The equestrian 5th issue

n a i r t s e u Eq frican A t s a E e h T

Sept - Oct 2013 2014 OCT-DEC

cing ● Dress

Polo ● Horsera

ing

ping ● Show age ● Showjum

hs.

Price: 200 KS

In This Issue:

Buster Mckenzie shines again at the Kenya Open as Samsung Galaxy dominate

PG

9-10

Playing Polo with Royals

Manyatta player Rishi Ahluwalia joins Prince Harry’s team to win the Hackett

The E.A. CLUB Equestrian ■ apr-jun 2014 1 FOCUS ON MANYATTA POLO PG 34-35

CONTENTS

Editor’sNote

Cover Story

Rishi Ahluwalia takes Kenya’s sporting excellence a notch higher in the UK...

PG 6-7 Polo

Cruise Control emerged the winners at the Mugs Mug in Manyatta Polo Club ...

Samsung deal should spur interest in racing, s/jumping

PG10

S

amsung deal game-changer in sports marketing The decision by Samsung to sponsor polo for the next five years is a game changer in Kenya’s sports marketing. Already a popular brand in global sports marketing, especially in Olympic Games and Fifa World Cup, not to mention cricket and others, that Samsung chose a sport usually associated with the rich minority is reason enough that nothing is impossible. Companies should not shy away from some sports on the basis of number of fans they command from the public, but should peg their sponsorship on the basis of what they get in return.

In a country where sports associations are not very keen to account for the funds from sponsors, corporates may as well be gravitating towards federations and associations who are well organized and who can provide good returns in terms of accountability and media exposure.

Kenya Polo Association, like other equestrian sports, has done exactly that. Organizing few quality events and ensuring the public get to know what is happening in Timau, Manyatta and Nairobi.

Samsung and other companies should not leave behind polo’s stable mates – horse racing and show jumping/eventing/cross country and showing, who are equally attracting some good quality crowds.

Events we saw in Nanyuki and Gilgil was enough to prove that show jumping in among the most popular sports. Lastly, horse racing has always occupied a special space in Kenya’s sports calendar. Sponsors are missing a huge opportunity to showcase their products, like they used to do years back. One hopes they will see this window of opportunity and return racing to its place of pride in the country’s social and sports scene.

Show Jumping

Nanyuki hosts a successful show jumping event behind the backdrop of Mount Kenya...

PG 18 Down Memory Lane

Rose Caldwell takes readers bck to the old days and how riders and horses connected easily...

PG 22 Equestrian Profile

From the horse’s mouth, life and times of Luke Davey in the horsey world...

PG 24

Regulars 08

Family Profile

21

Sports Roundup

14

Tom Fraser Interview

27

Schools celebs

16

News Feature

32

Calendars

20 World Equestrian Games

36-43 From our lenses

The E.A. Equestrian ■ OCT-DEC 2014

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Managing Editor: Patrick Isaack | Editorial Coordinator/Revise Editor: Innocent Immaculate Contributors: Innocent Immaculate, Val Corr, Mike Du Toit, Rose Caldwell, Georgie Wheeler, Natalie Hall Sue Brendon; Design & Layout/ Illustration: ProPixels Photography: Agencies E-mail: editor@eaequestrian.co.ke

The East African Equestrian is Published by Mychezo Limited P.O. Box 75772-00200 Nairobi All correspondence to The East African Equestrian is assumed to be intended for publication.

News in Grief

Nzomo loses ‘Spain’ at the Connaught Cup Spain (pictured left), a nine-year-old mare from South Africa, tragically died on the first day of the Connaught Cup’s second weekend at the Kisima Farm in Timau in June. Owned by handicap 2 Raphael Nzomo, the mare had won best playing pony at the Kenya International polo tournament 2013 with international player Bryan Hine. “I am devastated by the tragic event, but such is the risk of sport that tragedy can strike any time anywhere,” Nzomo said. Nzomo, however, teamed up with Casimir Gross, Somaia and Pete Griffiths to win the coveted trophy organised by the North Kenya Polo Club.

Contaminated feed blamed for Queen’s Gold Cup winner’s doping

Musk Rose passes on The Queen receiving Gold Cup from her son, Prince Andrew

By Innocent Immaculate Contaminated feed is likely to blame for the positive doping test involving a race horse owned by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. Estimate, which won the prestigious Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, was one of eight horses testing positive for morphine in post race samples taken this year, in the latest doping scandal to hit British racing.

British Horse racing Authorities said they had completed their initial stages of an investigation, establishing that: “in all but one case, circumstances are very similar, and point to the source of a positive test being contaminated horse feed.” In another file, there were different circumstances but: “the evidence is also suggestive of contaminated feed.”

The doping cases will now be heard by a disciplinary panel, which will not impose penalties trainers of questionable horses, if it backs up findings of the BHA. Trainers also must have taken all reasonable precautions to safeguard against anything untoward.

The eight horses will be disqualified from respec-

tive races, meaning the queen could have to forfeit more than 80,000 pounds ($135,000) in prize money for Estimate’s second-place finish at Royal Ascot in June.

Estimate’s stable mate, Russian Realm, has also shown traces of the drug, according to trainer Michael Stoute. Tony Carroll, Eve Johnson Houghton, Gay Kelleway and Charlie Hills, are others who have confirmed they train horses which had positive tests. Previously, Britain’s most publicized case of a horse testing positive for morphine was Be My Royal, after he won the 2002 Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury. The horse was subsequently disqualified.

British horse racing was rocked last year by two doping scandals, the biggest involving Godolphin trainer Mahmood al-Zarooni, who was banned for eight years for giving his horses anabolic steroids.

British trainer Gerard Butler was banned for five years in December for seven breaches of racing rules, including administering anabolic steroids to four horses.

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Aisha Gross’s mare named “Musk Rose” (above) suffered a fatal heart attack during the Connaught Cup in Timauin June.

She was bred by the late Mrs Jill Harley, who trained and raced her until she was 4. Rowena Murray bought her about 10 years ago.

Her eldest son Tarquin used her then Casimir Gross and Aisha.

She was 15 when it died.

Casualties in California

Racing authorities are investigating the deaths of eight horses at a Southern California race track within the first two weeks of the season, a number described as unusually out of proportion.

Five horses had been injured while running races at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club race tracks, having to be euthanized, while two more died while training or exercising.

The deaths prompted the club to move regular racing off a newer turf course to an older course.

The E.A. Equestrian ■ OCT-DEC 2014

Cover Story

Rishi wins the Hackett Cup with Prince Harry

Paddy Selfe, Rupert Lewis, Prince Harry and Rishi Ahluwalia.

Kenyan player excels in major society event After the introductions of the teams and the umpires, the ball was thrown in.

The Hackett army team immediately went on the offensive and a quick goal followed, courtesy of Paddy Selfe. Soon after, Rishi Ahluwalia blocked a back hand by Hiro Suzuki, while it was still in the air and converted it into a spectacular goal which had the crowd roaring its approval.

The commentator could not stop praising the play and combination of Rishi Ahluwalia and Paddy Selfe, which soon saw the Army leading by 6 goals to 4 at the start of the fourth chukka.

By the end of the fourth chukka, the army slotted another goal after deft stick work by Rishi and the final score was 7 goals to 4 in favour of the army team. Five goals were scored by Paddy Selfe and 2 goals by Rishi Ahluwalia.

A giant trophy was presented to the victorious Army team and the team members drank champagne from the trophy cup, as tradition demands.

The media had a field day and the next day most of the local papers had spreads on how Prince Harry led his team to victory!

It was indeed a memorable day for Rishi Ahluwalia who had just graduated from Durham University a week earlier.

22-year-old Rishi is currently resident in the UK and travels extensively with the polo team. He is regularly selected to play for the Army polo team in the UK.

Manyattta Polo Club’s Rishi Ahluwalia had a rare date with royalty in June, when he was selected to play in the Rundle Trophy for the Hacketts Polo team at Tidworth Polo Club in the United Kingdom.

The Rundle Cup is a prestigious tournament that sees the UK Army and the UK Navy polo teams battle it out on the polo field in honour of this revered trophy.

This year’s army team was played by Harry Wales (1), Paddy Selfe (1), Rishi Ahluwalia (0) and Rupert Lewis (1).

This tournament is a major society event in the UK polo calendar and this year was no exception, attracting huge crowds and extensisve media coverage.

Over 4,000 spectators gathered at the manicured lawns of Tidworth on a bright and sunny Saturday to be treated to an outing of glitz and glamour. The men were out in ties and jackets while the ladies looked beautiful in their summer dresses and spectacular hats.

Pimm’s and champagne were flowing as the spectators brought out their hampers and laid out their picnics under bright gazebos along the edges of the polo pitch.

The VIP marquee was bustling with celebrities and the paparazzi were jostling for space around the media enclosure. Although the organizers had tried to keep this under wraps, news had got out that Prince Harry was going to feature in the main match at 4pm.

The Military Band lead out the Army and the Navy polo teams, and the excitement was rife.

The E.A. Equestrian ■ OCT-DEC 2014

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Cover Story which was played on the Number 1 Ground; normally reserved for professionals. The last time I had been to that ground was to watch Adolfo Cambiasso play the final of the Queen’s Cup. university dissertation Through the Hackett experience I was offered a chance to go and tour South Africa, playing various club teams around Cape Town. Val de Vie Polo Club was a particular favourite. One week after this tour I had to hand in my university dissertation.

Just after graduating from Durham University, I was offered to play for Hackett in the Rundle Cup, a historic match at Tidworth Polo Club. I remember when my dad said he could either make my graduation ceremony or the Rundle Cup, but not both, I immediately told him to come for the Rundle Cup! This was well worth it, as around 4000 spectators turned up, and my parents were surprised to see Prince Harry playing at number 2 on the Hackett team! We won the match convincingly, which was a relief as playing in front of such a big crowd was both motivating and terrifying. Next day the UK press was abuzz with pictures of the match and victory due to the royal presence.

After the Rundle Cup, I was offered the chance to go tour the West Coast of the USA, playing at various clubs.

A polo handicap truly is a passport to the world.

Through polo, I have been to South Africa, Australia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, the USA, and all over the UK. I am forever in debt to my parents for giving me every opportunity to get on a horse and wield a polo stick during my childhood.

In the near future I hope to return to Kenya, and make the most of all the exciting opportunities that the country has to offer, both in the corporate world and the polo world!

(Pictures from Peter Meade Photography (http://www. petermeadephotography.com/hrc14)

Rishi’s captivating story in his own words I have ridden for as long as I remember. I am told by my parents that the first time I was put on a horse I bawled my eyes out and wanted to get off as soon as possible! Somewhere along the line, I must have had a change of heart regarding horses, and horse riding remained a constant feature of my childhood despite all the other sports I had a crack at.

I initially started off doing Eventing - I loved cross-country, tolerated show-jumping, and barely put up with dressage. At school, not many of my friends rode, but that didn’t bother me as being one of the very few boys at Pony Club had its advantages once I hit puberty.

I took up polo when I was about 12, a year after my dad took it up. I found polo far more thrilling than any eventing discipline, and promptly decided to turn my fat little eventer, Ebony, into a polo pony. Ebony and I had mixed success on the polo pitch, but the polo bug had bitten me and there was no turning back.

When I was nearing the end of my primary education, I heard of a boarding school in England with a very good polo team. I spent my last year at Peponi Prep School working at my studies like I had never worked before, in order to gain an academic scholarship to Cheltenham College, in Gloucestershire. This paid off, and I eventually rose to Captain the College polo team, and win the National Championships on more than one occasion. I was lucky that the College team was generously sponsored by Bentley and Aston Martin, and therefore my polo was nicely subsidised.

After leaving Cheltenham College, I went and worked on a polo pony breeding farm in Western Australia. I learnt to train young polo ponies, played some matches, and had a fantastic time. However, when I phoned my dad to tell him I was applying for a work visa to stay in Australia permanently, he put his foot down and dragged me out the outback and off to university!

Whilst at Durham University, studying International Relations, I was very fortunate to have some great opportunities to play polo. Whilst playing at Tidworth Polo Club, I was spotted by the manager of the Hackett Team, and offered the chance to play with them at Guards Polo Club. This was a fantastic opportunity to play at so prestigious a Club. We made it to the final,

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Rishi Ahluwalia in action

The E.A. Equestrian ■ OCT-DEC 2014

Family Profile

A family bitten by polo bug

The Tayleurs and a Chilean introduced the Ahluwalia’s to equestrian sports and they have no regrets

The Ahluwalia family, comprising Ashe, Kiran, Rishi and Amber have been a polo-playing family for over 10 years.

Ashe, 52, is not only a keen horseman, but also an accomplished mountain biker who runs a 4x4 motor parts business in Nairobi.

Ashe started playing polo at the age of 40. “I have been a keen horse rider from a very early age and my formative years of riding were under the tutelage of Brian and Paddy Tayleur, who were hugely instrumental in the polo and show jumping scene in Nairobi,” he said. Ashe’s early riding years with the Tayleurs saw him more involved in show jumping and dressage. Ashe took a break from riding for several years until 2004, when a Chilean master horseman, Ignacio Gallegos, moved to Kenya to set up a riding school. “My whole family -- wife Kiran, and kids Rishi and Amber honed their riding skills at Ignacio’s riding school, learning how to vault, showjump, dressage and eventually, polo. Ignacio was a 1 goal polo player and he convinced me to invest in my first polo pony, Nirvana,” he said. Nirvana was bought off the race track and schooled by Ignacio, and soon became Ashe’s favourite polo pony owing to her ability to stop and turn on a penny, and her superior speed.

The family eventually took over Ignacio’s string of polo ponies when he left Kenya, and the rest is history.

Kiran, an accomplished rider, started riding at an early age in Dar es Salaam under the tutelage of Sammy Vos, and spent a considerable time schooling young ponies for the family whilst also looking after the health and fitness of their string of polo ponies. Having dabbled in polo on a family polo holiday to South Africa, Kiran prefers to pursue her passion of photography, capturing magnificent images of her family and friends in action on the polo pitch.

