Equilife Living the Lifestyle
Issue 12
The Sketch Pad ~ Rugare Arts • Spotlight ~ Fading into Desert Myth
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In the Saddle.... The true way to Explore Tanzania
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Ashleigh Hughes Turf Diaries Catherine Hartley Beyond Racing Hannah Botha Stable Views Joanna Westermark Gaited Traveller Leandri Joubert Endurance Sam Heynes Polocrosse Sikhangele Mbambo A Grooms Insight Simone Howarth SA Young Horse Dressage Series Sunel Jooste Gaited Traveller Taneil Arkner The Immaculate Equestrian Academy Elite Teagan Cunniffe Spotlight
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TB Images Show Jumping White Lens Photography Endurance
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Contents 8. The Sketch Pad ~ Rugare Arts Working in the silence of the desert is like a retreat, where often sculptures start taking shape, getting their first overall expression. Moving stones that weigh several tonnes is a refreshing exercise to me. The tension between raw material and finished piece keeps me exited all along the process of creation. 22 8
12. Spotlight ~ Fading into the Desert Myth Three herds of wild horses roam the deserts near Garub, Namibia. They’ve survived for generations, mixing bloodlines of Hackney, Trakehner and Shagya Arab heritage to form the pure Namib breed. They’ve survived wars, drought and natural predation- but now a new threat emerges.
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17. Turf Diaries ~ Bring the Bling It’s not often one gets to witness a true “rags to riches” story in real time. To see that person become not just very successful but a national champion in their field, is something very special. S’manga Khumalo is that person.
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20. Show Jumping ~ Nissan Winter Classis 2017
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Content 30. DSA National Young Dressage Horse Series Gauteng
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33. SA International Challenge 2017 My phone rang one morning last week 37 and I was met with the stern voice of my mother. She respectfully requested to enquire when I shall be returning to sorting through my junk in their garage. No, I won’t blush, because I KNOW you have stuffed toys and rollerblades in your parents garage as well.
45. Gaited Traveller ~ In the Saddle... The true way to explore Tanzania Kaskazi Horse Safaris is a privately guided horseback operation in Northern Tanzania. Our focus lies with horses and Safaris off the beaten path. Due to the owner’s many years of experience within the Safari industry, Kaskazi designs unforgettable safaris all over Africa, with focus in Tanzania.
Content The Sketch Pad ~ Rugare Arts
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Spotlight ~ Fading into Desert Myth
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Stable Views ~ No Hoof, No Horse
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Turf Diaries ~ Bring the Bling
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Show Jumping ~ Nissan winter Classic
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Grooms Insight ~A Special kind of groom Beyond Racing
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DSA National Young Dressage Horse Series Gauteng
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Endurance ~ International Challange 2017
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The Elite Immaculate Academy..
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Breeders ~ Under the Desert Sky
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Gaited Traveller ~ The true way to explore Tanzania
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THE SKETCH PAD
Photographs Courtesy Mike Pace To capture the essence of my subject. To immortalize , the moment, the soul, the energy. that is my goal and inspiration explored quarry where I wander around and listen to the stone calling out to me to be worked. Quite often I see in the freshness of nature the complete sculpture in a rock formation.
I’ve been surrounded by art my entire life. My father was an acclaimed sculptor who specialised in wildlife and also painted in oils in Zimbabwe . I first started at the age of five doing rhinos, finishing my fathers’ pieces. I honed my skills and sold my own first collection of birds and turtles at the tender age of ten. Since then, I have been completely absorbed by animals, the human figure and sculpture, the movement and anatomy of animals and human form. I try to capture the essence of my subject i.e. an animal, immortalize a certain moment, a look and feel of what is happening. My work is about the soul of my subject, not just the outer form worked to perfection. I have made my way from understanding my material and the possibilities it gives me to shaping the intangible of an idea, an image, a concept. There are different ways for me to get inspired. The sculpture might develop from an idea that forms in my mind. Textures create an image. Or I might travel thousands of miles to find an un-
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THE SKETCH PAD
My favourite stones are; granite, for its multiple texture finishing qualities, marble for its classic association with sculptures, Bowenite, Potoro Leonardo, Jasper, Sodalite , picture stone for its dazzling colours, spring stone and wonder stone for the contrasting texture between polished and unpolished
Working in the silence of the desert is like a retreat, where often sculptures start taking shape, getting their first overall expression. Moving stones that weigh several tonnes is a refreshing exercise to me. The tension between raw material and finished piece keeps me exited all along the process of creation. I consider it a challenge to catch the movement of the human form in its endless variations. Studying the masters like Donatello, Bernini and Rodin taught me a lot about the different forms the human body can be presented in. To choose the right expression and media for an idea is the task that sets apart my work. I use many types of media; Alabaster and zebra stone from America, Wonderstone from South Africa, Semiprecious stone from Zimbabwe, Wood, Wax, and even ice sculptures, granite, marble, picture stone, sand stone, jasper from South Africa, Italy, Namibia, Madagascar, metal and cement.
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THE SKETCH PAD
I have private regular collectors in USA, Germany, England, Australia, Switzerland and a small but growing number in South Africa, one of the highlights being two life size tigers commissioned by the Mother of an international spots figure
Belgium: Dielaman Gallery Liz Piti South Africa:Art Creations Africa Gallery Africa Hout bay Gallery Kenya: Soul of Africa CTICC thoroughbred sale Two time Exibiti at Klawervlei studs
A collection to the National Zoo & Aquarium RMB 999 Lady Denman Drive, Weston Creek, ACT 2611 Australia I’ve held personal exhibitions at the Safari Club International in Reno, Afridesia Gallery, Red Bank, New Jersey and an art promotional exhibition held by the Spanish ambassador at his Cape Town residence. And exhibited in the following galleries; Australia Mystical Arts East Burwood, Vic USA Afridesia Gallery Red Bank New Jersey Spirits in Stone Glen Ellen California Jerol Gallery Boca Raton Florida Safari Club International Reno Bermuda: Crisson & Hind Fine Art Gallery
Contact Details:
Cell: +27 81 780 0745 ~ Phone: +27 21 790 0199 email: robrugare@yahoo.com ~ Website: robinkutinyu.com
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SPOTLIGHT
Fading into Desert Myth
By Teagan Cunniffe Three herds of wild horses roam the deserts near Garub, Namibia. They’ve survived for generations, mixing bloodlines of Hackney, Trakehner and Shagya Arab heritage to form the pure Namib breed. They’ve survived wars, drought and natural predation- but now a new threat emerges. ‘This area has been in drought over the past four years. The horses have survived drought before, but this time around... this time is was bad enough that we had to step in. We received donations of grass and began dropping off bales of hay. The horses were cautious about it, in the beginning. It took a while, and we noticed that they favoured certain grass types. But they soon began to rely on the regular feed. During that time, the spotted hyenas started to increasingly prey on the weakest of the stock.
It’s dark outside. Dr Telane Greyling sits in the seat of her Nissan, listening to the sounds of the night pressing onto her vehicle. Movement. She switches on her headlamp but can’t see anything beyond the circle of faint light. ‘During the day, yes, I’d get out of the vehicle’, she tells me, later on in the safety of daylight hours. ‘But at night… I don’t trust the hyenas at night. That’s when they are at their boldest.’
We thought that a good thing, in the beginning. For the hyenas to take the old and weak, to keep the best genes in place. But when the horses grew stronger, the hyenas still continued to take them down. They’ve now learnt how to isolate and target an individual, clamp onto its neck or tail with their jaws and drag the animal to the floor. They were killing off a horse every few days.’
We’re in the southern tip of the Namib-Naukluft Park, on the eastern fringes of the Namib Desert. Colours are subdued here, pale shades of reds from the sand contrasting against the blue from the sky. Off in the distance, a herd of wild horses walks towards us, heads swinging and dust trailing after them. Telane watches as they come closer, a smile on her lips. She’s studied these horses for over two decades, writing her PhD thesis on the horses and their origin. Her heart is here, on this land and within this herd.
The Namib horses are a breed of their own. While their exact origin remains unproven, two probable theories exist. 1915. During World War One, 10 000 Union of South Africa soldiers were stationed near the man-made water source at Garub. Along with their numbers, 6000 horses were picketed in long lines to the ground as they waited for impending battle. 25km’s to the east, German soldiers were pinned
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SPOTLIGHT
in the hills of Aus. Outnumbered, they built trenches and ramparts from the surrounding rock to shield themselves behind as they warily watched the horizon for South African movement. On the 27 March 1915, a German pilot named Fiedler came to their aid, dropping intermittent bombs amidst the South African troops. Turmoil ensued in the Union camps as horses scattered, while back at Aus, the German troops fled their rocky shelter for safety.
the whole park, with its herds of oryx and springbok. Now, they have settled in and locked onto the easy food source, making their dens in the area and raising cubs, that they, in turn, teach how to hunt horses themselves. No foals have survived since 2012.
