Show Rider of the Month

DAWN NEWMAN

TEXT: TARRYN STEBBING (NATIONAL CANDIDATE SHOWING JUDGE)

Dawn is based in the Western Cape. She is an Open Showing Rider and has represented the Western Cape numerous times in our South African Showing Nationals. She competes in Small Tour in Dressage and is a National Level Showing Judge.

Besides having a consistently good year in the ring on her beautiful horse Callaho Lincoln, she was crowned Supreme Showing Champion at this year’s South African Showing Championships 2021 held at Mistico Equestrian Centre in the Western Cape.

I chatted to Dawn and asked her a few quick questions:

WHAT IS YOUR TOP TIP FOR SHOWING?

My top tip for showing and for every other discipline is to be prepared! Arrive at the venue with plenty of time to spare; write a list of the things you need to pack for the show and pack your car the night before; put your clothes out the night before; and get all your trucking gear ready so that on the morning of the event everything runs like clockwork. You are bound to be nervous, and prior preparation just gives you one less thing to worry about.

WHICH IS YOUR FAVOURITE CLASS TO COMPETE IN?

I absolutely love the show riding class; it is always the strongest class and attracts the most competitors. The horses are flashy, need to be well-schooled, and the test needs to be a bit more complex than the show hack test, for example. The horses that I ride generally fall into this category.

DO YOU PREFER A PULLED OR PLAITED TAIL?

If you asked me six months ago, I would have said plaited, but I have become a converted pulled tail fan! It always looks neat both in the show ring and outside, and I’m a bit of a neat freak, so this works for me.

NEVER WOULD I EVER (IN THE SHOW RING)...

Give up or give in; I fight until the bitter end – you may be pulled into line last and end up winning the class. You can never be sure of the result until the final rosette has been handed out.

IF I AM NOT ON A HORSE I AM...

Working hard as the Chief Revenue Officer at Kuda Insurance (also my main sponsors); shopping with my sister, Lisa (we deserve national colours for this!); and spending time with my precious nieces.

YOUR LIFE MOTTO OR A QUOTE THAT YOU LIVE BY?

Unless you believe in yourself, nobody else will believe in you.