Rishi, 22, who plays off 0.5 goals, started riding from the tender age of 7 with his first pony Ebony, with whom he moved up the ranks in the Nairobi Pony Club. Pony Club has been instrumental in creating fine horsemen for the future, instilling the fundamentals and skills of horsemanship in youngsters.

Rishi was polo captain at Cheltenham College and at Durham University in the UK. He played in the Kenya under-16 team against a visiting

The E.A. Equestrian ■ OCT-DEC 2014

UK side. Rishi was also a member of the youngest polo team to win the Mugs Mug polo tournament in 2009. The average age of the team comprising himself, Craig Millar, Charlie Maclellan and Milo Mconnell, was only 18 years. He plays polo for the Hacketts team in the UK and has toured South Africa, Zimbabwe, Australia and USA. Amber, 21, plays off 0 goals and has also come up the ranks of Pony Club with Ebony, having begun riding at the age of 6. She played polo for the Cheltenham College Ladies’ First team, and is currently in the University Of Bristol polo team.

Amber represented Kenya in the Young Kenyan Girls vs Young UK Girls polo tour to the UK, where the girls returned having won the majority of their games – including those against all-male sides! She is looking forward to playing alongside the Argentinean professional, Juan Jose Araya in the 7-goal division of the Samsung Galaxy Kenya International Polo Tournament in September. “I am so grateful to my wonderful parents for giving me the opportunity to grow up playing polo.

It’s incredible to be able to participate in a sport that involves the whole family,” she said.

The Ahluwalia family’s home club is the Manyatta Polo Club in Gilgil, where they practice most weekends alongside other polo-playing families in the area. Ashe and Kiran look forward to continuing to support Rishi and Amber’s success on and off the polo pitch.

“I get as much, if not more pleasure, watching my kids play as I do when playing polo myself,” muses Ashe.

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Kenya Open International

Buster Mackenzie in action for Samsung Galaxy S5 during the Kenya Open

By Special Writer Two weekends of the Samsung Galaxy Kenya Open passed very successfully. The polo was excellent (as we expect from the key Kenyan event of the year), lots of spectators added colour and atmosphere and sponsors such as Veuve Vlicquot and XFM added a touch of glamour. Nairobi Polo Club has stepped up a level this year by adding boards to enhance the speed and excitement of play.

On the first weekend of 4-8 goal polo, the trophy was won

by Samsung Galaxy S5 consisting of Buster Mckenzie, Mike Du Toit, Devin Shretta and Jonathan Stichbury, who narrowly beat the Samurai team in a hotly contested final. Hiromi Nzomo was a popular winner of Most Valuable Player and Kerry Town, owned by Henry Limb and played by Buster Mckenzie, was voted best playing pony. In an exciting subsidiary tournament, the Samsung Galaxy Tab team of Edward Burbidge, Suki Shretta, Robbie Koitaba and Peter Ndambuki took the prize.

The second weekend saw the 10-14 goal international tournament, where the glory was taken by Samsung Galaxy North Kenya in a comprehensive 12-4 victory. Samsung Galaxy North Kenya’s international player was David Evans, a 4-goal player from South Africa, supported admirably by Casimir Gross, Jamie Murray and Joss Craig.

Jamie Murray was voted MVP and Niello, belonging to Jonathan Stitchbury and ridden by Buster Mckenzie, won the best playing pony prize.

The subsidiary trophy was taken by the Samsung Galaxy Tab team on Kigen Moi, Dominic Grammaticas, David Bromham and Izzy Stichbury.

And finally, the junior challenge ended in an honourable draw between the Keringet team of Martin Waiganjo, Jadini Nzomo and Oscar Du Toit and the Samsung Galaxy team of Sammy Kaire, Lochie Stichbury and Amani Nzomo.

Kenyan polo is getting better and better and it is certainly well worth passing by for the international, and other tournament weekends, observers said.

McKenzie bursts Samurai SGT also had a superior aggregate of 6-5 against Millar they had a four up tie in the second game the previous evening. In other subsidiary results, SGG beat Millar 3-2 and SGT edged Millar 2-1.

Hiromi Nzomo, daughter to former Nairobi Polo Club chairman and captain Raphael Nzomo, was voted the Most Valuable Player, by Polo Internationals who participated in the high end tournament.

“It feels nice to win your first MVP. I will work hard to lift others in the future. I attribute this to my mother and father who introduced me and has been my pillar in the game,” she said.

Best Playing Pony trophy went to Kerry Town, a sturdy horse owned

by Henry Limb and was driven by marksman McKenzie in the three-day event.

Three players were also capped for their first ever participation in an international polo championship and they are Lochie Stichbury (-2), Nikolai Barnwell (-2) and Peter Ndambuki (-1.5).

Samsung Electorins East Africa, that has taken title sponosrship of Kenya Polo tournaments for the next five years, will hold another continutaion of the tournament starting this Friday at the venue.

“Apart from our gratitude to Samsung, we would also wish to thank all those who have made this event possible and we hope you will enjoy the action next weekend too,”noted Nairobi Polo Club Chairman Devin Shretta.

By EA Equestrian Reporter Samsung Galaxy S5 (SGS) earned six points to win the Main Cup at the Samsung Galaxy 2014 Kenya Open International Tournament at the Nairobi Polo Club on September 14.

SGS beat Samurai 5-3.5 in the final of the first weekend of the International played under scorching sun and watched by a fairly large crowd.

Outstanding handicap six player, Buster McKenzie was on point as the winners thwarted their opponents’ efforts in the hotly-contested final.

McKenzie scored a hat-trick to gift his side with an early lead in the first two chukkas. His score was bettered by Nairobi Polo Club Vice Chairman Mike du Toit, who added a brace to condemn their opponents to runners-up position with four points.

“It’s been great playing this important international tournament in Kenya. Polo in Kenya is improving by the day as Kenya now has a marked standard pitch with side boards for the first time in history,” McKenzie said at the prize giving ceremony.

Samurai captain, handicap six Craig Wilson, scored all their goals in the final. He paid tribute to team mates Gordy Millar, Hiromi Nzomo and Kaila Millar, saying they made it happen.

Samsung Galaxy Note were third in the Main Cup division which was a 5-8 goal tournament. Peroni were fourth in the group.

Even though they lost 1-0 to Samsung Galaxy Gear (SGG), sole goal scored by Dominic Grammaticas, Samsung Galaxy Tab (SGT) went ahead to lift the Subsidiary Cup on a goal aggregate of 5.5-3.

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The E.A. Equestrian ■ OCT-DEC 2014

Mug’s Mug Polo

Gideon leads Cruise Control

to win Mugs Mug in Manyatta

Gideon Moi surges foward past Cammastichie during Sumsung Galaxy Mayatta Mugs Mug semi-final in Gilgil on August 16, 2014. Right: Cruise Control team Omwakwe Arungah, Gideon Moi, Harry Stichbury, Martin Kesier, Kigen Moi and Samsung’s Christine Judy Owino on the winners podium.

Cruise Control won the Samsung Galaxy Mugs Mug Tournament after beating Custard Snowleopards 7-4 in an entertaining match at Manyatta Polo Club in Gilgil on August 17. The game was played on a cool windy day away from the dusty neighouring Gilgil town. Snowleopards started the match by a silver platter goal as a result of their low handicap. But they added an off play goal via Ben Stonewigg to stay on lead before Martin Kesier cancelled it with three quick goals for Cruise Control.

Later, Kigen Moi added the fourth one to give his side a 4-2 lead within the first two chukkas. In the third and fourth chukkas, the losers pushed the victors into their half as it became a see-saw match. Omwale Arunga scored an off play goal with Kesier managing a penalty and off play goal in the last two chukkas to triumph, while the losers replied from an off play goal by Henry Limb and a penalty by Stonewigg (Ben). “At first victory seemed impossible but defeat was not an option and that was pour motto was we played on and on,” Kigen told reporters.

Cruise Control were sent into extra time before securing a 4-3 victory from a golden goal rule over Cammastichie in the Mugs Mug semi-final.

Gideon Moi scored the golden goal that sent his side into the final against Custard Snowleopards. Gideon had earlier scored an off play goal before Martin Kesier added a penalty and an off play goal for his team.

Handicap three Julian Camm scored two off-play goals with the third by Jenny Camm for Cammastichie to force a 3-3 deadlock before they lost it. Gideon teammates included his son Kigen, Omwakwe Arungah and handicap 2.5 Martin Kesier. Both teams tied 2-2 in the first two chukkas and 3-3 in the final two chukkas forcing the golden rule to apply.

Custard Snowleopards defeated G-Force by 6.5-3 goals to proceed to the finals. Henry Limb scored four goals while Jack Toto and Ben Stonewigg scored one each for the winners. Megan Griffins replied with two and Pete Griffins one for the losers.Cruise Control earlier smashed Chase 7-3

while Cammastichie dismissed Al Kebabs 6-5 in the first quarterfinals match. Custard Snowleopards overwhelmed G Force 6.5-2 in the other semi-finals. In the Plate, Off Beat defeated Four G 8-4 to win the second prestigious title of the tournament. The Plate finals provided one of the highest scoring matches of the day followed by the Mugs finals. Cammastiche later defeated G-Force 6-1.5 to run away with The Shield title.

El Kebabs scooped The Stonewigg Bowl after seeing off Murban 6-5 in another entertaining match. El Kebabs were a composition of handicap 2.5 Martin Waiganjo, handicap 1 Chris Foot, handicap 0.5 Devin Shretta and -1 Anthony Wahome.

El Kebabs earlier eliminated Chase 200, 5-4 in the semis while Murban clipped Samurai 5-3. Benchwarmers walloped Funky Minus Dudes 6-2 to scoop The Wooden Spoon title. Both Benchwarmers and Funky Minus Dudes earlier dropped at The Plate quarters to gain direct semi-final qualification into the Wooden Spoon Championships after Off Beat beat them in round robin matches. Off Beat proceeded on to win The Plate Competition after hitting Four G 8-4 in the finals.

Custard Snowleopards dismissed Samurai 5-3 in the quarters as GForce hammered Four G in the last quarterfinal encounter. All quarterfinal losers dropped to the less prestigious The Stonewigg Bowl semis with Al Kebabs clobbering Chase 5-4 to qualify for today’s finals against Murban at 11.30am.

Murban had earlier knocked out Samurai 5-3 on their to the finals. The Plate semis had not ended by our press time as Bronco were battling it out against Four G in the first semi-final match.

Benchwarmers, Off Beat and Funky Minus Dudes were also set to battle out in round robin matches to decide on the second team that makes it to the Plate semis.

...as Samsung Galaxy S lift Cavalry Cup through Henry Griffiths who hit a double, all scored in the last chukka.

In the Junior Tournament, Pepsi snatched a 6-3.5 win over Samsung in a one-sided match. Akash Amrit scored four goals in the four chukkas while Harry Stichbury added two more, one in the first chukka and the last in the last chukka. In another match of the Junior tournament, Keringet and Galaxy S settled to a two-all draw.

Meggan Griffiths and Cheza Millar scored for Keringet, while William Millar replied with a double for Galaxy S in a team that had Alan Delorie, James Grammaticas, Sabrina Robley and Millar (William).

Meanwhile, Maliby, ridden by Harry Griffiths was voted as the best horse in the Bwana Beg Cup Championships.

Handicap two Tiva Gross’ horse Deemelza was voted the best horse in the Cavalry Cup.

Samsung Galaxy S won the Cavalry Cup after beating Samsung Galaxy Tab 6-5 in a tightly contested polo match at Manyatta Polo Club in Gilgil on August 24. The team of highly experienced players led by handicap 5 Casimir Gross, Henry Limb (2), Tiva Gross (2) and Kigen Moi (1) took the lead from Gross’s four goals in the first three chukkas. Later, Kigen added two more in the third and fourth chukkas. Samsung Galaxy Tab replied through Craig Killer, who scored three, George McCorkell one and Vishal Somaia one, all spread in the four chukkas in the Samsungsponsored event.

The Bwana Begg Cup was clinched by Samsung Galaxy Tab after they defeated Samsung Galaxy S 2 5-2 goals. Samsung, comprising Jonathan Stichbury, Devin Shretta, Aisha Gross and Chloe Spoerry started the match with half a goal advantage and went ahead to score two more through Spoerry and Shretta. Samsung Galaxy S 2 scored their goals

The E.A. Equestrian ■ OCT-DEC 2014

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Connaught Cup Polo in Timau

Galaxy Gear 2 win Connaught Cup

Casimir Gross, Judy Owino of Samsung, Raphael Nzomo, Vishal Somaia and Pete Griffiths after Samsung Galaxy Gear 2 won the Connaught Cup in Timau

By The Horseman

North Kenya (Jamie Murray 4.5, Gordon Murray 1.5, Llewellyn Dyer 1, Jonathan Stichbury 0.5) 6-5.

Bayer Prosaro (0) of Bryn Llewelyn, Dani Murray, Aisha Gross and Linda Craig won the Abadan Cup, beating Samsung Galaxy Tab (Nikki Barlow 0.5, Harry Griffiths 0, Megan Griffiths 0, Row Stichbury 0) 6 and half to 3.

Bayer Thunder (0) of Casimir Gross, Charlie Morley, Mathew Nakitare and Izzy Stitchbury won the Murray Cup after triumphing over Samsung Galaxy Note (Jamie Murray 4.5, Nina Morley -1.5, Elizabeth Locker -1.5, Hamish Hobbs -2) 8-7.

Disaster struck the second weekend of the NKPC tournament, with two-goaler Raphael Nzomo losing his horse Spain on the first day and Aisha Gross losing her 19-year-old pony to heart attack. Delulu Upson, who was playing for Bayer Hussar Evolution, fell off her horse and was rushed to Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi.

“Never in the history of Kenyan equestrian had disaster struck so hard within such a short span of time,” commented Jimmy Caldwell, a veteran of North Kenya Polo Club.