Go back a few years to the early 1900’s. The diamond rush of 1908 was in full swing, and from 19091914, Emil Kreplin was the mayor of a flourishing mining town called Lüderitz. He began a stud farm in Kubub, a farm just further east from Aus, breeding workhorses for the mines and racehorses for leisure at Lüderitz. When the war began and Europe later underwent an economic depression, he lost his fortunes- including horses, which were left to wander the fenceless lands in search of water
‘People have bought into an idea about hyenas which isn’t true’, Telane tells me. ‘We’ve been told that hyenas are spineless, cowering creatures, opportunistic scavengers, when in fact they are highly intelligent animals with clearly defined social bonds. They’re capable of hunting and communicating. Using meat, we darted and collared an older female for researching purposes. Since then, she’s avoided any other trapping efforts, as has the other pack members. Even the ones who weren’t born at the time.
In desperation, the Wild Horses Foundation have begun feeding the hyenas. This has brought a temporary halt to the dropping numbers but has long-term ramifications on the hyenas. They are all-too aware that feeding can only be viewed as a short-term solution.
’ Telane trails off. ‘I admire them.’
and food. They gradually made their way to the waterhole at Garub, where a handful of the uncaught Union horses had remained
And there they stayed, through times of drought and times of prosperity. The desert land where they lived was declared a protected mining area with restricted civilian access. The horses gradually grew wilder as the generations passed and their bloodlines mixed, earning the name ‘ghost horses’ from the locals as they were so seldom seen. The water source at Garub was maintained over the years by the South African Railway, and from 1977 onwards by the Consolidated Diamond Mines. This section of Sperrgebiet was then reincorporated into the Namib Naukluft park–the largest reserve in Namibia- where the allure of the wild horses has become a major visitor attraction to the area.
It’s a tough debate, survival of the fittest in action. The hyenas are native while the horses have been here for 100 years. The horses are an important tourism drawcard to the area. It would be devastating to lose this uniquely adapted breed.
At the last count, there were only 123 of these wild horses left – and of that, only 40 mares. This is well below the critical number of 50 mares that had previously been given as the bottom-line for gene variety. The spotted hyenas used to roam the area in search of prey and water and spread their predatory effect over
Luckily, there is a plan in place. With the assistance of Christine Wulff-Swiegers from Klein-Aus Vista, a nearby lodge that actively supports the Wild Horses, Telane
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SPOTLIGHT
‘I know how they can look. I’ve seen them when the rains come and this valley is filled with tall, waving yellow grass, when their bellies are round and fat and their coats are shiny. When they expend energy, fighting and running for no other reason but the desire to do so. That’s how I remember these horses.’ She pauses, her face earnest as she relives the memories before softly continuing.
wants to drive the horses out of the Namib-Naukluft Park and onto the neighbouring Klein-Aus Vista property. The property is huge: 52,000 hectares with vast stretches of grassland broken by towering red, crumbly mountains- the very same mountains that the German soldiers entrenched themselves in. With the permission of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET), part of the farm could become a horse sanctuary. While the proposed terrain is ideal, it will be a tricky transfer. From prior experience, Telane knows that the horses do not respond well to sedation, finding the process extremely stressful. It would be better to use a helicopter to chase the herds onto the neighbouring lands, leaving behind a small bachelor herd to support the park.
‘And that time will come again’.
From Klein-Aus Vista, Telane will be able to take an active role in protecting the horses by monitoring the hyenas and repairing fences. But between helicopter hire and continued feeding efforts, translocation will be a costly affair. The wild horses have survived through the drought on the generosity of hay and money donated. Donations earned by the tireless efforts of the small team behind the Wild Horses Foundation, actively spreading the word, manning social media pages and drum rolling support. Myself, Christine and Telane quietly stand and watch the oncoming horses. They know Telane’s vehicle well, by now, and move up to say hello. While they are by no means tame, they’ve never had a harmful encounter with humans, and harbour only curiosity. The sun has softened the landscape, imbuing the land with reds and oranges as shadows lengthen. ‘It makes me sad to see the horses like this’ Christine says, gesturing to the herd that have ambled on over to us. They are thin, bones embossing their dusty frames.
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SPOTLIGHT Telane nods in agreement. ‘The rains will come and the valleys will fill with grass again, and the horses will be back to how they were’. But now, the question lies in whether these horses will be around to see that day. It has been estimated that by mid-2018, numbers will have declined to an unsalvageable low, and the proud, fighting, free Namib breed will have forever lost the ability to replenish its bloodline. In the meantime, while funds are painfully gathered and logistics are battled, night falls on the remaining wild horses. And the call of spotted hyenas begins.
How can you help?
You can assist by spreading the word and donating money. Cash donations will go towards feeding the horses until the drought releases its hold on the land, and upon MET approval, relocation costs from the Namib-Naukluft Park. Any and all support would be greatly appreciated. All proceeds are monitored by the Namibian Wild Horses Foundation, a registered non-profit organisation that acts in the interests of the wild horses’ preservation, and as advisors on decisions made within the Namibian Ministry of Environment and Tourism board. More information can be found on the website www.wild-horses-namibia.com
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STABLE VIEWS
No Hoof No Horse
By Hannah Botha - MSC Equine Science (Royal Agricultural College UK) Nutrition is certainly a crucial consideration for good hooves, as ensuring dietary elements are in place will help your horse to grow good-quality hoof horn that is equipped to support the horse’s weight and retain its integrity.
Protein Horses that take in too little protein have shown to have slowed hoof growth and tend to produce inferior quality horn that is prone to cracking and splitting. In reality, the diet of most mature horses contains ample quantities of protein for good hoof growth. In most cases the most important aspect of protein is to not look at the quantity but the quality.
Energy Energy is considered the first limiting nutrient and utilization of all other nutrients may be limited, if the diet is energy deficient. Excess energy however can result in obesity which places extra weight, and thus stress, on the legs and hooves. Forages, both pasture and hay, provide energy. In low workload situations forages can provide enough energy to meet the horse’s needs. Even in those working harder highly fermentable fiber sources; such as, soybean hulls or Beet products, can be used to provide a significantly higher level of energy from fibre. Of course on average a small amount of additional feed will be required. All horses need carbohydrates (sugars and starches) as these provide essential energy for all day to day processes. However while we do not want to remove them from the horses diet completely looking at the levels we feed can be important.
Various amino acids have been considered nutritionally important for hoof growth. Methionine, in particular, because it contains sulfur, an essential element in the formation of keratin. Methionine, is an essential amino acid meaning the horse cannot manufacture it for himself and must take it in through his diet. It will not necessarily improve hoof growth or quality on its own, but if included with biotin supplementation it could play a helpful role as they are believed to work better together . Minerals and supplementation Calcium is essential for hoof growth as its responsible for the cohesion of one cell to another, and it is thought to play a role in the tightly wound arrangement of keratinized cells in the hoof tubules. Horses fed a high-phosphorus, low-calcium diet, based on lots of grain and bran with relatively little hay can suffer a calcium deficiency, which can cause poor hoof quality. Calcium and Phosphorus work in conjunction with each other and must be provided in a balanced ratio.
Feeding sugars and starch (cereal grains) in excess can be detrimental. When large amounts are fed the small intestine isn’t able to fully digest and utilize these ingredients which lead to portions being passed into the large intestine (hindgut). This region of the gut is not designed to cope with sugars and starches and so the “bad” bacteria that feed on sugar and starch grow rapidly causing normal, fibre digesting, gut bacteria to die, bringing about inflammatory changes in the gut. During this breakdown of bacteria endotoxins are given off and these are absorbed into the bloodstream. This can potentially lead to laminitis for example.
Horses deficient in zinc have impaired cellular division and growth, which might be related to a depressed ability to utilize amino acids and sulfur. Since zinc absorption is closely tied to copper levels in the body, both minerals must be supplemented in a correct ratio (from 3:1 to 5:1, zinc to copper). As with methionine, zinc supplementation on its own probably does little to influence hoof growth, but in combination with copper, biotin, and amino acids, it might have a positive effect.
Feed a balanced diet It is critical that all horses are fed a properly balanced ration with each nutrient being supplied in the correct amount for the workload and weight of each horse. Horse owners often take a well-balanced commercial feed and add grains and/or another brand’s feed component to it. The result is a “new feed” that is not balanced for its intended purpose. Another problem that can arise is feeding more than one supplement, or more than the manufacturer’s recommended amount, which can be dangerous with some nutrients. The result can be an imbalance in nutrients or, even worse, a toxic level of one or more nutrients. For example, feeding a well balanced diet plus a vitamin and mineral supplement, plus a hoof supplement really isn’t necessary. Many feed companies today develop grain mixes which are balanced to be fed with either a grass or a legume hay or pasture. Feeding a well balanced diet, with additional supplements only if there is a need is by far the best way to ensure a horse has everything it needs.
Biotin, a B vitamin, is produced in the horse’s gut in sufficient quantity for basic nutritional needs, but some horses with poor-quality hooves appear to benefit from supplementation. Researchers still don’t understand exactly why some horses respond to biotin and others do not, but the vitamin seems to be most beneficial to horses with thin, brittle hoof walls and tender, thin soles. Biotin supplementation must be continued for several months to produce results. The reason for this is that the effects of any supplement on hoof growth will not be seen until that new and improved growth comprises most of the hoof, and this takes at least 6-9 months, in an average horse.
www.equusfeeds.co.za for the full article and additional references
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TURF DIARIES
Bring The Bling By Ashleigh Hughes It’s not often one gets to witness a true “rags to riches” story in real time. To see that person become not just very successful but a national champion in their field, is something very special. S’manga Khumalo is that person. He is a record breaker and a trend setter, a person looked up to and adored by a whole legion of fans around the country. He is the first black South African to ride the winner of the Vodacom Durban July and the first black South African to win the national Jockey’s Championship - twice! He has risen above extreme adversity to become one of the most successful jockeys in our country’s history. Khumalo grew up in KwaMashu, which was one of the most violent areas in South Africa, during the apartheid era. The unrest during these troubled times was at its zenith during his early school days. His mother was a domestic worker and he grew up poverty-stricken, with very limited opportunities in every aspect of his life. He was one of 5 children – he has one brother and three sisters. Being exceptionally short in stature, he was often picked on by fellow schoolchildren. He dreamed of growing taller to defend himself.
