across the river to the opposite bank. This signals the start of an exciting day for both you and your horse. Picnicking at waterfalls makes a relaxing lunch; here, you can watch rainbows arch through the spray of water and maybe take the opportunity to bathe in the isolated waterfall pool; cooling down after a morningâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ride in the sun. If over-nighting at a hotel is part of your stay then waking to an expanse of blue lagoon, glistening river and 2.5 km of yellow sand awaits you; And the horseback wade across the river to reach it and chance to hit top speeds down the beach is simply exhilarating.

The horses, many of which are home-bred, include Arabs, Anglo Arabs, Arab/ Percheron crosses and of course the trusty Boerperd. This means all types of riders can be catered for, from those that would appreciate gentle, confidence givers to people that like a horse with a lot of personality! Athletic and barefoot, the horses take you over a wide range of terrain- at times reminding you of mountain goats in more rocky areas and then reminiscent of racehorses down the far- reaching beaches. 24 hour turn out and lots of care means the horses love their job and are forward and eager rides.

For experienced riders, wanting adventure from the start, the seven night Wild Coast Trail offers a fast, more technical ride. Guests experience all the highlights previously mentioned and more. Staying at four welcoming hotels (for 1 or 2 nights each), dotted up the Wild Coast coastline, means a round trip of 190km in seven days. Tides govern the riding with occasional early starts and a fast

If the Kei River holiday is your chosen option then accommodation is Kei Mouth Guest Lodge and Backpackers. Newly refurbished, each room is comfortable and cosy, with on- suite facilities. The guest lodge offers light breakfasts and hearty, home-cooked evening meals (much needed after

Trennery Hotel

night is definitely a highlight for many with oysters, prawns and calamari galore! Finish delicious dining off with a few cocktails and chatting about the days riding adventure, and the day is complete. Each hotel has something special to offer, from stunning views, river boat trips, rickety rope bridges and whale and dolphin watching from the bar. All hotels will be well remembered even after a fleeting visit.

a dayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s riding). If more freedom is preferred, the bed and breakfast option allows you to explore and taste local fare. With pubs, restaurants and hotels within the area there are plenty of choices. Each having its own speciality which guides would be happy to recommend. The hotels used by the trails offer a series of quaint accommodation all with a friendly, relaxed atmosphere. Only accessible by dirt road or airstrip, they offer a break away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The sound of the ocean will lull you to sleep each night and bird song (or maybe the odd monkey on your roof!) will be your morning alarm. Each hotel serves an excellent range of food, catering for all dietary requirements. Being on the coast fresh fish often makes an appearance on the menu and, on the Wild Coast Trail, seafood

Wild Coast Horse Riding Adventures ~ Kei Mouth Guest Lodge & Backpackers

Kei Mouth Guest Lodge

LEISURE RANGE

NOW AVAILABLE

Kyalami Corner, Shop 21 (Next to Cape Union Mart) Contact Candice / Beverly for more info: Cell: +27 (0) 82 820 8153 / +27 (0) 72 191 2454 Tel: + (010) 020 6867 Olympus Village, Pretoria, Shop 37 (Behind Burger King) Contact Michal for more info: Cell: +27 (0) 71 671 5323 Durban / KZN Pop Up Shop, Meadow Valley Farm, Ballitoville, Kwazulu-Natal, Contact Debbie / Nadia for more info: Cell: +27 (0) 82 455 2238 / +27 (0) 82 491 8883 Cape Town Pop Up Shop Contact Beverly / Tor for more info: Cell: +27 (0) 72 191 2454 / +27 (0) 83 489 7972