The second day’s climax was the competition between the farmers and techies – Bayer CropScience (Jamie Murray 4.5, Mbu Ngugi 2, Tiva Gross 2, Archie Voorspuy 1.5) and Samsung Gear 2 (Casimir Gross 5, Raphael Nzomo 2, Vishal Somaia 2, Pete Griffiths 1.5).

Although Bayer won 9-7, the game left polo fans on the edges of their seats after watching a cruising, fast and adrenaline-filled match. Casimir, who is Kenya’s highest handicap player found hiself on the opposite side with his sister Tiva, and cousin Jamie. The first chukka ended 7-5 for Bayer, as Ngugi sent a 40-yard single-defended penalty in the second chukka to increase the lead 8-6. Jamie Murray’s 60-yard defended penalty went wide in the third chukka as Casimir Gross’s 60-yard penalty created a pin-ball action, which was pushed in by a team mate to end third chukka 8-7.

The fourth chukka saw a lot of pushing and shoving with Samsung’s striker Nzomo creating riveting movements. Tiva Gross score ensured Bayer won the match 9-7.

The tournament was kept alive by announcer, Mathew Nakitare (-1.5), whose anecdotes and humors was as entertaining as they were informative. “The farmers versus the techies…polo is a game played with hot blood and cool heads…you must be cool and calm…but you must think like chess…it’s also like golf, a slight wrong swing can make one miss the target…horses are the athletes here…they are like rally cars or good athletes…you must warm them up to perform,” which left fans in stitches.

Five-goaler Casimir Gross led Samsung Gear 2 to win the Connaught Cup after two weekends of adrenaline-filled polo in Kisima Ground in Timau.

Gross, who is the highest handicap player in Kenya, led two-goaler Raphael Nzomo and Vishal Somaia and Pete Griffiths (1.5), who are among the top players in the country. They won 12-10 against equally star-studded Bayer CropScience team of Jamie Murray (4.5), Mbu Ngugi (2), Tiva Gross (2) and Archie Voorspuy in an exciting and ferocious game that swung from one end of the pitch to the other.

Earlier, Samsung Kzoom (Tiva Gross, Clinton Lucy (-1), Taru Mwamto/T Rouse (-1) and Harry Sichbury won the Kinsmen Cup 6.5-4 after beating Bayer Hussar Evolution (Bryn Llewelyn 1, Nicola Young -0.5, Toby Grammaticas -1 and Tara/Delulu Upson 0).

Samsung Tab4 (Topper Murray 1, Kigen Moi 1, Dom Grammaticas 0.5, Hiromi Nzomo -0.5) won the Nanyuki Polo Challenge 5.5-2, beating Samsung NotePro (Gideon Moi 1, L Dyer 1, Nikki Ngugi 0.5 and Dani Murray 0).

Sweet, owned by Casimir Gross, won the Tryon Cup for the best playing pony senior category, Kigen Moi won the Tatham-Warter Tankard for best playing pony intermediate category with Russian. Hiromi Nzomo won the Foster Trophy for the best playing pony by a lady with Baronessa. Peter Griffiths won the Stonewigg Trophy for Most Valuable Player while George McCorkell won the Megson Trophy for Most Outstanding category.

The first weekend of North Kenya Polo Club tournament ran from July 18-20, also at the Kisima Ground within the Gundua Complex in the agricultural neighbourhood of Timau.

Main sponsors were Samsung Galaxy, but with traditional sponsors like Bayer CropScience, Prosaro and Monsanto.

North Kenya Polo Club is among the main pillars of polo in Kenya and a quick check in its officials reveals renowned polo families, from its chairman Gordon Murray, vice chairman, Will Craig, captain Rowena Gross, vice-captain, Jamie Murray, secretary Sara Dyer, treasurer, Delulu Upson, caterer Tisha Morley, groundsman, Jamie Murray, barman, Charlie Dyer, horse welfare, Sara Dyer/Dani Murray and chief umpire, Anthony Gross.

They put up am marvelous tournament, which competed for the Timau Stores Cup, Abadan Cup and Murray Cup on the first weekend.

Monsanto (Casimir and Tiva Gross, Kigen Moi and Stewart Lucy - 8goals) won the Timau Stores Cup after beating Samsung Galaxy

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The E.A. Equestrian ■ OCT-DEC 2014

Racing Profile James is sharper than a button on duty.

He reads races like poetry. No need to issue instructions, because, so much can happen during a race, right from the starting gates.

Armstrong’s Girl, with James Muhindi on top, striding out to win the Mars Fillies Guineas.

Inset: Course commentator Zarko Petkovic and James Muhindi Mwangi

By Innocent Immaculate James Muhindi Mwangi, 26, has encouraged other apprentices to keep on keeping on. These days as a professional, James is in as much demand as he was when claiming allowances. This in itself is rare.

Since bursting on to the racing stage in 2004 when joining trainer, Oliver Gray’s, establishment at Ngong, James is conspicuous as one of the most sincere riders around.

Why is that such a poignant statement?

Because quite a few riders climb into the game with a view to collecting money. Not James.

He is mercurially absorbed by horses, their individualism, quirks, nuances, and, ability to adjust.

James is sharper than a button on duty.

He reads races like poetry. No need to issue instructions, because, so much can happen during a race, right from the starting gates.

An imperious looking young man is James, but when the winning-post is attained, his emotions flutter about like feathers.

Since prompting Armstrong’s Girl to master two consecutive Guineas Classics, James is on a mission to shatter all barriers. Armstrong’s Girl can notoriously be remembered for being quite tempestuous. Ibrahim Wachira ended up in an ambulance when Armstrong’s Girl (Mogok/ Moondust), shot him over the stand-side railings, whilst passing through ‘greener’ times.

Listen to this. Armstrong’s Girl was bought

by David Armstrong, purely by coincidence of nomenclature.

James reached Standard Eight at OlchoroOnyori Primary School in Kajiado, until his farming parents, Daniel and Salomi, were canvassed by fees. Education had to be dissolved, but not before James acquired exponential skills as a furniture producer, footballer, and, marathon runner. He advanced with seniority in any inter-house contests.

Father Daniel, was already in Oliver Gray’s employ. He earnestly requested the co operative trainer to open a small window for his son. James was an instant hit, especially being clean living, free from vice, and, articulate. As a gospel lover, James attends church whenever possible, offering Jesus Christ as his universal wisdom.

He communicates with four sibblings, one of whom, Samuel, is also a part of Oliver’s clan.

Samuel, however, is under no illusions to follow James into horse racing. His weight is an issue, while James maintains a steady 53 kgs at an above average height of 5’6”.

Sifi Moyo brought James to the winner’s enclosure in 2007, and that was intoxicating. James decided immediately to shelve the furniture business for retirement only. He has since been kicked brutally on his knee and faced other oc-

The E.A. Equestrian ■ OCT-DEC 2014

12

cupational hazardous situations, but, will never squander his internal/eternal desire, to become champion jockey. Already this season, James struck a quintet.

That is no easy feat. He is a popular member of Ngong, keeps a low profile, has a steady head, and, likes to observe. His devotion to animals is unmatched. He abhors cruelty of any kind, knows how to relate to equine psyche, believes comprehensively that creatures were put on earth to enjoy freedom, or, be looked after, and that they are as intelligent as humans. ‘If animals could speak, there would be plenty dialogue going on.’

Consistent with every other jockey, James rises at 4.30 am, showers, prays, and prepares to analyze his allotment for morning gallops. Courage is essential in this sport, more importantly on the training track where birds, monkeys, golf balls, and, wart-hogs, can cause horses to veer off their paths in a split-second.

One has to be vigilant to an extreme, without complacency. “It is imperative that we think positive. Racing has been in the doldrums on plenty occasions since the War. It is a survivor. People need to rally together with sensible ideas. There are some exciting prospects in the future which cannot be discussed yet. God is great!”

Polobriefs News Equestrian Sports Roundup

Princess Haya won’t Grand National icon stand for third term jumps his last fence

Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein will not stand for a third term as President of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), she said on August 12.

The move, which she described as “one of the hardest decisions of my life”, will see the Sydney 2000 Olympian losing her International Olympic Committee membership when she steps down in December this year.

It was expected that she would run again for a third term in the most powerful position in world equestrian sport after the FEI members voted overwhelmingly in April to change its statutes from the two, four-year term limit for Presidents - a concept introduced by Princess Haya herself when she was first elected in 2006.

However, she has now said she always planned to leave office after this term.

-Insidethegames.biz

Black Caviar becomes Youngsters head toaSouth proud at last Africaparent, for polo training William Millar, Josh Seagon, Ben Stonewigg and Tom Stonewigg (above) are due to travel to South Africa this month for a three-week training on polo. Stuart Millar, the captain of Manyatta Polo Club for which the talented young riders are playing, told The EA Equestrian, the lads, who are students at Pembroke House Schoo, and The Banda School, have been sponsored by the club to sharpen their riding skills.

They will be accompanied by champion show jumper Rachel Robley, who is also riding instructor at the Pembroke House. “This is our duty as a club to partner with the community to help the youths achieve their dreams,” said Millar.

The youngsters are born in riding families and neighbourhood and riding comes naturally.

Trainer Toby Gerald Barnard Balding, has bowed down at the these days, a rather young age of 78.

Uncle to BBC presenter Clare, he dished up more than 2,000 winners, clapping hands on all jump racing’s biggest prizes, including two Grand Nationals, a Cheltenham Gold Cup, and, Champion Hurdle.

He established the riding talents of Tony McCoy (4,200 strikes already), and, Adrian McGuire (retired in 2004). Daughter Serena said: ‘Life, horses, and, people, were uttermost in his towering half century at the top. Known for generosity, warm heart, total commitment, and, intense genius, Toby was awarded an OBE for his services to the Sport of Kings.

Black Caviar, Australia’s fastest racehorse in a generation, might have been a little slower at giving birth, but has taken to motherhood quickly after foaling a filly in Hunter Valley. This is Caviar’s first foal which will be named after a month, to ensure it is healthy. We breeders, always wait a good few weeks before making such important decisions. Caviar was notably undefeated in 25 starts. She was the people’s horse, already given an unofficial OBE from Queen Elizabeth for her incredible win at Royal Ascot. Most pundits believe Caviar won the race after noticing a wall of horses pass her near the post. She simply found another gear and hit home by a thumb. Jockey, Luke Nolan, actually made a human blunder, thinking he had reached his goal, while Moonlight Cloud and Bel Esprit, thought they were in the money.

Queen’s grand KENYANS SET WORLD daughter’s RECORDS Olympic AT FIRST fantasy WORLD back on RELAY track again SERIES atIN anBAHAMAS equestrian event

By Innocent Immaculate Zara Phillips’s Olympic fantasy was back on track again, after she was put through her paces at a really demanding equestrian event.

In her first major competition since giving birth to baby Mia in January, the Queen’s grand-daughter impressed a large gathering, clearing harsh cross-country obstacles in Normandy’s Games. Selectors were keen to keep an eye on Zara for their thoughts on a fresh squad for Rio 2016.

The 33 year-old former World Champion, who won team eventing Silver at London 2012, was cheered on by her rugby player husband, Mike Tindall, as she guided High Kingdom, 13, over the jumps at Le Pi National Stud near Caen.

Despite a couple of hairy moments, Zara, powered through the challenging course which she would have won, if a previous dressage test had gone slightly better. Zara was voted Sports Personality of 2006, and has been an ambassador for that role ever since.

Mike arrived in a helicopter belonging to Trevor Hemmings, the multi-millionaire

FEI sec joins race as 6 candidates confirmed DR BACH DONATES BUS

International Equestrian Federation (FEI) secretary general Ingmar De Vos has put himself forward as one of six final candidates in the running to International Olympic Committee (IOC) Presireplace Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein as President dent, Dr Thomas Bach visited Kenya for the first of the organisation, it was announced today. Beltime since assuming the world’s most prestigious gian De Vos joins Spaniard Javier Revuelta del executive sports office in June. Travelling from BoPeral as the final two candidates to throw their tswana where he watched the Africa Youth Games, hat into the ring for the top job in the sport as the he accompanied his long-time friend and fellow final deadline was reached yesterday. They join member of IOC, Dr Kip Keino to his home in EldoBriton and current FEI first vice-president John ret, a city that produces hundreds of world class McEwen, French Olympic show jumping champion athletes and which he has visisted many times in Pierre Durand (top), Danish Equestrian Federation the past. This time, Dr Bach was at the Kip Keino President and European Equestrian Federation High School where he donated a bus and also vice-president Ulf Helgstrand and Swiss businesspledged to champion the construction of a tartan man and horse breeder Pierre Genecand, who have track, among other goodies. A friend indeed! all already announced their candidacies.

TO KIPKEINO SCHOOL

businessman-owner of High Kingdom. Zara’s mother, Princess Anne, and, her brother, Peter, could not attend because they were staying with Queen Elizabeth at Balmoral. World Cup winner, Mike, 35, has just signed a nine-month contract to co-present a Monday morning sports programme, after announcing his retirement from rugby. We could do with an equestrian counterpart here on Nairobi radio to boost proceedings further.

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The E.A. Equestrian ■ OCT-DEC 2014

Racing celebration

Partying with horses on the Equator

By EA Equestrian Reporter

Kenya Jockey Club?

The picturesque Ngong Racecourse is modelled on Ascot and is set to host the party of the decade in January.

Horseracing in the Republic of Kenya will be 110 years old next year.

The beautiful country in the African Great Lakes region of East Africa will host visitors from across the globe and the passionate Tom Fraser has promised a celebration to end all celebrations, as he told the EA Equestrian in this exclusive interview.

TF: I am a past Director/Commentator/Presenter but I am now just involved in sponsorship for the Jockey Club of Kenya.

EAE: What is your name and age?

EAE: Does South African horseracing subsidise the sport on any level in Kenya?

EAE: Does Kenya offer the visitor/investor anything beyond racing?

TF: Oh yes! Kenya has plenty to offer especially in tourism. And the market is always wide open and has many opportunities for multinationals to invest with many sectors.

TF: Tom Fraser -- I recently hit the magic 60.