When he entered the Academy, Khumalo was quite overwhelmed. The cultural and language difficulties seemed almost insurmountable but the SAJA are world renowned for their one-on-one guidance of their apprentice jockeys. The staff made sure he was not left to flounder and he picked up on everything very quickly. That year also saw Robert and Sandile Khathi, Sihle Cele and the late Sylvester Mtshali join the Academy. They all formed a firm friendship and with each other’s support, they all flourished as apprentices.
He was at Mzuvele High School when the scouts from the South African Jockey Academy came to talk to the pupils there. He was approached immediately because of his small size but he was very sceptical about what they were suggesting. Horseracing was a very white-dominated industry in those days, and Khumalo could not see himself being part of that world. He’d never even touched a horse in his life at that stage. But in July 2000 his mind was changed. His interest in racing had been piqued and he started reading the racing sections in the local papers. Khumalo saw that the late Gift Funeka was going to be the very first black jockey to ride in the Durban July. His mount was a tall dark bay gelding called His Nibs (NZ), who was trained by Anil Maharaj. His Nibs (NZ) finished unplaced in the race but Funeka’s ground-breaking ride was enough to inspire Khumalo to follow up with the Jockey Academy.
Most apprentices are relocated to other centres when they have completed their third year at the Academy itself. Khumalo was relocated to Zimbabwe and with support from Lisa Harris and Kirk Swanson, he rode his very first winner there. The Johannesburg Jockey Academy master at the time was Robert Moore – a ex-Zimbabwean him
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TURF DIARIES
Heavy Metal Photograph Courtesy Gold Circle
self. Moore quickly realised that Khumalo was an above average rider and recommended he be relocated to Johannesburg.
on the Johannesburg racing calendar. Khumalo has always held Soma in high regard and often mentions him as one of his early mentors.
Being apprenticed to a trainer like Alec Laird is a very strong boost for a young jockey’s career and it certainly was the catalyst for Khumalo’s tremendous success. Based at the North Rand Training Centre in Randjesfontein, Khumalo rode work for a number of the bigger trainers who train from there. Not only was he getting rides from the Laird stable but Sean Tarry also recognised his potential as a rider so he gave him many opportunities to ride some top horses. Khumalo also rode a lot of work at Turffontein where he found the support of Joe Soma and Chris Erasmus.
“He’s tough to work for but very fair. And he gave me many opportunities at the start of my professional career”. The Gr1 victories did not stop there and in April 2013, Khumalo piloted the Sean Tarry-trained Heavy Metal to win the Gr1 Premier’s Champions Challenge. That race is always a good indicator for Durban July potential and in 2013 it was true to form. Heavy Metal dug deep under Khumalo to beat the Snaith trained Run For It by just 0.3 lengths.
By the time Khumalo graduated from the Jockey Academy in 2006, he’d ridden approximately 120 winners in total. Every jockey dreams of riding a Gr1 winner and his chance came up in March 2011 aboard St John Gray’s superstar mare, Dancewiththedevil. Khumalo rode the tenacious mare to victory in the R1 Million Gr1 Horse Chestnut 1600m, beating a field of colts and geldings by 5.5 lengths. A mere 17 days later he won a second Gr1 aboard Dancewiththedevil – the Gr1 Empress Club Stakes. A year later he partnered the mare again and won the G1 Horse Chestnut 1600m again, beating the boys once more. That was just the start of Khumalo’s meteoric rise to the top. On 1 December 2012, Khumalo won the Gr1 Sansui Summer Cup aboard the Joe Soma-trained Wagner. The Summer Cup was first run in December 1888 and is one of the biggest racing events
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TURF DIARIES 2015/ 2016 season that Khumalo really showed his mettle, winning the national championship again. This time he had 243 wins from 1348 rides.
Carry on Alice Photograph Courtesy Gold Circle
But this was no ordinary victory. S’manga Khumalo became the very first black jockey to win the Gr1 Vodacom Durban July. It was a sensational moment for everyone involved but possibly most of all for Smanga’s mother. “As I came to the number one box down at the grandstand, my mum was there in front. She was screaming and thanking all the people that made it possible and also looking back to her family and to our ancestors. She was thanking all of them, from the grandmother to great-grandmother - because they watch over us. They’re like our ‘guiding angels’. She was overwhelmed and happy.” As a youngster Khumalo often referred to Nelson Mandela as his hero. He said that Mandela had changed the course of history which allowed people like himself to have an opportunity to be successful. Before the start of the 2013 Vodacom Durban July, there was a 67 second period of silence to pay respect to Mandela, who was gravely ill at the time. In the post-race interview, Khumalo dedicated his win to his hero Madiba and there was not a dry eye anywhere. Khumalo’s winning streak meant that he was in with a very good chance of winning the national jockey’s premiership. And even though he had made history at Greyville that Saturday winning the Durban July, he had 4 rides at Turffontein in Johannesburg the next day. He decided to forego the celebrations and so he was in good form the next day, riding another winner. At this stage he was riding in races five days every week, literally travelling the entire country to chase as many winners as he could. It was not in vain and for the second time in a month he made South African history, winning the National Jockey’s Championship for the first time. He was the first black South African to achieve this! It was not easy winning the jockey’s championship for the 2013/ 2014 season, which is always hotly contested every year. Khumalo travelled the country to ride 1381 horses to win 185 races. His nearest rival, Richard Fourie, rode 143 winners to finish second. In third place was Khumalo’s long-time friend Muzi Yeni, who rode 142 winners. The following season Khumalo finished second to Gavin Lerena. They rode 220 and 198 winners respectively. It was in the
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In early 2014 Khumalo secured the ride on a little bay filly trained by Sean Tarry called Carry On Alice. She made her debut in the Gr3 Pretty Polly Stakes, which is rather unusual, and she finished a creditable third behind the very useful Majmu (AUS). She won her next two starts also under Khumalo, including the Gr1 South African Nursery, against the colts. This was just the beginning of a very fruitful relationship between Khumalo and Carry on Alice. He rode her in every one of her victories, which included five Gr1 wins all over the country. She rounded off her remarkable career at Scottsville Racecourse on 27 May 2017, winning the Gr1 South African Fillies Sprint. This brought her tally to 11 wins from 29 starts, with 13 places and R4 586 562 in stakes. It was a dream partnership for all involved.
Khumalo is well-known for his trendsetting fashion sense and his nickname “Bling” comes from his trademark diamond stud earrings. He is the South African dream personified. He grew up in abject poverty and rose up to the very top of his game, in spite of the many challenges he has faced. He has moved his mother out of the township and bought her a house in a more affluent suburb. He continues to support her and his other family members. They are always at the races to support him especially on the big race days. When asked if he has a “woman behind the successful man”, he always refers to his mother. “She is my pillar of strength. Without her, there is no S’manga Khumalo.”
Photography Courtesty Tamara and Blake Images
NISSAN WINTER CLASSIC QUALIFIER 2 2017 This year’s Nissan Winter Classic held at The Durban Shongweni Club, came to a thrilling conclusion, where a bumper crowd were treated to some world-class show jumping in near perfect conditions. The course was designed by Frenchman Michel Isamun a FEI Lever 3* course designer, as well as top local designers Kevin Sprately and Kate Lauder. Event organizer and competitor Grant Langley said, “the upward trend in the growth and popularity of the Nissan Winter Classic was once again plain to see, and we are overjoyed with the success of this year’s event. We managed to attract the maximum number of competitors, and enjoyed by some near-capacity crowds. Our international course designer, who has attended and contributed to many high profile international events, was amazed at the growth in South Africa’s equestrian sport the vastly improved abilities of both the riders and the horses”. 1st Place ~ Lisa Williams on Discovery Campbell 2nd Place ~ Ronnie Healey on Blue Turtle Atmore place 3rd Place ~ Govott Triggol on Callaho’s C-Ultra A Special thank you to all the other Sponsors of The 2017 Nissan Winter Classic. - Epol, Liberty, Equipage, CWD, Western Shoppe, Spurwing Feeds, Bakers Biscuits, Belmondo, Equestriohh, Horze, Outdoor Adventure, the Jansen family, TB Images and L’Ormarins.