Please tell us about your schooling and upbringing

TF: I was brought up on a coffee farm and in my youth spent my holidays fishing, going on safaris and playing golf and club rugby. I went to Nyeri for my primary education and then to Nairobi and St.Mary’s for my secondary education.

TF: Not that I am aware of, although we have daily betting on racing worldwide which brings in a small income especially from Tellytrack on Ngong’s Sunday racing.

EAE: Does Kenya have a tote and bookmakers?

EAE: What do you do in horseracing?

TF: Yes we have four off course betting tote shops and on course as well as three bookmakers on course.

EAE: You have some interesting family connections in the sport?

TF: Ngong is based on Ascot so it’s a wide 2400m grass track. We have on site trainers who have yards and three gallop tracks to work on. Most of the trainers train from the racecourse. The Jockey Club also boasts a 9 hole golf course, restaurants and beautiful grounds for weddings and other functions.

TF: For the past 40 years I have owned racehorses and had our own stud with two stallions. I was also a track bookie named ‘Play Cash’nowadays I am ‘just’ an owner.

TF: My grandfather was Harry Rosenberg, a Bookmaker and Chairman of the Transvaal Cubicle Association and my second cousin is Len Salzman, whom some may recall as a big time owner in South Africa.

Racing was in our family blood so I got hooked at an early age. My wife also holds a trainer’s license in Kenya.

EAE: How did you land in Kenya?

TF: My mother, Sylvia Rosenberg, married my Swazi born father Thomas Fraser in Springs, South Africa. My father inherited a coffee farm from his aunt in Kenya and arrived here in 1948 to run his new farm, Belingwe (means House On The Hill) As you can see from my age, I was born in Kenya.

EAE: What are your racecourse facilities like?

EAE: What are the Kenyan horseracing stakes comparable to and as an example, what would the rand equivalent be of a Maiden Plate?

TF: Our stakes would classify as the lowest stakes worldwide. A win would barely cover just cover one month’s keep, unless it was a sponsored meeting with added stakes. A maiden plate is Zar2500.

EAE: Many South African punters are not positively disposed to Ngong racing – how do you hope to change that perception?

EAE: Are you involved at any level in the

The E.A. Equestrian ■ OCT-DEC 2014

TF: Sadly, due to not enough race horses being bred for the trade our

14

Polo News Racing Sportscelebration Roundup fields are small due to the pool of horses in training, small fields don’t interestany punter. It’s a difficult one as the only solution is to increase the number of horses. A committee is currently working on this and involving a few trainers in South Africa to pave the way forward.

EAE: As you say, your fields are very small and the camerawork is also limited in terms of quality. Is there any prospect of boosting those in the future?

TF: We are hoping to bring in more horses to improve the fields but this is an expensive exercise! A pallet for three horses flown in from Joburg costs $3000 per horse. The camera quality is poor I know but Jockey Club is working with experts from SA, hopefully to improve the quality.

A lot of money has been spent on new cameras.

people from all walks of life with a 4 nation Jockey Challenge incorporating SA, Mauritius, Zimbabwe and Kenya, being the highlight. Hopefully ‘Bling’ Khumalo will be available to represent SA! Sponsors, especially the South African horse breeders, have been incredibly kind and come forward to be part of this day. Other big names, like Bloodstock SA and Gold Circle are also committed and then several local companies in Kenya are backing us too.

We intend to have a real party with a family festival atmosphere for the day. We will hosts a Golf tournament as a build up on the Saturday with live bands, fashion shows, acrobats, vintage car club, Kenya Rally car club as well as national sportsmen and women ,including our Rugby Sevens team .

EAE: How do you see the event raising the profile of the sport in that country and internaEAE: Is the Kenyan horse population actually tionally?

TF: We would hope to attract many visitors for the event who will big enough to sustain regular racing with averhopefully stay on longer to visit our beautiful country. age field sizes?

Interestingly, outside South Africa, racing in Africa can only be found

TF: Currently we only have 220 horses in training and with racing every fortnight racing manages to hang in.

EAE: Is South Africa your major market for horses and which sales do you attend?

in Zimbabwe and Kenya.

TF: We hope that we will gain International recognition and possible sponsorships.

EAE: If South Africans would like to participate, how do we go about it getting more information?

TF: With our stake money so small the only sale that makes sense for us to attend is the National 2 year old sale run by the TBA every August

EAE: What sort of horses do you target?

TF: We are not really into big horses due to our ground. All buyers naturally come with a budget and try and source good bloodlines and good form on the mares side- preferably a line that will get a middle distance and stay on even further.

EAE: Are your riders professional jockeys?

TF: Yes, we have all local Kenyan born riders and all of these jockey’s have started their careers at Ngong

EAE: The Kenya Jockey Club 110 year Anniversary celebrations are scheduled for January 2015. Do you have major plans?

TF: On the big day we have planned several activities to attract

TF: Currently we are having meetings with the carriers to open travel arrangements with group bookings for those wishing to join us.

Information is being put together offering various places of interest to visit which will start going out next month.

For example, deep -sea fishing deals have been secured through the Driftwood club. Kingfisher safaris have several lodges and have made very generous offers in Lake Nakuru and the Masai Mara.

We are also working with the Kenya tourism board in securing gooddeals from hotels and other accommodation facilities. As of now the two main contacts heading the sponsorship are myself on floriculture@ africaonline.co.ke and Vicky Osure on vickyosure@yahoo.com Should any company or individual wish to enquire about a contribution, visit or being a sponsor, including race sponsorship, please contact us.

JANUARY 2015 JUST AROUND THE NEXT CORNER

R

eaders must have already heard by bush-telegraph, that Ngong is about to detonate into euphoria, come January 18. Celebrating 110 years of horse racing in Kenya, how can there be anything other than the best possible treatment afforded to such an auspicious occasion? Bloodstock SA, Gold Circle, and, a multitude of other companies, are anticipating the grand-mother of all parties, not to mention Naivasha’s Tom Tom Fraser, has master-minded the whole operation, in collusion with a powerful committee.

As momentum is gathered, plenty prominent business concerns should climb on the bandwagon, because this is a date not to be missed under any circumstances. Naturally, hospitality will be at an absolute maximum, extending arms to Masai Mara’s Seventh Wonder of the World.

There are no restrictions either. Trainers who have recently been buying stock on the South African Sales, can invite imported horses to compete here in the same vein. If not why not?

Of course, not only elite riders are on the menu. Dignitaries, sportsmen/ women, movie stars, celebrities, musicians and paparrazi, are to hob nob with our nobbers, exactly as the first Guineas Classic hits town.

To ensure everything goes smoothly, three JCK directors, Tom Fraser, Margaret Shava and John Sercombe have held planning meeting. Fraser will give our readers an up-date on this in the January-March edition.

John Sercombe

Margaret Shava

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The E.A. Equestrian ■ OCT-DEC 2014

News Feature

K.S.P.C.A. DOES MORE GOOD THAN PEOPLE CAN IMAGINE

form of torture which beggars belief. Donkeys are forced to carry heavy loads which literally breaks their backs. Regardless of this, owners continue to ply them with goods until they keel over. Often donkeys are blinded by intense sunlight, starved, chained, beaten, and sleep deprived. Pets can be burned, starved, confined in concrete cages, microwaved, put in washing machines, electrocuted, set on fire, and, deep frozen - the horror is unbearably atrocious, ruthless, callous, unnecessary. Jean thinks most of this is mostly sadism, plus ignorance. Why ignorance? Because animals are not put on equal footing as humans, how can they grasp the same pain. They feel exactly the same as humans. Their emotions are probably even deeper. How often have you heard of owners dying, and dogs sleeping on graves until they themselves pass away?

Chickens, goats, and, cows, are treated very harshly in Kenya. They are packed tightly together, put in open pick-ups, then carried to their deaths for commercial purposes, covering many miles with ice-cold winds shooting through them. A total digrace!

Jean has been faced with some absolutely terrible visions of exracehorses being reduced to bones. Please be careful where you sell your precious thoroughbreds after their careers at Ngong are complete. It is extremely important to be constantly sincere.

The K.S.P.C.A. is cohooting with Veterinarians to persuade our Government to enact new laws on how animals should be slaughtered for consumption. The intention is to prosecute any owner who inflicts pain while taking away a life for commercial purposes.

Sir Paul McCartney, lead singer/guitarist for the Beatles, famously quoted: “If slaughterhouses had glass windows, the whole world would be

By Innocent Immaculate These days, so many events are organized by the K.S.P.C.A, to raise funds for all round protection of animals. Those who attend these functions also benefit, especially with car boot sales and such like. Book September 10 at Lord Errol in Runda, for a fun Hootennany. September 28, is an art auction in Sankara’s Hotel, and, the Annual Shaggy Dog Show airs November 2, which is supposed to promote love for animals in general.

Guidance on how to ensure owning God’s creatures, is a life-long test, not to be treated under a canopy of complacency. Unlike children who are fairly independent, animals need constant care.

Sadly, things can fall apart for domestic pets when there is a trouble at home. Dogs and cats are particularly sensitive to marriage problems.

Arguments really affect them. They are often abused by disgruntled spouses as a form of revenge. Loyal friends to the enth degree, it is vital that marital woes do not spill over either to children or pets. This is an area that the K.S.P.C.A. is trying to amend, apart from a thousand other issues.

Jean Gilchrist, 66, whom we congratulated in our last Equestrian Magazine on current, deserved Regal Awards, has been a staunch supporter, Chief Executive Administrator of the K.S.P.C.A., for 26 years, up-lifting its image to coincide with modern technology.

Jean’s mission began in Westlands where she was introduced to the worst form of human degradation upon animals. Even in an age when we trust nothing could be worse, some miserable people create their own

The E.A. Equestrian ■ OCT-DEC 2014

16

News Feature

vegetarians.”

Jean’s slaughterhouse programme is carried out by Senior Inspector, Bernard Atsiaya assited by Syrus Wafula. Inspector Fred Midikila, also helps out, but, deals mostly with small animal rescue and education.

John Akumonyo is seriously re-habilitating Donkeys in Eldoret. Another 21 assistants are available upon request. Formerly, the K.S.P.C.A. had to save wildlife being exported abroad for experimental laboratories. This practice has now been severed. A prized success story.

Open 25 hours a day, the K.S.P.C.A. has an emergency service backed by police assistance when force is required to rescue really sordid cases.

The Donkey Sanctuary of Devon have provided continuous generous donations, enabling 85,000 donkeys countrywide to be de-wormed, re-harnessed, sheltered, and, groomed, efficiently. Pneumonia is quite common, so it must be attended to immediately for reduction of pain.

As mentioned in the previous Equestrian, Jean has two sons - Mungo and Robert. Mungo is named after Scotland’s Patron Saint of Aversion to Inhumanity. Next project for the K.S.P.C.A, is a rabies vaccination

and spay campaign, in Lenana Forest area. Hillcrest School is kindly donating materials and labour to build an extension to the K.S.P.C.A’s recovery unit. It should be complete within a month.

Friends of a cat lady lover, who died recently, are gathering funds to construct a Caternity Unit for mothers and kittens that come in aplenty.

Attitudes are changing, but there is still a crazy amount of adjustment to be done. Prosecution is not possible as yet, because, ridiculously low fines make it unworthwhile. However, there is a Task Force which is analyzing the laws, strengthening them for today’s requisites. Anyone searching for 130 dogs, 78 cats, a horse, 9 donkeys, and 4 goats, looking for excellent homes, please visit the K.S.P.C.A Headquarters along Karen Road.

Volunteers are always welcome, especially students at a loose end during school holidays. One real survivor is a blind dog with no eyes from birth. She has managed to survive in Kibera slums for some years. She is happy at the K.S.P.C.A.

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The E.A. Equestrian ■ OCT-DEC 2014

Show Jumping

Show Jumping event

in Mount Kenya T

By Val Corr

his event has been on the calendar for over 40 years and, as always, it is the friendliest of all the events held during the year. Over time, it has been moved from the Nanyuki Sports Club to the Timau Polo Club and back again.

Once again, the staff at the Sports Club met competitors and spectators alike with friendly smiles and were more than happy to tolerate campers and guests in the rooms, along with their assortment of dogs with the same friendly hospitality.

Competitors and their horses started arriving on Tuesday

ready for the show which began on Thursday. Tents sprouted like mushrooms in the camp site and horses began to appear for schooling and exercise very soon afterwards.

Rose Caldwell, as usual, organized the terrier racing which is always such a popular side show, with an assortment of small dogs howling and barking at the start line in anticipation of chasing the very real looking ‘rabbit’ made by Rose’s young protégé Chumba, which is dragged behind a fast moving car.

There was also a very amusing ‘dog show’ where owners were able to show off their pet’s obedience (or disobedience as

The E.A. Equestrian ■ JUL-SEP 2014

was often the case), their agility over a fairly taxing course where the owners, much to the amusement of the crowd, were seen to follow their dog through tunnels and under shade netting.

There was also a competiton for the ‘fluffiest dog’ which was won

by Jimmy Caldwell’s diminutive puppy “Possom”.

The cross country jumping started early on Saturday morning with the Open class. Tara and Bryn Llewelyn had, once again, surpassed themselves with their incredibly artistic course, which was flowing but challenging to the weak hearted.

The Open event was a hotly contested affair, between last

18

year’s winner ‘Kantara’, ridden

by Nathalie McComb, ‘Lots n’ Lots’ with Louisa Vittone and the most experienced horse and rider, ‘Muffin’ and Rachel Robley who led from start to finish.

Clare Hewett-Stubbs, helped by her husband Charlie, and ‘Miranda from Uganda’ built wonderfully flowing courses and, although the ground was very unforgiving, the horses, in the main, jumped them willingly and there was some excellent show jumping throughout the show.

On Saturday night, the sweep stake of the horses invited to jump in the Mt. Kenya Championships is a long standing tradition, where generous amounts of

Mount Kenya Show jumping

money are paid out to the person who draws a horse and, especially, to the person who draws the winning horse.

This year’s ‘auction’ was a very lively affair with Joe Mills, very ably assisted by Tom Fraser, who between them managed to squeeze huge amounts of money out of the bidders. ‘Muffin’ and Rachel Robley were ‘sold’ to Rachel’s husband Fergus for 90 thousand shillings and Clare’s ‘Inan’ was sold for 70 thousand to Louise Collete and her syndicate. After winnings were paid to the “owners” of the winning horse, a very generous 72 thousand shillings was given to the show committee to put towards their chosen charities and community projects.

The jumping the following morning was an anxiously awaited and hotly contested affair, with the Juvenile Championship starting the proceedings. It was anyone’s to win but the trophy was scooped up by Elly JonesPerrot on Sultan, who put in two wonderful clear rounds.

Whilst Clare and her team of helpers prepared the course for the final competition, the crowd were highly entertained by a fancy dress competition.

The competition was stiff but the overwhelming winner was “Goldilocks & the Three Bears’ made up of the Llewelyn and Tate families.

The last competition was the adult Mt. Kenya Championship with ten competitors, four of them young riders making their debut to this very prestigious competition. All the competitors, carrying any faults they had picked up, went forward to the second round. Only the clear rounds from this round then go on to the final round which is

Racher Robley on Muffin receives her prize for winning the Mt Kenya Championships

against the clock. Experience definitely played a hand and, as expected, three of the most experienced horses and riders made up the final round which was made up by Clare on ‘Inan’, Nathalie on ‘Scorpio’ and Rachel on ‘Muffin’. As the latter was an ‘A’ grade and the other two were ‘C’ grade jumpers, she not only went last but the jumps went up by an impressive 3 holes in each round. Clare was the first to go and did a lovely third clear in a good time. Scorpio had one pole down which left Rachel to jump over fences that were, by now, standing at 1m 35, not only clear but in a faster time than Clare.

Rachel’s experience came to the fore and she and Muffin not only left all the jumps standing, but she managed to shave several seconds off Clare’s very competitive time and, to a huge cheer from a large gathering of spectators, jumped herself into first place. This was probably the best standard of jumping seen in this country for a very long time and was a very deserved win for Rachel. (picture of Rachel on Muffin) After prize giving lorries full of horses and cars full of people, children, camping gear and dogs of varying shapes and sizes, were seen leaving for various destinations. If you were lucky enough to drive home via the Naro Moro road past Solio, you would have seen a herd of 15 rhino – a quite extraordinary sight, - and just a kilometer down the road, two more enormous beasts grazing right beside the electric fence.

Not surprisingly, this drew quite a crowd of pedestrian spectators and stopped quite a few cars! It was an incredible sight and one just hopes that security were close by to ensure their safety.

Below Louisa Vittoni on Lots ‘N Lots

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The E.A. Equestrian ■ JUL-SEP 2014

World Equestrian Games

Germany claim double gold

G

Team Austria won the vaulting squad compulsory round at the World Equestrian Games

William Fox-Pitt take over the individual eventing lead after the cross-country round at the World Equestrian Games

All Yankees podium for individual reining Athletes from the United States filled every spot on the podium following the individual reining final at the World Equestrian Games, with Shawn Flarida galloping to gold in Normandy. Partnering with Spooks Gotta Whiz, Flarida produced a winning score of 233.5 at the Parc des Expositions in Caen to take his fifth World Equestrian Games gold medal, while his team gold medal-winning compatriots from earlier in the week, Andrea Fappani and Mandy McCutcheon, claimed silver and bronze.

Flarida was the only competitor to return to the ring after the last drag break, and he put together four spins to the right, four and one-quarter spins to the left and then circles, fast and slow, at each end of the arena, with the lead-changes crucial to a strong score.

He then brought the pattern to its conclusion with run downs and rollbacks before the final sliding stop. “Andrea put

so much pressure on me as far as he went in there and marked a 230 and set the world on fire - it was definitely a lot of pressure but at the same time it was a lot of fun, just knowing that I had that horse to do what he can do,” Flarida said.

“There was a number of different guys that could have stepped up and won this.

“When you go in there and show, there is so much emotion and so many things going on, I didn’t really know what way it was scoring. “I knew my horse was as good as he could be, he prepared exactly like he showed, and from a horseman’s standpoint when they warm up and they prep just like that, then it makes you really happy.

“Sometimes it doesn’t always go that good, but tonight it was just right. “My game plan was don’t make any mistakes.

“For whatever reason that horse, he knows when show time is. “I don’t know how he knows, but he steps up and he does his job.”

The E.A. Equestrian ■ OCT-DEC 2014

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ermany have claimed both the individual and team eventing gold medals at the World Equestrian Games in Normandy.

Outstanding performances by Sandra Auffarth, Michael Jung, Ingrid Klimke and Dirk Schrade in jumping at the finale of the competition saw German riders securing the full set of titles in the team discipline - Olympic, European and now world gold medals - with a score of 177.9.

Auffarth also took the individual gold, riding on Opgun Louvo, with 52.0. “It’s unbelievable that we are double world champions,” said the London 2012 individual eventing bronze medallist.

“When I first rode Opgun Louvo I didn’t think he was a future champion, but we have taken every level step by step and he’s been fantastic this weekend, really working hard.”

Defending champion Jung won individual silver on fisherRocana FST with 52.3, while Great Britain’s William Fox-Pitt and Chilli Morning took bronze on 54.3. Britain also secured the team silver medal on a score of 198.8 with the help of a great clear round from Zara Phillips and High Kingdom, but Fox-Pitt admitted he was disappointed with his performance that saw Chilli Morning catching the second fence with his front legs.

“Of course I’m frustrated, but I’m probably lucky not to have had two fences down,” he said. “I’ve never ridden a stallion at any decent level before. “He’s a real worker and trier, and he’s a rare commodity. “I’m very proud of him and it’s great for his future as a sire.”

The Netherlands clinched the team bronze with 246.8 the nation’s first ever medal at World Championship level.

“This means more than you can possibly imagine,” Andrew Heffernan said on behalf of his Dutch team-mates.

“We came here with one goal, which was to qualify for Rio, and not only have we done that but we’ve had a fantastic experience. “It’s our first world medal, so watch out the rest of the world.” The top six nations - medallists Germany, Britain and The Netherlands, plus France, Australia and Ireland - have all secured qualification for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

— insidethegames.biz

Brits mourn Wild Lone The British delegation mourned the loss of Wild Lone, the horse ridden by Harry Meade into 25th place with 26.4 time penalties, which collapsed and died after the finish at the World Equestrian Games. “Harry is a close friend of mine and it’s hard to celebrate much,” Fox-Pitt said. “It was the hardest terrain I’ve ridden, because the ground was very soft and the course demanding, but Chilli [Morning] gave me a lovely ride. “There are not many eventing stallions who would keep trying for you like that and I’m very proud of him.” Meade insisted the cross-country course played no part in Wild Lone’s death. Action continues tomorrow with the jumping phase of the competition. Contact the writer of this story at emily.goddard@insidethegames.bizcond place and are within three jumping fences of the leaders after today’s cross-country round.

Sports Roundup

Defending champions retain CBA Africa Concours d’elegance titles at racecourse

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oth the defending car champion Phoenix Aviation with a 1928 Ford Tudor and the motorcycle counterpart Sati Jabbal who rode around the judging ring on his 1925 DKW retained their CBA Africa Concours d’Elegance titles. While Sati remained unchallenged throughout the day from the commencement of motorcycle judging to the final bike class the podium places for the cars were hotly contested.

Halfway through the day Sati Gata-Aura set the benchmark for cars with his 1977 Nissan 160J registering 273 points to win the up to 1600cc touring car class and take the lead. In addition to his class victory, Gata Aura had the satisfaction of finishing third overall. He also won the Nairobi Wine Gallery costume prize and the coveted Victor Ludorum award.

TUSKER LAUNCHES TWENDE GAME CAMPAIGN

One of the pre-event favourites Diccon Wilcock captured the up to 1600cc sports car class in his MG TD equaling Sati Gata Aura’s score. As his 1951 MG TD was made earlier than the Nissan Wilcock moved to the front.

The 1928 Ford Tudor was the last car to be driven to the Total Quartz inspection ramp capturing the attention of the crowded Nairobi Racecourse grandstands. The vintage Ford was awarded 279 points to capture first place in the pre-1940 class and the top prize. John Wroe’s 1930 Ford Tudor took second in the class with Simon Fisher’s 1934 Alvis Firefly in third spot.

Although Herman Zapp and his family from Argentina only finished fifth in the class with their 1928 Graham Paige they received the loudest applause.

Tusker has launched a sport driven campaign called Twende Game that celebrates the Kenyan sports fan and drives support for football and rugby clubs. Tusker has adopted a nostalgic approach by enlisting the star power of Harambee Stars legends Joe Kadenge (top), George Sunguti, Josephat Murila, Tobias Ocholla and rugby star Lavin Asego for the campaign that seeks to highlight the key milestones throughout the history of both sports.

“Tusker has played a major role in the development of football and rugby which have provided memorable moments for Kenyans. Our brand is synonymous with the good times these iconic players have given us and it’s only appropriate that they are now the face of Twende Game,” said Tusker Marketing Manager Antony Esyalai.

WELSH WARRIORS LIFT MAIDEN SAFARICOM SAFARI SEVENS SEVENS TITLE AT KASARANI Debutants Welsh Warriors lifted a maiden Safaricom Safari Sevens with a Tact fully fought 24-17 win over Argentina in the final at Safaricom Stadium, Kasarani on Sunday. The Warriors were caught cold by Argentina, going 7-0 down courtesy of Segundo Tuculet’s converted try before Sam Isaacs unconverted effort cut the deficit to 7-5. A Ramiro Finco effort saw the Argentines take a 12-5 lead into the breather.

When Alex Muller (later declared the tournament’s Most Valuable Player) touched down, Argentina seemed to be coasting as they lead 17-5 but this instead set the stage for a remarkable Welsh Warriors turnaround, Rob Coote grounding to bring the scores to 17-10 and when England Sevens star Matt Turnerscored and converted his own try, the sides were all square at 17-17. Mike Muller scored the decisive try, Turner converting to ensure the 24-17 result for the Warriors.Top Fry Samurai claimed third place with a 31-26 extra time result over Western Province.

EQUESTRIAN WRITER OSCAR PILIPILI DIES

Oscar Pilipili, who was a sports writer for The Standard Group, died on September 9 in Nairobi after battling with an ailment. Oscar died at the prime age of 43 having worked for The Standard since 1998. He was a versatile writer who specialised in polo, horse racing, show jumping, cricket, hockey and volleyball. His remains were interred in his Khayega home in Kakamega County on September 20. Our thoughts are with his widow Janet and daughter Gloria. Rest in Peace!

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The E.A. Equestrian ■ OCT-DEC 2014

Down Memory Lane

Rose Caldwell’s Memoirs

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ne of the big features of show jumping in the olden days was the characters, both equine and human, and the tremendous partnerships riders had with their horses.

Everyone had their own styles as there hadn’t been anyone to teach us. I think we must have all been pretty fearless and this communicated through to the horses and they jumped what they were pointed at no matter what the height and width of the jumps. Also so many people had just one ‘horse of a lifetime’ and those horses would jump for so many years. There was a great bonding between horse and rider.

One great partnerships which springs to mind was Maria Hart on Proud Command who our Proud Command Competitions are named after. Proud Command was a rangy thoroughbred who would only jump for Maria who rode in a bowler hat with an old fashioned seat and slipped her reins after every jump. They were always in the money and their unique style of performing kept going in the big competitions for many years.

March Piper on No Change was another amazing combination. March was tiny and No Change was huge and even his most ardent admirers could only describe him as common.

Tiny little March jumped him in a cavesson noseband with two reins and such was his complete trust in her that he obeyed her every signal. March produced many other horses but No Change was her most famous.

Mike Dowler was another successful rider.

He only ever produced two horses, Country Girl and her subordinate Country Man. Mike took his riding very seriously and because he was nervous in front of crowds he started a band with his syces called “The Shambalanders” in order to get used to performing in public. It was a great band and many was the party we enjoyed dancing to it. Mike and Country Girl had a great empathy and, as was the case in those days, had their own individual style of jumping but were always in the line-up in the big competitions. Because he was so very serious about his jumping he was fair game for constant leg pulling which he took with his usual cheerfulness.

Another renowned pair was Inspector Ronald Kiptanui from the ASTU on his little horse Champion. They were an amazing couple and won the Championship of Kenya on more than one occasion. They were always beautifully turned out and Champion, who was very small, sailed over all the big jumps. One sight that still lives in my memory was Ronald in full dress uniform carrying his sword and heading the parade of horses before the Championship with Champion a shining ball of muscle prancing proudly at the head of the parade.

Another favourite couple were Robin Davis and Knockabout who were extremely similar.

They were both rather untidy country types.

Robin again had his own style which suited Knockabout and they were both quite fearless and reached Grade A and were always in the prize giving shake up.

The E.A. Equestrian ■ OCT-DEC 2014

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An unorthodox and untidy pair was Arthur Brown from Tanzania on Sir Jack, who was bred from a local stallion who produced polo ponies but apart from Sir Jack none of his progeny would jump – Sir Jack proved the exception.

They used to sail into the arena flat out, both rather small with arms, legs, tail and mane flying in all directions. They were hard to beat.

James Cullen will be remembered for his great partnership with Demi John – a grey thoroughbred who under James’s bold riding was a Grade A and Champion of Kenya. Once when James had lost a job in Nakuru he rode Demi John with his dog the 200 kms to where we lived in Loisaba. He slept in grave yards or wherever he could find a safe spot with Demi John attached to his arm throughout the night.

It took a long time but they eventually arrived tired and hungry but none the worse for their big safari.

Jo Mills and Pinolo were another pair of characters. Jo bought Pinolo and gave him to his then girlfriend, but then Jo met Jan and, as the relationship broke up, the girlfriend made Jo buy Pinolo back! Jo and Pinolo started from scratch and reached Grade B and were Reserve Champion of Kenya. However Pinolo had one big idiosyncrasy. He had been abused by a drunken syce and if Jo had drunk even so much as a mouthful of beer he couldn’t get near him let alone mount him which ensured that we always had a very sober Jo Mills competing.