Nissan Winter Classic World Cup Qualifier 2 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th
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Discovery Campbell ~ Lisa Williams Blue Turtle Atmore ~ Ronnie Healy Callaho’s C Ultra ~ Govett Triggol Clouny 3 ~ Rainer Korber Alzu Oregon ~ Anne-Marie Esslinger Erreplus Zazou ~ Leona van der Merwe Data Siences Hummer Van Het B ~ Johnathan Clarke
Photography Courtesty Tamara and Blake Images
1.40m Nissan Championship 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th
Dolce Vita Van De Molendreef ~ Gareth Neill Data Sciences Southern Comfort ~ Jonathan Clarke Carinjus ~ Anne Marie Esslinger Style Fragrance’s Callaho Fiorella ~Jeanne Korber Fast Fuels Capital Conlanc ~ Danielle Lemmer MCSA Rivendell Numerology ~ Peter Morrison Kuda Insurances Capital Don Costello ~ Ian van Sckalkwyk Insaghi DB - Nicola Sime Riley Kuda’s King Of Hearts - Jodi Pieters Quidchin Bellignies Z - Bronwyn Short Data Sciences Enouche RK - Jonathan Clarke Nova Zonnestraal’s Change Your Mind Georgina Ratcliffe Legato - Kylie Pettit
1.35m Western Shoppe KZN Open Championship 1st: 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th Clarke 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th 15th
A New Era ~ Jade Hooke Callaho Lansink ~ Rainer Korber Liberty Capital Contagion -~Jenna Barrow Evergreen M ~ Laurence Mowatt Gaucho O ~ Brendan Mcnevin Discovery Eldo ~ Ashlee Hausberger Data Sciences Jerba van Den Bisschop ~ Jonathan
Photography Courtesty Tamara and Blake Images
Nova Zonnestraal’s Aniko ~ Georgina Ratcliffe JK Sporthorses Baly 2 ~Tamara Rueda Topbet Lord Abbendorp ~ Aisling Oconner Callaho Fargo Wells ~ Gareth Neill Cincinati ~ Erin Dos Santos MCSA Alzu Luanda ~ Matthew Morrison Callaho’s Elektra ~Govet Triggol Opium De Sauge ~ Lara Neill
1.20m Championship 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th 13th 14th 15th 16th 17th 18th 19th 20th 21st 22nd 23rd 24th 25th 26th 27th 28th 29th
Phambile - Olivia Garton First For Horses Callaho For Ray ~ Charles Roberts Capital Lagerfeld ~ Nicole Bates Brandenburg Charmer ~ Tarryn Combrink Cefania ~ Gail Foxcroft Alzu Braveheart ~ Ryan Wallbridge Holmwood Cartier Girl ~ Scott Mc Ewan Aspen ~ Molly Gaye Valentine Beau Jour ~ Jodi Pieters Caretina ~ Ronnie Lawrence Serenela’s Capital Lord Derby ~ Charley Crockart Ebb & Flow Assegai Cognac ~ Anthony Kay Capital Carlye ~ Kimberley Hathaway Emblem Park ~ Bunty Howard Dageraad Bart ~ Claudia Dally Indigo V/D Middelstede ~ Steven Flax Equifox Casino ~ Gail Foxcroft Nova Zonestraal Azur ~ Bianca Pitt Helderfontein Empire ~ Michaela - Lane Mark White Nissan’s Capital Kronos ~ Nicole Horwood CMH Quick Lady ~ Steven Atkinson Bon Soir ~ Jennifer Jacoby Fast Fuels Capital Richelle ~ Danielle Lemmer La Baule 7 ~ Liesl Jansen Conthezza ~ Heather Mostert Capital Casmego ~ Simon Hendry Callaho Lorenzo ~ Laurence Mowatt Knights Silhouette ~ Amanda Eardley The Burgh’s Con Ami ~ Annieke Vreken
Photography Courtesty Tamara and Blake Images
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2
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DRESSAGE
Jade Hooke uses GCS-MAX
For supporting healthy joints For joint repair & regeneration
For joint repair & soft tissue recovery
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Cipla Vet (Pty) Ltd. Reg. No. 2001/017471/07, Building 9. Parc du Cap. Mispel Street Belville. 7530, RSA. Tel:(021)943 4200. E-mail: info@ciplavet.co.za
A GROOMS INSIGHT
A special kind of groom By Sikhangele Mbambo
Have you ever spoken to someone on the phone and instantly wished you could meet them? Ngqayimbana Mveleli or Franz as he is famously known is one such gentleman. He has a keen wit, thinks on his feet and had me laughing from the first sentence till I had regrettably finished my interview. Franz comes from the Eastern Cape and is one of a family of 10. A married man, he is a father to 3 boys aged 11, 6 and 4. His schooling journey reached its end in 1995, and his journey as a groom began in 1997 when he was employed by Linda Augustyn from Epona Equestrian Centre, in the Western Cape. He looked after 6 horses, which competed in Eventing, Showing and Dressage. This is where he learnt all the basics of grooming and looking after horses. After 4 years he left Epona and became a relief groom for the next 3 years, eventually joining Equestria Show Jumping Yard working for Tori Rohde Coughlan in 2013. 4 years later, he is still there, evidence that he finally has found his niche. His happiness and contentment clearly comes through. Tori herself cannot say enough about him, they have a very strong working relationship; “Franz joined Equestria Show - Jumping Yard in 2013. He very quickly became my right hand man, as his knowledge of horses soon became apparent. He seems to instinctively know when a horse is unhappy or having an issue, particularly his be-
loved Nachtmusik. But it is more than just his proficiency with horses, it is his deep love of horses and all animals, his Pitbull Febe makes regular appearances as his Whatsapp profile pic. In short it is this combination of experience, knowledge and caring that makes Franz such a wonderful member of the Equestria Show - Jumping Yard team.” What more can one say? Beautifully said and I bet everyone wants a groom like that. So what does a day as a groom entail? Franz gets to work at 7:00am, and goes to check that the horses are all healthy and physically well. He then dishes out breakfast and changes the water. He also fills the teff nets and water buckets in the paddocks before taking the horses out. Depending on the season, the right blankets are put on and at 8:30am the horses go out and Franz comes back to muck out the stables. Lunch for the horses is at 11.30am and this takes him to his own lunch at 12:00pm. He gets back at 2pm, cleans the paddocks, checks that none of that horses have been hurt and the fences are still intact. The horses are then taken back to the stables and given a thorough groom-
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A GROOMS INSIGHT ing, The horses have different owners so each has their own grooming kit. Supper is at 4:30pm and it is important to ensure that the horses have fresh water for the night and their hay nets are filled. His day ends at 4:45pm Has he got riding experience? Oh yes, he grew up around horses, racing them with his friends, nothing commercial, just boys having fun. What other duties has he got? He helps Tori in handling and working the horses, on some days he will lunge the horses or walk them out. They get a lot of young horses, train them and re-sell them What shows has he attended? He and Tori have been all over, Shongweni, Johannesburg, Polokwane What is his best venue? Shongweni, it has a lovely environment and beautiful amenities. What advice does he give Tori before she enters the ring? Believe in yourself and trust the horse. She is such an amazing rider, she is talented and is lucky to have a good horse to work with. She needs to believe in herself, he does and Muse does too.
What would Franz like to see changed in the lives of grooms? It bugs him a lot the way some employers view their grooms. They look down on them and do not have faith in their capabilities. They forget that the groom is the one that spends the most time with the horse and therefore knows more about the horse than most people. Trusting someone with your horse is like trusting someone with your child, for your horse to be given love and respect, you have to give it to the groom first. What he feels that most people do not get is that it is teamwork between groom, horse and rider. He has witnessed instances where the groom will tell the rider what he thinks is wrong with horse and it gets brushed off with a ‘what do you know attitude’ and later it comes to light that the groom was right all along. What does he forecast in his future? He would like to learn how to train horses properly, own a horse farm, produce good horses and run a livery. It was a wonderful chat and I hope that one of these days I will meet Franz face to face and experience his humor first hand. He is very passionate about horses and I imagine that he has a lot more to tell than this interview can cover. Tori sums him up quite nicely,
“He’s funny - has pulled the Mickey on me a few times with a straight face. He takes it seriously if I mess up a round with his beloved horse”
BEYOND RACING
Beyond
By Catherine Hartley
Racing
Horse of the Year 2017 Working Hunter Class: Zest for Life and Michelle Pay
The Thoroughbred Race Horse has been refined over the last 300-odd years through selective breeding and careful pedigree selection to the ultimate athlete that it is today. Bred from three Arabian Stallions and an original handful of mare stock, the Thoroughbred is bred to run and born to race. While racing may be their purpose, their inherent workmanlike nature, generosity and athleticism mean that they are highly suited to other forms of equestrian sport and given the right environments and grounding, go on to excel. • To promote the success of horses schooled across all disciplines and to publicise and showcase their after-racing lives and careers.
Beyond Racing is an initiative founded by Imagine Racing to promote and publicise Thoroughbreds, highlight their successes as highly suitable sport and leisure horses and to promote their appropriate transition from racing to be well looked after, much loved and valued beyond their racing careers.
• From Heavy Metal, Macarthur Park, Safwan, Pocket Power, English Garden and Fountain of Love, there are so many to profile and we all love to hear about them. • There is a strong potential market for wellschooled Thoroughbreds in Polo, Polo-crosse, Eventing and showing especially.
This is where we need you, the Thoroughbred lover and owner to keep sending us your stories of your special horses. Whether they were champs, are champs or are just the love of your life, we want to hear, and see them all.