Alice Mowbray Brown was an eccentric lady who had taken up show jumping rather late.

Down Memory lane

She had a similar excitable black mare called Golden Bills (known as Golden Balls) who would go flat out and jump anything she was pointed at. Alice was not very brave and had to have a few strong drinks to give her the courage to compete. One floodlit show jumping night she sailed into the arena flat out, left everything up and roared out beaming only to be told “bad luck Alice, you are eliminated for jumping the triple bar (which was huge) the wrong way!”

Inger Magius was our chief dressage judge and rider. She was skinny and untidy and so were her horses who were just country breeds. I do remember her filling in between classes riding her two dressage horses standing on their bare backs.

Amber May was a very tough lady who took riding safaris up to the snowline on Mt. Kenya. Her ponies were also tough home breds. Blue Car was a chunky black 14.3. He would come down off the mountain and be put on the train and sent to Jamhuri. He was a Grade A and got over the jumps somehow, usually with a huge cat jump from a slow pace.

He worked out the height of the fence and cleared it with a big effort.

Amber expected him to jump everything so he did.

Other partnerships that come to mind were Chris McCrae, a small person on a big Kings Lane. Sue Alleyne on another sturdy mare Matilda. Valerie Limb on Lunar Lad, a race horse who took part in the odd race in between competitions and showing classes without turning a hair. Judy Maddison, badly crippled by polio, on Djinnesta, an imported Connemara. Judy had very little use of one leg but they made a perfect partnership flying over all the big jumps. Djinnesta with her flowing mane and tail was a lovely sight to see. Judy with her charming smile was a great competitor who never complained and was always ready to help others.

One of our much loved oldies was Auntie Val North, a larger than life lady who had a great eye for a horse and had a very wild youth. One of my lasting memories of her was at one of our camp parties when she had imbibed rather well our camp brew. There was a very small jockey who had joined the party. Val spied him and said “Will someone please catch that little bugger – I want to pick him up and stroke him.” I remember Tony Abercromby Dick saying “He’s a little shy Auntie Val but I am sure

he would love to be picked up and stroked!” The unfortunate jockey took fright and fled. Val said “Darlings, I am behaving simply disbuggerbily but isn’t it gorgeous” One of show jumping’s greatest characters was Uncle Charlie Thompson, the vet from Molo. He had been through the World War and had been a professional boxer and a steeplechase jockey. He had had so many falls both racing and hunting that he made Tristan Voorspuy appear sound. He had virtually no riding muscle left and would compete strapped into the saddle. He competed well into his 70’s and his best known horse was a stallion call Amos. In spite of the fact that Charlie rode with an old fashioned backward seat, Amos jumped his heart out for him and their forte was high jump competitions. I remember him wining with the jump standing at 5’ 6”. Charlie would lean back, slip his reins, and because he didn’t know what fear was, his horses felt the same and jumped everything they were pointed at, although in later life he did have a problem remembering his way.

In the days before Health and Safety were introduced, we didn’t have any medical services so Charlie would act as Doctor as well as Vet. Once when I had a heavy fall the Doctor/Vet was called to assess the damage.

I had to say “Charlie, it is my shoulder that is hurt not my riding muscle!”

He had a great way with horses using many old fashioned remedies which usually worked. He had three wives during his long and amazing career.

An interesting fact about our horses was that they were mostly country breds usually home breds and some of them pretty common but how they could jump. Most of us were self-taught, we didn’t have related distances or technical courses and few of us could see a stride or place our horses. We just rode forward and jumped big jumps with confidence in our horses. We have a different type of show jumper today, beautiful thoroughbreds, imported warm bloods but they don’t move up the grades.

At the SJAK in 1965 we had 21 Grade B and 10 Grade A competing and 16 families in the Family Class. Now we have no Family Class, no Grade B and only 1 Grade A which is sad despite having some very good riders.

Horses, too, do get ulcers

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ose Caldwell delves into sudden high temperatures, ulcers, lymphangitis, azoturia, foot abscesses and sweet itch.

Sudden High Temperature: treatment – give Norodine paste, Catasol and 15 ml injectable bute.

Ulcers: Yes horses do get ulcers! Treat with the human remedy, Omeprazole.

Lymphangitis: Symptoms – very swollen sore leg or legs which can ooze with serum. Horse very sore. Treatment: Give 20 cc Tetracycline for five days. Give 10 cc Colvasone. Give herbal mixture for filled legs.

Avoid too much standing and leave horse out at night if possible. This can recur. Use herbal mix of chives and calendula daily which will prevent it.

Azoturia – See tying up. Treatment: An old fashioned recipe that can help, mix equal quantities of: ordinary salt, salt petre, Epsom salts and put a desert spoon of the mixture in the feed daily.

Foot Abscessers: Symptoms: horse very lame and often points foot.

Treatment: It is important to try and remove abscess from the bottom.

Scrape foot and test for sore spot. If you find a black spot or place, dig until a black fluid comes out. Clean thoroughly with hydrogen peroxide – can poultice at night. Very important to keep hole clean and dry. Plug it with cotton wool to keep clean. If the abscesses is neglected, it will eventually break out at the coronet which is long term. If treated quickly and puss removed, it will soon heal.

Sweet Itch – This is an infection caused by a mite. It can spread from infected stables or posts in the field. Treatment: Ectomin dip and wash

Mama Punda Notes twice weekly, apply vinegar, apply iodine for five days, apply fungicide and alugan mixed as directed for three days, benzyl benzoates.

Aquila shampoo if available. Wet animal, make lather with shampoo, leave 5 minutes, rinse and apply for another four minutes. Rinse thoroughly and repeat every 10 days until condition cleared.

Thrush: Treatment: mix 10 ml iodine in 100 ml water. Dissolve one desert spoon copper sulphate in the mix and apply daily making sure the frog is really clean first. Neat iodine can also be used.

Granulation of wounds or pound flesh: Treatment: apply copper sulphate powder on a piece of lint covered with glycerine. Bandage tightly and leave for 24 hours. Rest for a day, drying it with wound powder. Then apply more copper sulphate as before and continue until granulation reduced.

Snake bite: Treatment: Give antibiotic for five days, give 15 ml antihistamine, give colvasone, wash bite site daily with a strong solution of Epsom salts in water.

Greasy hell: Treatment: apply baby oil twice daily and milking salve.

As a preventive wash hells daily in a bucket of water with half a cup of liquid paraffin and leave to dry on legs. Make sure all mud removed.

Virus infection: Symptoms: high temperatures, listless, off food sometimes coughing and rasping noise in chest. Treatment: Give Catasol and injectable bute to bring temperature down. Give antibiotic to combat secondary infection. In very serious cases, give Chlorampheticol i/v. A two-month foal can have norodine. Nurse very carefully and make sure animal does not get dehydrated.

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The E.A. Equestrian ■ OCT-DEC 2014

Equestrian Profile Davey’s Nomadic Equestrian Life…

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By Georgie Wheeller

or anyone that has ever known what it is to ride a horse with bad teeth, you know what a difference a good equine dentist can make. Luckily for Kenya, we have our very own home-grown dentist in the form of Luke Davey EDT (Equine Dental Technician).

Luke rocks up in his little four by four that takes him across East Africa with his Equine Dental Equipment all year round, smiling, laughing and putting all the horses at their ease. The day he came to my yard he was apologising for his choice of shorts… a colourful Kenyan fabric… “Not my usual dentist uniform”, he laughed, “ the zip just broke on those ones”.. and with that he proceeded to set up his chair, table, equipment and make himself known to my towering Thoroughbred who, as a “Heard A Whisper”, can be a little fussy over who he lets into his box, let alone his mouth! Luke passes the test, in spite of his shorts, and after an initial assessment of the horse’s mouth, he sets to work with his head torch, his calm manner and his power tools.

I ask him if he is happy to talk and work, “I need to just…” was what he replied, with his arm right inside my horse’s mouth… He didn’t talk again until he emerged from the stable, leaving my horse literally smiling. “That’s him finished”.

He is one for concentration. When we did get to chat, Luke’s story is quite an interesting one. He was born in Kenya but moved to Zambia shortly after he was born. There, his father farmed coffee and his mother was a teacher. He spoke of growing up riding naughty ponies on the coffee farm and getting up to no good with his little brother, Kim. They left Zambia

The E.A. Equestrian ■ OCT-DEC 2014

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for Kenya when he was seven, where his father started to work for a company that farmed fruit and veg for export and his mother continued her teaching at Peponi Prep. Luke was sent to Pembroke where he enjoyed all that the school has to offer and moved to ISK for his secondary education in 2002.

He started eventing whilst in his final years at Pembroke and sites his love of the sport growing from that point. It was as an event rider and an ISK sixth former that I first met Luke.

It was at the Sanctuary Farm event, in Naivasha. There was a lot of raucous noise coming from a tent one night and the next day, Luke appeared from this tent, bleary eyed and head shaved…. “They told me I would have to wear a hairnet if I didn’t sort out my hair… so I agreed to let them shave it all off…” When we were reminiscing on the hair debacle, there was some confusion as to whether it had happened in Gilgil event or Sanctuary… “I expect it happened on numerous occasions…” he concluded.

Luke enjoyed camel safaris and rally cars as well as horses in his GAP year. He spoke of his time in Norway “learning how to be a syce” frankly… “I never wanted to work with horses again after it… Safari Boots aren’t waterproof… or not snow proof anyway!”

It was perhaps his passion of horses and determination to “get the small things right to make a big difference” that led Luke to Equine Dentistry. He studied at Hartpury College in the UK, doing a year of Equine Business Management then specialised in Dentistry for the following three years. The course involved theory, practical knowledge and implementation and he was expected to set up a client base in his final year. This he did between the UK and Kenya, where he had connections and friends from his time competing here.

Luke returned to Kenya full time in 2012 and found a core client base in the eventing world, but expanded into polo and racing. This expansion took time, but he tells me that it is now picking up well. Through his friendship with Serena Mason, Luke branched out into Tanzania, treating a burgeoning market and he now travels to Burundi, Uganda and Rwanda looking after the dentistry needs of a variety of equines.

“It’s grand fun… I get to work with horses and I don’t have to look after them.. its very satisfying.. I get to fix little things that make a big difference”. “Do you ever get bitten, Luke?” I ask, as my horse begins to look as though he may be “looking for a carrot”… “Nah.. You learn how to avoid that!”

Luke is now working with other Kenyan Equestrian Professionals to set up an educational, service based association including equine physios, coaches, and equine behavioural specialists. Nomad Equestrian looks set to cater for all our East African Equestrian needs.. and more. From a young lad shaving his head in a tent… he has come along way and we are lucky to have him.

Regional News

Flame Tree Stables: Pride of Ugandan Equestrian

Enzo Mounier on Socks and Dia Haidara on Southern Star doing cross country inside the Flame Tree stables outside Kampala. Inset; Miranda Bowser on Geronimo.

There is a beautifully-kept sand arena two jumping arenas and a very smart cross country course weaving its way through the trees and down to the swamp where Miranda Bowser, the brain child of the stables, has built a very impressive water complex, reports Val Corr

Situated a 45-minute drive through some hair raising traffic from the centre of Kampala, off the main road and down a little dirt road through a busy village, nestles Flame Tree Stables, the brain child of Miranda Bowser. The reason for the name is obvious when you drive through the gate into a beautiful 25 acres, which is well forested and it is immediately obvious that there are many Flame Trees dotted through the paddocks and trees.

I arrived there early in the morning and it was clear that this was a very busy establishment. There is a beautifully-kept sand arena (despite some extremely heavy overnight rain, the arena was perfectly well-drained and useable early the next morning), two jumping arenas and a very smart cross country course weaving its way through the trees and down to the swamp where Miranda has built a very impressive water complex. There are plenty of cleared paths in the forest to hack through and where the bird life is absolutely

stunning – we even saw a very large black snake snuggled up and fast asleep in the fork of a tree!

From 8.30 am throughout the day, the pupils just kept coming. Miranda and her three fabulous instructors Robin, Jackson and John were teaching all ages of riders, from some very small children to quite accomplished adults. I was seriously impressed by the quality of horses available – all of them were in wonderful condition, the tack was of top quality and all the horses were well schooled and going happily ‘on the bit’ – not at all what is usually found in riding schools.

There was a horse for every standard of rider and some very nice ponies.

The stables are big and airy, the paddocks are clean, the staff were friendly and from where I was sitting, it seemed as though this was the ‘in place’ to hang out at, a very nice picnic table under an enormous Jack Fruit Tree, while parents and spouses waited for their children or ‘other half’ to enjoy a 45

25

minute lesson.

Miranda works tirelessly through most of the day ensuring that all her clients and horses are catered to in a most professional way – some of her clients drive 2 hours to ride. So, next time you see all those lovely “Uganda ponies” at a Nairobi horse show, remember that these animals travel a minimum of 14 hours to get to a show and always arrive looking a million dollars.

Uganda was a real eye opener for me (I haven’t been there since 1965) and if you think the traffic in Kenya is bad, you have seen nothing! Multiply our boda boda’s by 100 and you will have some idea of what drivers (and there are a lot of them) have to contend with. They are like swarms of locusts and they appear to do exactly as they please!

The equine enthusiasts in Uganda are certainly very fortunate to have such a wonderful establishment from which to enjoy their sport.

The E.A. Equestrian ■ OCT-DEC 2014

www.hillcrest.ac.ke

Think different Be different 26

Schools’ celebs

Hillcrest hosts top Sevens rugby players as The Banda riders reign

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ver the summer holidays The Banda pupils have been making the most of a very busy equestrian calendar. They have taken part in various Polo tournaments, horse shows, Pony Club Camp and even an eventers training week in Sweden.

Among those who excelled were Tom and Ben Stonewig, Megan Griffiths, Izzy (2), Lochie (3), Archie and Jamie Stichbury, Luca Hutchison, Zoe and Ella Cheffings, Amy and Isla Grammaticas (left), Jessie Viljeon Hamish Hobbs and Finn Grammaticas.

During the Safaricom Safari Sevens rugby tournament (Sep 26-28) The Hillcrest International Schools brought excitement with the Australian and New Zealand 7s teams training there in preparation for the event. The students and pupils were all given a chance to practice with the teams, furthering Hillcrest’s already strong sporting reputation and were all quite star-struck (picture 4).

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The E.A. Equestrian ■ JUL-SEP 2014

Equestrian tips

Pilates for horse riders

By Natalie Hall Class Times: Monday: Karen Surgery at 8:30am Monday: Purdy Arms out on the garden at 5.30pm Tuesday: Private classes available Wednesday: Karen Surgery at 10am Thursday: Purdy Arms out on the garden at 5:30pm

it is important that your body functions to the best of its ability. It is also vital that you ride your horse in a biomechanically helpful way which develops his training mentally and physically, to ensure that the money you spend on his welfare is not wasted.

Through carefully selected exercises and programmes in group classes or one-to-one sessions, Natasha Frost can help you develop your body into a more balanced, more co-ordinated, more elegant, more efficient and functionally stronger version of itself; you can make more difference to your riding than you ever thought possible!

Sometimes trainers struggle to correct their client’s positions because the root cause is not addressed; this can be frustrating for trainer.

Natasha Frost Natasha (left) started her Pilates training in 1993 at New World School of the Arts, Miami Florida where she studied Dance and began studying the Pilates mat work twice a week for two years. After graduating and moving back to her island home of Jamaica in 1998, she built and opened with her partners, Jamaica’s first Pilates and Yoga studio called Afya, where she managed and taught Pilates for two years. It was during this time that Natasha began her training under Master teacher David Brown from New York. David trained under Kathy Grant, who was trained by Joseph Pilates himself. David has been and still is a leader of his field as well as a truly dynamic instructor who runs his own program out of his own studio in Hudson, New York.

Natasha later moved to East Africa and amongst other hospitality work, trained further with David Brown once again certifying for the Reformer work in New York in 2004. She has taught Pilates in Nairobi for the last seven years and is currently teaching at Karen Studios and Purdy Arms Gardens, as well as teaching privately from her home studio on her Reformer Pilates machine.

Working with the body and asking it to perform a task that is challenging and sometimes seemingly beyond reach, is an area Natasha has had a lot of experience in because of working as a professional dancer for years.

The challenge with working with the body truly lies within the mind.

Contrology as Pilates called his method is all about mind over body and retraining the body to work in alignment with a healthy posture and balanced muscle system incorporating stretches that enhance flexibility. Pilates himself pulled from Yoga, Martial Arts, and Gymnastics to develop his method. This combination of exercises helps us get rid of bad habits that have formed over the years in our bodies and reintroduces healthy ones. For Natasha, this is the core of what Pilates does. It gives you an extension on your life. It takes away back pain, helps with joint pains, as well as slows down any developing arthritis and scoliosis. Natasha has taught teenagers to the elderly that have never exercised before, men and women, injured as well as perfectly healthy athletes.

Pilates can be done as long as you have breath in your lungs.

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our position has huge impact on the way your horse can move underneath you. Your spinal alignment influences every aspect of your riding, from where your legs are positioned on the horse’s sides to how you can apply a half halt aid.

Biomechanical restriction affects your ‘loading’, or weight distribution. If your weight is unevenly distributed over both sides of the horse, perhaps loaded forward or back of the vertical line of gravity or you find it more difficult to turn your body one way compared to the other (or all of those things!) your body will be giving signals to the horse to move in a certain way, even if you aren’t aware of it. Even tiny deviations have an impact on how you and your horse work together.

Sometimes trainers struggle to correct their client’s positions because the root cause is not addressed; this can be frustrating for trainer, rider and horse! People sometimes struggle for years with exactly the same issues; specialist knowledge of human anatomy and movement and how you use your body whilst riding, plus how the horse influences you is required to make the necessary changes. Encouraging length and the release of tension in tight, overworking muscles and awakening correct function in weak, underworking ones promotes correct muscle balance and symmetry in your alignment.

Many riders spend a fortune on having their horses treated by the physio/chiropractor, their saddles checked and refitted regularly and yet are unaware of the huge impact their own riding has on their horse’s ability to move freely and whether the treatment of the physio/chiro/saddlefitter is effective on a long term basis. As one half of the partnership,

The E.A. Equestrian ■ JUL-SEP 2014

28

— Natalie Hall is an English teacher and Equestrian instructor at the Banda School

www.magicalkenya.com ;

@magicalkenya.com @magicalkenya The E.A. Equestrian â– OCT-DEC 2014 29

Soysambu Camp

By Georgie Wheeler

T

his year a convoy of young riders headed to the wide open space of Soysambu with their mounts to learn, progress, be challenged and have fun at Nairobi Pony Club Camp.

The new x country course built and designed by a combination of Lou Rose, Rachel Robley and the British Course builder, Giles Fouracres, was obviously a highlight and riders were able to take advantage of the challenging but well constructed course, tackling fences they have never tackled before and doing so with the bonus of support and camaraderie from their peers and mentors.

The best bit about being somewhere like Soysambu with horses is the lake. Lake Elementaita, with its Hippos and Buffalo, provided the

perfect place to gallop through the low water’s edge and some lucky riders even swam bareback with their horses… a truly memorable and fun thing to do.

The “Après Riding” was a great deal of fun with discos, BBQs, quizzes and the compulsory dunking in the water trough all indulged in with great spirit.

A great deal of organisation goes into camp and the hard work of parents, syces, hosts and the coaches is to be applauded. I am sure everyone is looking forward to next year!

Nairobi Pony Club would like to add that they are going to be running more rallies in the Karen area. Starting with an U10s mini rally, BBQ and Swim on the 29th November.

Anybody wishing to join the Pony Club or attend any rallies should contact Sarah Trent (strentkenya@gmail.com)

Nairobi Pony Club

Camp on the shores

of Elementaita

The E.A. Equestrian ■ OCT-DEC 2014

30

Equestrian Links

Racehorse or Warmblood ?

By Georgie Wheeler

just for a bit more grunt and bone.

The RoR (Rehabilitation of Racehorses) showing series over here in the UK has become really difficult to compete in as recently, judges will favour more well known horses over those who perform better.

Laura Keeley Equestrian I would speak to Diamonds in the Rough dressage, they are wiping the floor with warm bloods in affiliated dressage on their ex race ponies x” So what are your thoughts? TB with a big heart that will do anything for you but, arguably, with less natural ability, or Warmblood with scope and power that has natural scope and shape? Perhaps, like anything, it is down to personal choice and individual horses. I have ridden stubborn awkward and strongly wilfull Warmbloods who, inspite of their raw ability had no heart and no love of their job. I have equally sat on the most willing, beautifully moving Warmbloods, whose heart matched their scope.

Personally I find the lightness of the TB, and the challenge of taking something from nothing to something great hugely rewarding, thrilling and I would not swap my TB for a warmblood… not unless it was exceptional. Asking around there are many who would agree that you cannot beat a Throughbred with a big heart. However, some want more scope and with a Warmblood you will certainly get that.

There is also the issue of soundness to bare in mind if you are lucky enough to have a choice of what to ride out here. Keeping an ex racehorse sound is just as hard as keeping a heavy warmblood sound no thanks to the Kenyan hard ground but at least you ought to know what you are getting in a baby warmblood… unlike the unknown and occasional hidden weaknesses in an ex racehorse that sometimes rears its head.

There certainly are some lovely warmbloods appearing thanks to the likes of Anya DuToit, Alit Manor, Lou Rose, and Lindsay Calder to name a few. These movers in the East African Equestrian scene have either bred or imported (or both) warmbloods from South Africa and Europe.

That said, there are some excellent ex racehorses also performing very well, with Sarah Trent’s dressage gelding Polestar performing beautifully and the beautiful movers that come from the Pochard or Heard a Whisper sires such as Crimson Wing (Pochard)with Antonia Elwes or Cornerstone (Heard A Whisper) with Jill Phipps .

As with most things it comes down to finance but I, for one, enjoy the challenges an ex racehorse presents and getting one going makes me tick.

However, there is no disputing the movement and natural jump of a good Warmblood. Horses for courses! Oh! and do check out the Diamonds in the Rough links below.. truly remarkable.

With new links forming between British “Born and Bred Equestrian Young Riders” and our own HAK, Pony Clubs and Kenyan Schools Equestrian Association, I thought it might be interesting to ask the key players in the scheme about a key issue that is hot out here in the equestrian world and let you all know what they say… Below is a copy of the facebook conversation that took place… I like to call this conversation …

How do you like your horse…Hot or Warm?

“Me: So... if you are looking for a challenge and a different look on things.. how about taking a horse off the track? I would love to hear your thoughts and reactions to this... as more and more people in Kenya are importing Warmbloods from South Africa, Zimbabwe and Europe… I am looking at writing an article for our magazine out here on what you guys in UK who have pick of any breed are going for and why and how you react to the idea of re-schooling a race horse for competition.

Lici Hawker (Event rider) I love warmbloods with thoroughbred in them! I would possibly think about a flat horse off the track for a project horse to sell to a riding club market but wouldn’t buy one as a top horse unless they are amazing!

Have to say I would never ever use a horse that’s been trained over jumps racing unless they have an exceptional jump over a showjump which is rarer than rare.

I had a selle francias with no thoroughbred, happily makes 2* time but wouldn’t at 3* and I am worried I would break him getting him fit enough. I also have two warmbloods with about a 1/4 thoroughbred who really gallop and find life a lot easier. They are all bred to showjump and if I bought anything else I would go down this route. My full thoroughbred has an exceptional attitude and tries really hard but the raw jump is nothing like as good as the ones with warmblood. He was bought as a cheap project for Riding club home but because his attitude is so good he’s turning into a really good horse but I have had to really work on the sj and in the ring he still needs a bit of help.

Beth Faulkner (polo, showing and Sj) I’ve had a few off the track for showing and riding club and also for polo. We’ve kept only one for showing and he wins everything but has taken a good 18mths/2 years to mature and grow into his job. The polo ponies tend to come round a lot quicker as (usually) they’ve come from quite intense environments and stay on busy yards with lots of work.

I, personally, love Irish bred horses for showing and hunting, that a lot of the time have some thoroughbred in them. For polo I either go for full TB or with a small amount of American/argentine quarter horse in them

Blog of Diamonds in the Rough Dressage: http://horsology.co.uk/category/ diamonds-in-the-rough-dressage/ They are also on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DiamondsintheRoughDressage

Koine at Grid 2

Alit Manor on Burgundy in her early training

31

The E.A. Equestrian ■ OCT-DEC 2014

Calendars The Polo Calendar 2014 is as follows: JCK FIXTURE LIST FOR 2013/14

4th – 5th January

NPC

Nairobi, The Davis Cup

January 5 12 19 26

Guineas

11th – 12th January

NPC

Nairobi, The Maria Bencivenga Trophy

February 2 9 16 23

Fillies

23rd – 25th May

MPC

Gilgil

March 2 9 16 23 30

Soprani

30th May – 1st June

MPC

Gilgil

April 5 13 20 27

Derby Easter

20th – 22nd June

NPC

Nairobi

May 4 11 18 25

Oaks

27th – 29th June

NPC

Nairobi, The Lord Cranworth Trophy

June 1 8 15 22 29

St Leger OBTS

18th – 20th July

NKPC

Timau

July 6 13 20 27

Stewards JCK Stakes

25th – 27th July

NKPC

Timau, The Connaught Cup

14th – 17th August

MPC

Gilgil, The Mug’s Mug

JCK FIXTURE LIST FOR 2014/15 (Part)

22nd - 24th August

MPC

Gilgil

August 3 10 17 24 31

12th - 14th September

NPC

Nairobi, The Kenya International (5-7 goals)

September 7 14 21 28

19th - 21st September

NPC

Nairobi, The Kenya International (10-14 goals)

October 5 12 19 26

Concours

10th - 12th October

NKPC

Timau (4-8 Open)

November 2 09 16 23 30

Craft fair

17th – 19th October

NKPC

Timau

December 7 14 21 28

Craft fair? H.V. Pirie

8th - 9th November

KNPC

Kakira, Uganda

5th - 7th December

MPC

Gilgil, The Manyatta Xmas Tournament

12th - 14th December

MPC

Gilgil, The Manyatta Xmas Tournament

HAK Calendar 2014 May 27th Month Jul

Dates

Shows, FEI

5-6

FEI Jumping Gauntlet

12-13

Silverdale

Clinics/Training Days

Nairobi PC Camp TBC

1st - 4th

Nanyuki Event 1st - 4th

Venue for Shows Jamhuri Park Jamhuri Park

Racing

22-27

Polo/Other

Racing

19-20

Aug

Race Meetings

Timau 18-20th

Timau

Connaught Trophy

Soysambu Nanyuki Club

9-10 14-17

Mugs Mug

Gilgil

23-24

Cavalry Cup

Gilgil

13 -14th

Kenya Int 12-14

Jamhuri Park

20 - 21st

Kenya Int 19-21

Jamhuri Park

30-31 Sep

6-7th

24 /25th Wed/Thur FEI Dressage Challenge

Oct

Jamhuri Park

27 - 28th

NITF

4th - 5th

Andre de Kock Show

Jamhuri Park

11 - 12th

Nov

18 - 19th

Kabete Happening

25 - 26th

Sanctuary Farm Event

1 - 2nd

Sanctuary Farm Event

Dolly 3-5 & 10-12th

Tanzania

Open 10-12

Timau

18 - 20th

Timau Naivasha

Kakira KNPC

Uganda

8 - 9th 15 - 16th 22 - 23rd 29 - 30th Dec

6 - 7th

FEI SJ Challenge?

13 - 14th

HOTYS

15 - 17th

Bridget O’Neill clinics 9 - 12th?

“ Bridget O’Neill clinics?