• To create a platform to assist Thoroughbred owners with advice, help and sourcing appropriate service providers, as well as help with pedigree and racing information. • For the annual Equestrian calendar, Beyond Racing encourages special Thoroughbred series classes and prizes within classes at shows, to highlight
Beyond Racing’s Objectives • To highlight and reposition the Thoroughbred as a highly suitable leisure and sport horse, thereby increasing the demand after racing.
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BEYOND RACING leisure sports. Beyond Racing invites all Thoroughbred owners to share the stories of their champs whether racing, competing, hacking or a beloved friend. From showing to eventing and many polo successes sold internationally, the Thoroughbreds continue to make their mark Beyond Racing! Contact us with your stories or for further information: catherine@imagineracing.co.za or sandy@imagineracing.co.za and follow us on Face Book: https:// www.facebook.com/BeyondRacingSA/ and acknowledge competitive Thoroughbreds and their riders, in their chosen disciplines at all levels. • The initial items in our new range of promotional riding kit and clothing with the Beyond Racing and Proudly Thoroughbred logo on, are now available for sale to proud Thoroughbred owners, with more riders clothing to follow. The calibre, heart and ability of the Thoroughbred has seen many excel beyond their racing careers in show-jumping, three phase eventing, polo, polo-crosse, showing and dressage as well as other
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Heavy Metal
DSA National Young Dressage Horse Series Gauteng
Lizel Maritz and Kalvin Fan Stal Bellefleur
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DSA National Young Dressage Horse Series Gauteng 2017 Results:
Gauteng Third qualifier results
4 year olds: 1st place Adelprag Mieka Van Benmar-Black with 81.6% owned by Niekie Pienaar and ridden by Wium Van Huyssteen Mieka is a 4 year old Friesian Mare by Eibert out of a Fetse 349 mare 2nd place Adelprag Maximus with 80.6% owned by Niekie Pienaar and ridden by Wium Van Huyssteen Maximus is a 4 year old Friesian cros TB stallion by Adelprag Arjen out a Crown Collection mare 3rd place Adelprag Midas-Touch Everest with 79.0 % owned by Niekie Pienaar and ridden by Wium Van Huyssteen Everest is a 4 year old SAW Stallion by Euphoric Ashbank out of a Sebastian Mare
Carla van der Merwe and Gracia SVU
5 year olds: 1st place Adelprag Orlando Van Doorndraai with 78.0 % Owned by Niekie Pienaar and ridden by Chere Burger Orlando is a 5 year old South African bred Friesan Stallion by Tjalf 443 Sport out of a Friso Fan Sport mare and bred by the Doorndraai stud. 2nd place Je t’aime with 74.0 % Owned and ridden by Amy Billet Je táime is a 5 year old SAW mare. She is by Johnson, who is a grand prix stallion, ridden by Hans Peter Minderhoud from Holland. Johnson was 9th individually at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Je t’aime is out of Font Petrushka, who is by Davenport Peter Pan. Font Petrushka was a dressage super star, ridden by Helen Laros. 3rd place Advance’s Berghof Fahrenheit with 66.6 % Owned and ridden by Lisa Lombard Tait. 5 year old South African bred registered Hanoverian Gelding by Five Star out of a Kaiserkult mar
Chere Burger and Adelprag Quick Silver
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DSA National Young Dressage Horse Series Gauteng 6 year olds: 1st place Kalvin Fan Stal Bellefleur with 82.0 % Owned by Henriet Stoltz and ridden by Lizel Maritz Kalvin is a 6 year old Fiesian Stallion by Tsjalf 454 ou of a Folkert 353 mare 2nd place Adelprag Laes Fan’t Alddjip with 81.6 % Owned by Niekie Pienaar and ridden by Chere Burger Alddjip is a 6 year old imported Friesian stallion by JIsse 433 out of a Jasper 366 mare 3rd place Callaho Grandeur B with 73.0 % Owned by Sue McCall and ridden by Kyla Griffin Grandeur B is a 6 year old South African bred stallion by Granulit out of a Land Earl mare
Surika Struwig and Devondale Bubbles
7-9 year olds: 1st place Adelprag Quick Silver with an average of 69.38 % Owned by Niekie Pienaar and ridden by Chere Burger. Quick Silver is an imported Oldenburg gelding by Quaterback out a Stedinger mare 2nd place Adelprag Alwin with an average of 68.13 % Owned by Niekie Pienaar and ridden by Wium van Huyssteen Alwin is an imported Friesan Stallion by Tsjerk 328 out of a Teunis 332 mare 3rd place Devondale Bubbles with an average of 61.30 % Owned by Wida de Klerk and ridden by Surika Struwig
Wium van Huyssteen and Adelprag Alwin
The DSA National Young Dressage Horse Series Gauteng Championships will be held on the 19th and 20th of August at Fourways riding Centre.
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ENDURANCE
South African International Challenge 2017
By Leandri Joubert
Photography Courtesy: White Lens Photography
My phone rang one morning last week and I was met with the stern voice of my mother. She respectfully requested to enquire when I shall be returning to sorting through my junk in their garage. No, I won’t blush, because I KNOW you have stuffed toys and rollerblades in your parents garage as well. I proceeded to, at the very least, stop by for a coffee to remind myself where I left this task in 2014, and during my quick browse I inhaled that unmistaken plastic smell of My Little Ponies. I opened the box further and out poured my blue Barbie horse with the candy-floss pink mane, my paper cut out pretend hay nets and handmade rosettes. I was filled with the nostalgia of endless hours of entertainment that these toys brought me and it took me back to my childhood heart for horses. There I dreamed of one day competing on the Olympic Games for South Africa, more specifically 2008 on a grey horse in Show Jumping (I was a very precise dreamer), but alas the highest I have jumped is a meter and my horse is a bay. I dreamed of my yard with a big Clydesdale to fall asleep on, a warmblood to compete on, a pretty Arab
or two just to look at, but mostly I just wanted to brush shoulders with the Giants of riding, I didn’t need to win, I just wanted to be there, to jump my round and love my horse. Needless to say, the closest I got to these legends was being judged by Jennie Loriston Clarke in a Walk Trot test in during my high school years living in England (a story for another day). I assumed she had lost a bet and our show was the penalty. It is in this light of testing yourself against the best, that I
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ENDURANCE want to backdrop my report of SAIC to you, because therein lies the real beauty of endurance. I admit it’s often obscured with too colorful PVC tack, boerseuns with their less than aesthetically pleasing seat and ALOT of Afrikaans, but bear with me for a moment. Endurance has no practice shows, no pole on the ground, no SA riding classes - you are in or you are out. You can ride for short (30km) or you can ride for long (160km), and yes there are rules governing your progression, but the bottom line is - you can line up at the start line next to the Charlotte Dujardin of endurance and ride alongside her on the same track at the same time. You have a front row seat to learning from the best (and worst) and that element of endurance riding is so priceless. The South African International Challenge (SAIC) is essentially champs for endurance and this is the event most endurance riders plan their lives and training around. The good ones come here to win, the recreational riders come here to finish. It is these riders that inspired this year’s SAIC interview, the recreational rider, the one without a sponsor, without a fancy horse truck and at times, without a groom. One such rider is Karen Potgieter – a leggy blond with an addiction to horse riding I am yet to see in another person. Karen’s most sensible trait is the fact that she does not own a horse, her most notable trait however is her omnipresence at any endurance ride… with a horse! This year she was spotted in Bethlehem, Free State, cantering across the finish line at her first SAIC event. Karen only started riding 8 years ago at the age of 30 after trying out horse riding at one of those classic touristy rides. She decided that she liked this outride on horseback thing, but would like to be better at it – so she signed up for some lessons. During this time Karen got exposed to endurance riding, and the riding school she was at had the package option of helping you prepare and escort you on your first endurance ride. Karen jumped at the opportunity, because in her eyes endurance is just a really long outride, and 3 years after her first horse encounter she completed her first ride.
So how did she decide to do SAIC? “I didn’t!” was her answer. “As per my usual style I was looking for a horse to ride at the opening ride of 2017 and I was contacted by Oom Neil Jordaan and he offered me a horse. I did the ride and had a blast, but thought it was the last of it as he or his daughter would ride the horse for the rest of the season. But it so happened that I got offered to ride him again and then one day Oom Neil asked me if I want to ride Fadjur at SAIC. I was completely blown away, because on paper it was a stupid idea. It would be the horse’s first 120km, it is 1000s of kilometers of travel, I would need to scrape together leave and a willing sucker to play support crew, not to mention the expenses! But I still said yes” Soon after a group trip was set in motion, with another horse joining the travels and other’s pulling strings to secure a Free State based mount. They left the Sunday before the event, which took place on Friday 28 April, and divided the trip into two stretches to give the horses a chance to stretch their legs and the riders’ excitement to creep into overdrive.
After this entry into the sport Karen rode wherever she found the chance, and it has become common place to see an email circulating between the clubs stating her availability as jockey. She would take on any horse or distance for the pleasure of riding, the good horses, the bad horses, the naughty horses, but mostly the uncomfortable horses nobody else wanted to ride! Her teachable and inquisitive nature allowed her to assimilated new knowledge at every ride, and her exposure to various yards and owners, meant she has seen the various tricks of the trade. Her positive attitude, infectious laugh and genuine concern for the welfare of the horse, meant she was always welcomed by owners. When I asked Karen why she likes riding, and specifically endurance riding, she would refer to people factor.