18 - 21st 27 - 28th

The E.A. Equestrian ■ OCT-DEC 2014

Manyatta Christmas Gilgil 5 - 7th

32

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CONTACT US ON: The EA Equestrian P.O. Box 75772 - 00200,Nyayo Estate, Embakasi, Court 516 House No. 26 NAIROBI The E.A. Equestrian ■ OCT-DEC 2014 33 isaack.omulo@gmail.com Tel: 0721-598999 Email: editor@eaequestrian.co.ke

Club Profile

Started in 1925 with the support from Diana Ewing, Hicks and the Bingleys

P

By Sue Brendon

olo made it first appearance in Kenya at Nairobi in 1905, but it wasn’t until 1910 during the visit of H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught that great stimulus was given to the game ……

In 1921, due to the efforts of Lord Francis Scott, the Kenya Polo Association was formed, at first affiliated to and following the rules of the Indian Polo Association, but after 1925, Kenya became affiliated to and followed the Hurlingham code. The KPA held two tournaments annually.

One, the Connaught and the Cranworth Cups – the former was/is regarded as the Championship of Kenya, the latter for teams with a limited handicap. The second was the Cavalry and McMillan Cups for high and low handicap teams. The former trophy was presented by the officers of the Cavalry Club in London in memory of brother officers who fell in the First World War. The latter is affectionately known as “The Mugs Mug” and draws strong competition. Upcountry clubs had their own competitions and held tournaments for locally presented trophies. There were nearly 15 clubs and the average team handicaps for tournaments were anything from 15 to 18 per team!

In 1959, it was recorded that Kenya had 15 clubs and about that number or tournaments which usually had three sections, being divided into Seniors, Juniors and Mixed (comprising of two ladies and two men).

There were in all some 160 polo players.

Gilgil The original polo ground was near the Army camp, and started in 1925 with the support from Diana Ewing, Hicks and the Bingleys. A strong club, closing in 1930.

Jeff Buxton, Major Reynard and Major Bingley all bought land nearby so as to keep the club going.

In 1932/1933, a new ground was started in Naivasha by Tony Buxton,

The E.A. Equestrian ■ OCT-DEC 2014

who got David Begg interested and playing polo. The Earl of Errol, Major Nicoll and Nick Lee were all players of this Club. Major Reynard, a strong supporter would not employ anyone on his farm unless he played polo or was keen to learn. To school and train his ponies, he employed an ex Indian syce. Naivasha closed in 1947.

Titch Catto (who won the Cowdar Cup in India for pig sticking) started the Kinyatta ground. In those days, polo tournaments paid for the building of clubs – sometimes a tournament would make £350 – equivalent to 700,000 shillings in today’s money. Kato schooled ponies as a means of living. In 1948 there were 24 playing members and in the same year, Kinyatta won every big tournament in the country – 10 senior cups.

The tournament matches were 6 chukkas and it was only during the 1950’s ‘Emergency’ that matches were reduced to 4 chukkas.

Brig John Dew D.S.O., M.C. (Chairman of the club for many years), Digby Thatham-Warter, H.C. Ferguson, Ray Scholes and David Begg are the main names linked to Kinyatta, which was renamed, Manyatta in 1966 due to a Presidential decree.

Excerpt from a KPA ‘Tour of South Africa Polo Team’ Sept to Oct 1951 Brochure: “Kinyatta Polo Club: Eighty miles from Nairobi, with probably the largest playing membership of all the up-country clubs, Kinyatta, though only formed in 1947, has a record of successes in tournaments which can compare with any other club in the Colony. The success is due to the captaincy and match-winning flair of the veteran H.C. Ferguson. Though actually a recent creation, Kinyatta is the offshoot of one of the oldest polo centres in the country, Gilgil. In the early twenties, the Gilgil Polo Club was formed by the Buxton brothers, Geoff and Toby – the latter tried for England – Major, C. Reynard (12th Lancers), and H.C. Ferguson. During 1930, the ground was moved to Naivasha where upkeep owing to the proximity of the Lake was easy, and play, as a rule, possible the whole year round.

34

Club Profile The present Club at Kinyatta has two grounds close to each other, and these, when more mature, should become two of the best in Kenya.

The owner of the land, David Begg, is a keen player and both he and his family are staunch supporters of the club, which, under the Chairmanship of Brigadier J Dew D.S.O., M.C., is assured of success as a polo centre of the future.”

Excerpts from Don Rooken-Smith’s Kenya Polo – Notes & Recollections: “In the late 1940’s Kenya Polo received a terrific boost with the arrival of a great many Soldier Settlers. Most of these were ex-Indian Army & practically all, very good polo players – the contribution they made to our Horsemanship and Polo tactics was immeasurable. Kenya polo was obviously healthy pre-war, and it is also probably in good shape right now, but the 50’s was probably the pinnacle of our Polo.

Kinyatta Club at Gilgil got Gen Bromilow, Titch Catto, and John Dew and further up the road Col Melville (a contemporary of Hurndal’s in the British Army matches), Admiral Steve Arliss settled at Ol Jor orok & played at Ol Kalou. A young Digby Thatham-Warter, of Arnheim fame, bought on Eburru. A great many serving Officers in transit, or Service, played at Kinyatta over the years………..”

The Mug’s Mug was the most sought-after Trophy in Kenya Polo, and was a very handsome solid silver cup for each player, with no standing trophy. It was originally presented by Sir Northrup McMillan as an encouragement to young players with only one pony. It eventually evolved into a 4-chukka match with a team max handicap of 6 and no one player more than 3. I well remember one year when there were 20 teams in the Mugs Mug alone, which we as a Rooken-Smith team were lucky enough to win.

Kinyatta – on David Begg’s farm at Gilgil – the story goes that if you could see the dust rising while on the main road, you knew that polo had started. It says a great deal for the esteem that Bwana Begg was held in, that there was so much polo there. I used to shudder at what a visitor’s first impression might be, as the Club House was just about to fall down and other facilities very primitive, the stabling atrocious and people all over the place, but the 3 polo grounds were always good.

There was possibly more Polo played on these grounds than anywhere else in Kenya, during my time. Bwana Begg must have introduced more people to Polo here than can be recalled. All the Army units were based out of Gilgil in every War & fracas, so a steady stream of soldiers played polo here over the years. Perhaps the best known being Paul Withers based here with the 3rd RHA, and played off a 6 handicap. The Vestey Brothers also played a lot. The original members I recall were David Begg, and his daughters Sheila and Margaret, Hugh Ferguson, Ray and Sue Scholes, Johnnie Nimmo, Ted Nightingale, the Charts, Digby Thatham-Warter, Sandy Pilmer and Lane, Claude Reynard (he of the 100-year old moleskin breeches), the Carnelly’s, Cartwright’s, Coles, Gen Bromilow, Titch Catto, John Dew, the Lees, Robin Savage, and the indefectible Diana Ewing.

In the later years (and after I had left Kenya) Bwana Begg brought on a number of good African players, and the best known, Simon Kuseyo, who played overseas as a pro. No story of Kenya Polo at this time would

be complete without the mention of Arab Boin. He was at every Polo tournament and seemed to be everyone’s cheerful friend. Where he came from or lived, I have no idea. He was by trade a farrier, and must have been injured off a horse at one time, as he walked with a very distinct shuffle, and talked with a “spitting” slur. He was always dressed in the same scruffy garb, and never seemed to vary – a great character.”

One of the recent stars of Manyatta and rising from the Bwana Begg ‘stable’ was Simon Kuseyo, an enthusiastic Masaai who started out as a stable boy, was taught how to ride and showed such a flair for training polo ponies that Bwana Begg coached him how to play polo. Simon went on to achieve global fame playing around the world including UK, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, India amongst other countries. He was unfortunately killed in the 1993 KQ plane crash in West Africa, en-route to play polo in Nigeria. His memory is still held with high esteem with a trophy awarded each year to a current player in Kenya.

After Bwana Begg died, there was a need for a new polo ground to be built. In 1986 it was agreed that a ground be developed in Gilgil.

In 1987, Francis Erskine, together with Barry Gaymer had a ground built on Sanctuary Farm, Naivasha and from 1987 - 89, this was home for where most of Manyatta’s polo was played. In the meantime, Terry Coulson gave the go-ahead for a ground and clubhouse to be built where the current Manyatta Polo Club is today, just outside Gilgil township. Tony Barlow, (with the help of Terry Coulson, Rickie Brendon, Ndume and others) oversaw this project. Terry Coulson sponsored the building of the Club House and the ground was officially opened in September 1989. Manyatta maintained the two ground’s and Club houses up until 1996 when the Sanctuary Farm ground was privatized and has since been swamped by the rising lake waters.

1989 was a successful season – the Club winning nine trophies including the Mug’s Mug and Bwana Begg trophies. Being close to The Anti-Stock Theft Unit, a mounted Police unit, based near Gilgil, the new Manyatta Polo ground attracted four or five players that were taught the game and who, under the guidance of Chief Inspector Ronald Kiptanui played for several years and in several tournaments.

Ronald, together with Corporal Ndondo, reached a very respectable 1 handicap. The club still associates with The Anti-Stock Theft Unit, but unfortunately the enthusiasm to play polo waned with the death of Kiptanui.

Key players during the 1980s were Richard Stone-Wigg and Simon Kuseyo, who both got to a handicap of 5, Gordy Millar and Ian Allen, who played off a handicap of 3, to mention just a few. An old character associated with Manyatta in Bwana Begg’s time was arap Maina. Again an excellent player in his time. Current famous families playing polo at Manyatta include Brendon’s, Barlow’s, GR Millar’s, SW Millar’s; Moi’s; Gaymer; Ngugi’s, Stone-Wigg’s, Limb, Voorspuy’s’, Barclay.

Yesteryear the likes of David Begg, Francis Erskine, Ted Nightingale and Ken Hill played till old age, some well into their 80’s. Ted Nightingale used to use a ladder to climb on his pony and then tie his legs under the saddle to stop him falling off. He only gave up at the age of 82 when his ponies were too old to continue.

Bwana Begge (centre), Kuseyo (second left) and arap Maina (second right)

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The E.A. Equestrian ■ OCT-DEC 2014

Our snapper and Kiran Ahluwalia were at the Manyatta Polo Club, Gilgil, during the Mugs Mug tournament.

1. Lochie Stichbury (11) on Apache; 2. Izzy Stichbury on Little Woman; 3. Harry Stichbury on Levendisa riding off Omwakwe Arungah (both boys are 14 and were playing in their first Mugs Mug; 4. Cruise Control in black (Gideon and Kigen Moi in red hats) and Omwakwe Arungah vs Cammastichie in Samsung pink (Julian and Jennie Camm from Tanzania and Jonathan and Harry Stichbury). The match ended in 3 all draw after the last chukka and the winner was determined with ‘first over the black line’ 5.Grand children of Manyatta pioneers - William Millar, Josh Seagon, Megan Griffiths Ben Stonewigg, Tom Stonewigg; 6.Manyatta Polo Club players (l-r) Megan Grffith, Ben Stonewigg, Sabrina Robley, Josh Seagon and William Millar in action at the Club.

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Pictures taken at the Connaught Cup in Kisima Farm, Timau: 1. Jamie Murray, Raphael Nzomo and Gideon Moi ; 2. Judy Owino and Ivy of Samsung and Nicola Young; 3. Locky Murray (Jamie’s son); 4. Judy, Kigen and Gideon; 5. Hiromi Nzomo, Judy, Kigen Moi, Dominic Grammaticas and Topper Murray; 6. Amani Nzomo, Hiromi Nzomo and Eugene Ngumbao alight from a chopper at the Kisima farm ground in Timau.

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Pictures taken from various equestrian sports across the country 1. Polo fans enjoy the Samsung Galaxy Mug’s Mug tournament at Manyatta Polo Club in August; 2. Elly Jones Perrot on Sultan receiving her prize from Mrs Mary Binks during the Nanyuki Show jumping tournament in July; 3. Terrier racing at the Nanyuki Show jumping; 4. Amber Ahuwalia strikes the ball at Manyatta Polo Club; 5. Silverdale displays her trophy during the show jumping event at Jamhuri Park, Nairobi; 6. Jessie (left) at the Jamhuri Show Jumping meeting;

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Our Photographers were at TheKenya Open International Polo tournament at the Nairobi Polo Club (Sept 12-14, Sept 19-21) and Kenya Tourist Board racing day at Ngong race course (July 20) 1. Samsung Internet and Mobile Director Manoj Changaram Patt (C) with winners Samsung Galaxy S5 team (from left - Mike du Toit, Buster Makenzie, Jonathan Stichbury and Devin Shretta) after winning the first weekend tourney; 2. Baringo senator Gideon Moi and Samsung Electronics East Africa Chief Operating Officer Robert Ngeru during the second weekend; 3. Veuve Clicquot beauities Sharon Wahu and Sarah Awuor (right) display their products; 4. Peroni beauties Alice Waweru (from left) Celine Mwangi, Christine Kamau and Rosemary Wanjiru; 5. Hiromi Nzomo displays her trophies after being voted most valuable player during the first weekend of the Kenya Open; 6. Kenya Tourist Board managing director Muriithi Ndegwa presents the winners trophy to Mim Haynes; 7. Mr Ndegwa, Ms Haynes, Jockey Lesley Sercombe and a trainer 8. Principal Secretary for Commerce and Tourism Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed, Mr Ndegwa and Jockey Club of Kenya Director Mr. John Sercombe compare notes; 9. Kenya Tourism Federation chairperson Lucy Karume (right) and KTB intern Beryl Akoth.

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Picture of the Quarter

As Seen on DStv/SuperSport

Cindy Voorspuy, Tal Manor, Katie Bowser, Venitia Phillips and Myra Malina during the Kenyan Town plate amature race in July 2014.

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Johannesburg, South Africa: Warehouse #1 Foreign Airlines Terminal O.R Tambo International Airport Tel: +27113903132 Fax: + 27 1186616287 The E.A. Equestrian â– OCT-DEC 2014 46 Email: jeremy@aero-link.co.za

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The Equestrian ■ Sept- DEC 2013

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