In preparation Karen kept up the regular 10 - 20km training rides, riding once in the week and then once on the weekend. Three weeks before the ride disaster struck when Fadjur did a spectacular spook and Karen took a bad tumble hurting her back. The challenge for a recreational rider then is of course to find willing riders to travel and keep her horse ticking over. A team effort however pulled both horse and rider through and SAIC was back on the cards.
“My initial answer is because it is just so much fun!! But mostly it is because, once we got on horseback and the morning’s nerves and madness settle, the day gets long and you see the real person come out. The campfire bravado is left behind and you are left riding across country astride the most magnificent animals, but alongside a fellow rider that has left all pretenses behind and you get to experience the real them. Yes, there is still politics, but I love this sport and its people, the camaraderie – it really does feel like home.”
So then, the event itself? What was that like for the pair? “It was the most amazing experience, but also a huge learning curve”. Karen explains that the excite
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ENDURANCE ment sort of disappeared and turned into nerves the Thursday before when the weigh in and all other official tasks started. “One of the biggest lessons I learnt here, and as it turns out a rookie mistake, is that despite our best efforts and intentions of team support – you MUST have your own dedicated support person that is there just for you. I was all over the show forgetting a passport here, and a vet card there, losing my helmet… you name it.” Despite the chaos Karen and Fadjur set off that Friday morning. “He was just a superb horse. He was relaxed and I think the fact that he hasn’t done a 120km ride in a way played in our favour. The track however was very tough, with the first two legs being 40km each – something I could see Fadjur struggled with. But once out on the third leg he seemed to find another gear and we cruised on.” And her highlight? “Crossing that finish line and then hearing those sweet sweet words uttered by the vet at the final inspection Well done all good”! Karen and Koringkloof Fadjur finished the ride in 7h23mins in a very respectable 28th place in the Standard Weight division. Would she do it again? “Absolutely – but it would depend on the horse and my ability to go with a great group of friends, but still be able to do my thing independently. I feel immensely blessed to be able to ride other people’s horses, but it does limit to what degree you can take over and do your own thing. Having said that – the endurance community is so supportive that there was always someone around to point me in the right direction, or at the end once extreme fatigue was setting in, show me which side is the front of my horse.” 223 Horse and rider combinations started the 120km main event, with 142 successfully completing the ride. A record number of 392 combinations competed over the course of the event. A controversial decision by ERASA to not host this as an FEI event resulted in the traditional International Team challenge with Namibia
and Botswana falling away. The riders however did not let this get in the way and South African riders with other passports promptly formed a Barbarians team to add some team spirit to the event.
OFFICAIL RESULTS: SAIC 120,4 KM Child Rider Rider
Horse
Total Slip Time
Total Time
Marjulyn Myburgh
El Devlin Bijou
00:30:26
06:06:58
Tehillah Kasselman
Goliat
00:13:25
06:49:19
Hanli Hamman
Jadeed Najaah
00:18:42
07:10:57
Rider
Horse
Total Slip Time
Total Time
Isone Swart
El Nize Afire Bey
00:05:51
05:46:42
Ane van Deventer
Wilshane Shakespeare
00:14:07
05:51:22
Nicara Diedericks
Fs Sashar
00:12:40
05:52:30
Young Rider
Best Conditioned Sone Swart
El Nize Afire Bey
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ENDURANCE OFFICAIL RESULTS: SAIC 120,4 KM Light Weight Rider
Horse
Total Slip Time
Total Time
Tara-lea van Zyl
La el Shariki
00:11:09
05:41:41
Stephanie Burnard
La Jaques Arick
00:20:46
05:46:21
Best Conditioned Jackie Joubert
Sanniesguns Venus
Standard Weight Rider
Horse
Total Slip Time
Total Time
Sune Fourie
Silvretta Presto
00:07:08
05:52:24
Andries Swart
El Nize Bint Bianca
00:13:46
06:03:46
Mariska Grobler
Moolmanshoek Mika
00:14:47
06:03:48
Best Conditioned Sune Fourie
Silvretta Presto
Heavy Weight Rider
Horse
Total Slip Time
Total Time
Jean Jacques Kasselman
Gismo
00:14:20
06:08:13
Roodt van Zyl
Bidock
00:17:04
06:17:02
Ami de Wet
Jozami Baronne
00:12:09
06:29:03
Best Conditioned Ami de Wet
Jozami Baronne
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THE EQUESTRIAN REVIEW
The power of the beast
By Taneil Arkner Imagine this 500 kg of pure muscle, moving gracefully through the air carrying your child to new heights. That is a metaphor for what we have personally witnessed these great animals achieve, not only with learners with difficulties such as dyslexia, ADD and ADHD, with every learner they encounter. We are all searching for that ever elusive balance in our lives and we at The IEA Elite believe horses are the answer. Horses are extremely susceptible to human vibration. In order to manage a horse the rider has to remain calm and confident. Learners quickly pic up that if they are agitated the horse will be agitated and if they calm down the horse will calm down.
With tuition hours from 8:00am to 5:00pm we have plenty of time to add extra curricular activities such as vegetable gardening, dance class, ladies and gentleman club, earth child environmental club, maths club as well as public speaking. Horse riding takes place 4 days of the week for competitive riders and once a week for those learners who only ride for fun. Every year our competitive riders participate at the South African National Equestrian Schools Association (SANESA). The majority of our riders learned to ride horses for the first time at The IEA Elite and are already winning classes at SANESA. This association does amazing things for entry level riders wanting to gain experience before competing at affiliated shows. Many of our riders have received their colours for competing nationally.
They learn that they have to be patient with the horse in order for them to get the horse to perform. Before long we have noticed learners applying these lessons to their own academic and personal lives. Once the learner becomes patient with themselves and tones it down a notch or two, they realize they can and will learn anything.
We pride ourselves on the fact that our educators themselves continue to learn, The IEA Elite constantly send our educators on short courses which provide them with up to date knowledge on new problems especially surrounding dyslexia where new discoveries are made on a daily basis, and how to solve them as they arise.
Equine therapy is very popular abroad, while South Africa still lags behind, we are catching up slowly but surely. Large corporations often send their staff for equine therapy to build their confidence and team building. Horses are the great silent communicators.
With the world evolving as fast as it does academies need to keep their finger on the button and find new ways to keep learning interesting for all age groups.
The IEA Elite provide a holistic academic experience. We have taken an amazing curriculum, add dedicated happy teachers, put in a dash of horses, sprinkle in a bit of good old fashioned country environment and you have the winning recipe for producing successful learners.
We believe at The IEA Elite is that if children don’t learn the way we teach, we need to teach the way they learn.
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THE EQUESTRIAN REVIEW Rebecka Klare Gr 6 The IEA Elite is amazing because of the combination of equestrian and academic studies which are not offered by other schools in the area. The teachers are nice and kind and offer help when you struggle with work. They also offer emotional support. The academic work is hard sometimes, but Impaq provide a good educational curriculum and it is user friendly and you are able to work at your own pace. The opportunity to ride my horse every day is amazing and I am now competitively jumping 80cm which I never thought I could do, thanks to great instructors, who inspire me and are always helpful. Being at this academy has helped me to grow up and feel safe. I am doing much better in my academics and riding since I’ve been at The IEA Elite.
me they would help her. She was suffering from ADHD and was not able to find the right fit at any of these schools. I was sceptical at first but decided it was worth a try. Rebecka is now medication free and excelling not only in her riding career but also in her academics. Monde Msomi Gr 7 I have been at this academy for two years now and it’s been awesome, fun and exciting. The horse I ride is Princess Zeena. She might be hard to control and ride but I have said to myself, I might fall off but if I do I will get back on. At the tutor centre we are mixed in classes like grade 1-3, 4-6, 7-9 and 10-12. I am in the 7-9 class. Our school starts at 8am and ends at 5pm. We have equine, academic, equestrian and physical educational classes like dancing and yoga periods all day with three breaks, tea, lunch and tuck which is included in our tuition fees. Our academy has performed at prestigious shows like the The Royal Show. Last year we won the SANESA trophy for the primary school category. The way I feel about The IEA Elite is that we are confident, kind, responsible, unique, helpful, polite, considerate, excited and well prepared for the future. Nomonde Msomi proud parent of Monde Msomi Monde was diagnosed with suffering from anxiety in class. He was not managing in a conventional school and as a result, this slowed him down from performing academically to the best of his ability. He needed my intervention as he was just making it. I came across The IEA Elite. We went through to
I enjoy competing thanks to my horse IEA Elite Joshua’s Dream and hard working instructors Candice and Meggan. Miss Tina the grade 1-3 teacher and one of our dorm parents has helped me in many ways. Without the academic team I would not be who I am today.
Gary Klare proud father of Rebecka Klare Rebecka chose The IEA Elite after we sent her to of their school holiday programmes. I had alone ready tried seven different school, who all assure
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THE EQUESTRIAN REVIEW me with the privacy I sometimes need in my own room. At first it was a very different feeling going off to boarding school but now I enjoy it a lot. The education quality is excellent and we learn something interesting everyday. We are provided with individual attention in small classes. I love my teachers and appreciate the effort they make in helping me reach my potential. Our curriculum allows children to learn at their own pace from a high quality of education provided by Impaq. I have accomplished a lot at this academy and so have other learners. My biggest accomplishments to date is earning the award for ‘’ most improved rider’’ in 2016 and becoming a stable yard prefect in 2017. Savannah Dionisio Gr 11 Since I started at The IEA Elite, my life has completely changed in the best way possible. I have become much happier with myself and I now actually love school and am excited to wake up in the morning. The IEA Elite makes me feel at home. I can be myself and not worry about getting judged or bullied. Everyone at The IEA Elite cares for one another and love each other - it feels like we are all a family. This academy is my safe haven.
view the academy in September 2015. While the principal Mr. Phillip was taking us around, Monde just integrated well with the other children there. It was like a miracle, God had answered my prayers. He started at The IEA Elite in January 2016. We immediately saw an improvement in his speech, the way he was expressing himself. Afrikaans mark improved. In addition, he passed with distinctions for the first time at the end of 2016. The IEA Elite really made it possible for Monde to shine. I believe that the horses played a huge part in building his confidence therefore allowing him to realize his academic potential. Naledi Kamohi Gr 5 I have been at The IEA Elite for two years. It is a good academy because it starts at eight am until five pm which is ten hours of school work which is very good as you learn a lot of different subjects. The academy provides tea, lunch and tuck time. It is a high education because the work is not easy in the higher grades or lower grades. The teachers are good as they teach you what you don’t know. The academy is small, I like that because the teachers can spend more time with you. There is equitots, grd 1-3, 4-6, 7-9 and 10-12. I like the academy because they teach you horse riding. You learn how to take a bridle apart, you learn more work as I said you learn what you don’t know that’s why I enjoy it here.
I would not change anything about The IEA Elite. This school is everything and more that I have ever wanted. The staff, teachers, kids and the horses are all so special and important. My love and passion is horse riding. Being around horses everyday makes me spiritually, mentally and emotionally happy. I am so privileged to be able to ride everyday. It is so true when people say “If you do what you love, you will never work a day in your life.” The academy has uplifted my self esteem, I am so happy and proud about my academic marks. I wish that I had known about The IEA Elite earlier because I would have loved to have enrolled sooner. The IEA Elite is the best thing that ever happened to me, and to my future! I thrive at this academy, I glow everyday. I love my school. Marica Grobler client liaison officer and parent of learners Julian Gr 3 and Andriette Gobler Gr 5 From a mom’s perspective I had to very unhappy children in a mainstream school. They had to face a lot of challenges on a daily basis and support from the school was almost none existent. We had two de motivated and depressed children. We simply knew that there was no way of continuing like that as it was not beneficial to us as family or to them as learners. The decision was made to move them to The IEA Elite. My children are happy, doing well physically and mentally. My daughter hums and skips around the school grounds (even hums
Cameron Peters Gr 9 I chose The IEA Elite because it is a fun, trust worthy and dependable academy where children learn a lot. They become more responsible and smarter every day. This academy is where children grow with love. I really enjoy the horse riding, The IEA Elite has great horse riding instructors who ensure safety and good times when on a horse. I really trust the riding instructors knowing they will be there to cheer me up when I have had a fall or when I feel nervous at riding shows. The horses are not just adorable but are also intelligent. I would recommend this tutor centre to friends and children that love horses and riding as horses can be great teachers. The boarding facilities and environment has become a home away from home for me and I enjoy the independence I have learned here. I love having a private room in the dormitory which provides
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THE EQUESTRIAN REVIEW Olerato Kamohi Gr 10 The IEA Elite is a school with a difference as it offers both equine studies and academics. As an avid animal lover, I chose the academy as it offers the benefits of horsehuman connection. Through building a relationship with the horse and riding experience it has helped me grow in confidence with myself and the feeling of bonding with a horse brings me joy and plea-
when riding apparently), my son has less issues with asthma and both of them are doing well in their school work. They feel safe and are enjoying their days to the fullest. The fact that the classes are small and teachers hand picked makes this an ideal academic environment for children who love smaller groups and individual attention. From an employee’s perspective. I am proud to be associated with a company that takes the concept of family seriously. They value each and every employee, learner and parent with the utmost care taken to ensure customer and employee satisfaction. Their love for horses and children shines through in the way that they approach the planning of extra outings and finding new activities for their learners. I have seen children run up to Taneil, Melissa and Rudi and being hugged and loved - it’s the little things that makes the lasting impressions on these learners lives. I am very exited about the future of The IEA Elite.
sure. The added benefit in small classes allow oneon-one attention with tutors. The academic staff and riding instructors are caring and involved with learners who have our best interests at heart. This has resulted in improvement in my school life , also socially. I have grown in confidence in many area of my life. I’ve been at The IEA Elite for 2 years now and I would recommend the academy to other children who not only have a love of riding but need the individual attention in order to reach their full potential. To date I have accomplished much and I give credit to where I am to The IEA Elite.
Plot 123b End Road, Golfview, Walkerville. E-mail info@iea-elite.co.za • Tel: 016 065 0080 www.iea-elite.co.za
Our boarding facilities are a home away from home with private rooms available on request. Grade R to 12
Enquire about our post matric programme beginning in 2018 40
Breeders
BREEDERS
Under the Desert Sky
By Sunel Jooste Upon entering the seemingly quiet town of Karibib that lies amidst the rocky, unforgiving plains that surround the Erongo mountains in Namibia, probably the last thing one would expect is to come across an award-winning Quarter Horse stud’s base. This arid area is where Desert Sky Quarter Horse and Paint stud is located. Origin of the Breed
book was later opened for approved horses and the American Quarter Horse Association started.
The Quarter Horse, now aptly named as America’s ‘World’s most versatile horse’ has managed to anchor itself in this most unexpected environment. Originating in colonial America, this breed developed from crossing English Thoroughbreds with the local horses. The breed earned its fame as the sprinting dynamos that dominated the races that happened on weekends – most often along the local towns’ main street over a distance of a quarter of a mile! This is where the breed earned its name as American Quarter Running Horse or later just American Quarter Horse.
Breed standards Overall the breed consists out of a stocky, wellmuscled horse that is immensely strong for its height and has the ability to apply bursts of speed for its work. The horse stands square and with legs well under him which explains his ability to move quickly in any direction. The action is naturally collected enabling him to pivot or stop balanced with hocks always well under the body. The head is short and broad with small alert ears. Eyes are kind and wide-set, large nostrils and a firm mouth while jaws are large and muscular. A distinct clean throatlatch allows the horse to flex easily and work with his head in a natural low form without restricting breathing. The back is short and broad with
However, the breed was quickly developed further by the ranchers and range riders through cattle work, that it started presenting – arguably - its best qualities: a calm, intelligent temperament, a higly trainable mind and its inherent ‘cow sense’. A stud
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BREEDERS well sprung ribs flowing from a medium wither that extends far back. The chest is deep with a large girth. The neck is naturally arched and flows into sloping muscular shoulders. Forearms are heavily muscled above flat broad knees and short cannon bones. Pasterns are of medium length and hooves neat and healthy. The hindquarters are heavily muscled right down to the hocks. Heights vary between 14 and 16 hands with the smaller horses more typically the work horses and the taller horses used in racing and halter classes.
ferent stock horse categories into one show and is great fun for the entire family. Roping horses are typically bigger and heavier set. Halter horses are tall and very heavy with small feet, light bones and small heads which leads to concerns over the soundness and high weight to frame ratio. Racing Quarter Horses excels in the short distance sprints over distances of 220 to 870 yards. These horses are taller with longer legs than the stock horse types and can clock speeds of up to 55mph (88.5km/h).
As with any breed, the Quarter Horse has slowly developed into different lines – mainly divided into categories as follows: stock type, halter type and racing and hunter type. Each category has a set of conformational and behavioural qualities that has been uniquely tailored to its use.
Although there are those that prefer to breed show-horses, the Quarter Horse has been developed first and foremost to be a useful horse that can earn its keep on a ranch and this is what we breed for at Desert Sky Quarter Horses. Desert Sky
Stock types horses are used in cutting, reining, roping and western pleasure events. Cutting involves the rider using the horse to cut a cow from a herd and separate it from its herdmates. This is a task that is much more difficult than it sounds and requires the appropriate understanding of the animals’ behaviour. What is phenomenal about the Quarter Horse is that specific lines display an inherent instinct for this type of work, like a Border Collie displays and instinct to herd. Although this instinct is still widely used on ranches where extensive cattle work takes place, there are also National Cutting Horse Association competitions taking place in the USA where these horses compete against each other to see who retains the most finely tuned talent for cutting cattle. It should be mentioned, that during these competitions, a rider’s only job is to pick out a cow from a herd to cut and then to stop the horse from chasing the cow once it has turned away from the herd.
The origin finds itself in an unregistered stallion named Heza Sugar Burner (affectionately known as Jopie due to his sweet temperament), who was purchased as a young colt in 1993 by Marietjie Bell. Marietjie raised her own daughters alongside ‘Jopie’s’ daughters who also produced their own offspring over the years. The family’s love for the breed only grew and in 2009 they purchased their first set of registered broodmares – and the rest is, as the saying goes, history. The horses, raised on the harsh veld of this dry area, are healthy and hardy. Nothing in this country can be taken for granted in specific example the recent drought’s effects were far-reaching. Veld is sparse and a stocking rate of 1 horse on 25ha is maintained. It is imperative that the horses be good-keepers, as well as be conformationally sound and mobile to endure the dry climate, heat and long distances they need to travel between grazing and watering points on a daily basis.
In reining the Quarter Horse’s agility is brought to the fore as they have to carry out intricate riding patterns that involve spins, sliding stops, roll-backs and fleet-footed flying changes. Horses are ridden one-handed and on a very loose rein. During roping the Quarter Horse’s discipline and strength are utilised to brake and stop a lassoed calf, while the rider dismounts to hog-tie the calf. Versatility Ranch Horse events combine aspects of all the dif-
Despite (and sometimes as a result of the challenges) the stud has been developed with the main aim on breeding versatile, well-conformed horses with exceptional temperaments that retain their cutting cow sense – with a dash of colour on top. We use the same bloodlines for Quarter Horses and Paints alike concentrating on horses bred from foundation lines and performing in cutting, working cow horse and reining.
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BREEDERS “All Desert Sky Quarter Horses and Paints are tested for the 5 panel genetic diseases and which includes Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis (HYPP), malignant hyperthermia (MH), Hereditary Equine Regional Dermal Astenia, Glycogen Branching Enzyme Deficiency (GBED) and Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy (PSSM)’ says Marietjie.
colouring to the cream dilutions as we feel that the skin is better pigmented. Showing Jesse has recently made his debut on the South African showing circuit under trainer Lynn Muller and has been making us proud. Since July 2016, he has been crowned overall champion 3 times out of the 3 shows in which he participated in. He takes part in reining, trail riding, ranch riding, western horsemanship, English hunter classes as well as halter classes.
Embryo Transfer The search for breeding stallion led to the first embryo-transplant Quarter Horse foals being bred, born and raised in Southern Africa. Breeding through use of embryo-transplants involves the insemination of a donor mare, of which the embryo is then harvested and implanted in a surrogate mare, which will give birth to and raise the foal.
Currently in South Africa, there is no organised platform to mete out the horses’ cutting abilities. However, as one of the founding members
Our stallion was produced from two horses imported from the Netherlands – stallion Hollys Major Doc and mare Par Dee Bar Smoke. These two horses boast in their bloodlines Poco Bueno, Poco Tivio, Poco Lena, Doc Bar, Doc Olena, Jessie James, Jessies Impression, Doc Hollywood, Major Bonanza and Major Vaquero – to name a few. Par Dee Bar Smoke was competing at the time and her owner relocating back to the Netherlands. The only way to obtain a foal from her was by embryo transfer. Three embryos were purchased and Lady Luck was on our side with one of them resulting in a stunning bay dun colt who we named DS Doc Jesse’s Dunsmoke. Jesse stands 14.3hh and is everything we look for in a stallion. His appearance leans more towards the older type of stock horse and he has the calm, relaxed temperament typical of the Quarter Horse. Dun colour On top of this, what adds to Jesse’s uniqueness is his dun colouring. Not to be confused by the cream-dilution, dun colouring is quite rare and up until recently has not been found in South African Quarter horses. The dun dilution is an ancient colour bred out of most modern horses and is evi-
of AWESHA (African Western Stock Horse Association) in Namibia, Marietjie has been part of an association that aiming in develop cutting, roping and working cow horse skills and Western horsemanship in the country. AWESHA regularly organises clinics in Namibia with international trainers to achieve this goal. Unfortunately there is no AQHA breed platform for the Quarter Horses in Namibia yet, therefore Jesse is currently performing in shows in South Africa to build up his points of merit. Look out for him at the South African Quarter Horse Convention which will be held at the Afridome in Parys on the 29 – 30th of June 2017.
dent on the Prewalski horses, with its prominent dorsal strip, zebra striped legs and crossed shoulders. Desert Sky now boasts a horse in just about every basic shade of dun – red (chestnut) dun, zebra (bay) dun, dunalino (palomino) dun and even a gorgous grulla (black dun) filly. We prefer the dun
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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.
the tack shack Durbanville 021 976 8044
GAITED TRAVELLER
In the Saddle... The True way to explore Tanzania
By Joanna Westermark Kaskazi Horse Safaris is a privately guided horseback operation in Northern Tanzania. Our focus lies with horses and Safaris off the beaten path. Due to the owner’s many years of experience within the Safari industry, Kaskazi designs unforgettable safaris all over Africa, with focus in Tanzania. Each safari is led by qualified and professionally trained guides, always pushing for a new and exhilarating adventure. Whether you would like to unfold Africa’s beauty by horseback or by foot, Kaskazi will share its enthusiasm and tell stories that will travel generations. The routes are off the beaten track and with a vast knowledge about the countries fauna and flora, we go deep into the bush and together enjoy the wonders that Africa has to offer, the magnificent wildlife, the scenery and the magical interaction with the local tribes who inhabit these areas. All this viewed from what back in the days also used to roam wild, the horse.
seen. However as mentioned before there is no fences thereof animals can travel and move as they like. Areas where we require each and every rider to be strong intermediate is trough areas where the bigger game are more abundant. Saying this, everyone needs to bear in mind that any wildlife seen is a bonus and never a guarantee. Even though Tanzania is world famous for its wildlife which is best viewed from what back in the days also used to roam wild, the horse. You will never forget the feeling of galloping alongside a herd of giraffes out on the African savannah; it is a memory that will last you a lifetime.
Each ride that Kaskazi offers is different to one another. The great thing about Tanzania is the fact that there are very few fences around. Due to this fact it is very hard to pin what there is to be seen and what isn’t to be seen. The areas that we have choose for strong beginners are places where the game isn’t as high and dence in numbers, more opened which allows us a better view of our surroundings, an area where big game is very rarely
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GAITED TRAVELLER
Horses
Game viewing
The horses are all purpose trained safari horses, with a mix of local breeds and thoroughbreds. Close to all of them are ridden in western style, with one hand. This allows you to take photos and dig into your saddlebag while out on safari. Only some of them are ridden English style, if this is the case the guide will tell you before you mount your horse. All horses are given lots of love, care and attention, therefore resulting in their nice characters and strong personalities. They all have their own heads with different temperaments, which allows us to find a perfect fit for each rider.
Massai land rides cater for beginners and have no big game such as elephants and lions. Still there is game to be seen such as Zebras, Striped Hyenas, Jackals, Impalas, Thompson gazelles, African wild Cat, Kudus, Dik Diks and plenty of beautiful birds. For intermediate and experienced rider’s animals such as Lions, Leopards, Elephants, Buffalos and all the plains game can be spotted. At night Africa’s nocturnal animals wake up and can be viewed using a big spotlight out on a night drive. Saying this, everyone needs to bear in mind that any wildlife seen is a bonus and never a guarantee. Even though Tanzania is world famous for its wildlife which is best viewed from what back in the days also used to roam wild, the horse. You will never forget the feeling of galloping alongside a herd of giraffes out on the African savannah; it is a memory that will last you a lifetime.
Routes and the terrain The terrain varies from place to place, everything from open savannah, acacia woodland, and Doum Palm forests to really thick vegetation. Open savannah caters for long, adrenaline thrilling gallops while in thick bush all ears and eyes must be alert for any game we might encounter. Depending on climate and rainfall we will cross-riverbeds and ride along the shores of beautiful lakes. Apart from game viewing the landscape and the scenery mustn’t be forgotten, the rides are in some of the most spectacular areas in Africa.
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GAITED TRAVELLER
Fly Camp accommodation The tented fly camp is of our own home made design. They are comfortable and spacious, being 4 x 4 meters with a removable bottom part, giving a 360 view. They have mosquito netted door and windows to allow for ventilation but still remain insect proof. Each tent is provided with scissor beds, cotton linen and a solar light. Out side each tent there is a chair and a wash stands that you share with your tent partner. Each tent has its own bush toilet and bucket shower. The toilet is a traditional short drop style toilet with a nice wooden toilet seat over a metal box with open sides. Our motto is “Rhinos cover it please do the same “. There is a small mound of dirt with a trowel next to the toilet seat for this purpose. The shower is a traditional star gazing canvas bucket, suspended from a tree inside the shower enclosure.
Meals The food is of great standard with professionally trained bush chefs. Mark English, a gourmet chef from South Africa, trains and every now and then joins us out on safari. Himself or his trained chefs creates delicious and highly entertaining dishes. Breakfast is of traditional Cowboy style, served with homemade juice and exotic African fruits. Lunch is alfresco, enjoyed somewhere out in the wild under a nice shady tree, it may either be vehicle supported or we may carry it in our saddlebags. Dinner is a three-course affair, with a mix of local and international cuisine, always served with newly baked bread and fresh salads and herbs.
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LIMITED STABLING AVAILABLE AT R4300.00 PER MONTH The traditional horse riding areas north of Johannesburg have all but disappeared. Space becomes an increasingly rare luxury as time moves on. You need only look around you. Only 3% of the 520 hectare farm will ever be developed. After all, you can’t have country runs without the country. At Monaghan Farm, we will always have outrides on horseback, mountain biking trails, hiking and picnicking along our 7km river frontage...MODERN FARM LIVING
Contact: Natasha Hyams • 082 723 9822 • Stables@monaghanfarm.co.za Ashanti Road, Lanseria 1748. www.monaghanfarm.co.za
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
www.espoirequestrian.com