Showing handler of the month

ADRIAAN DRESCHER

TEXT: TARRYN STEBBING

PHOTOGRAPHY: MERLYNN TRICHARDT

Adriaan’s interest in horses began seven years ago when he met partner JJ Kemp. He progressed quickly in his riding, showing a natural mannerism around horses and soon developing a passion for the show ring! Together with JJ, Adriaan has turned horses out to perfection and he has certainly mastered his skills as a handler in the in-hand classes.

We put a few questions to Adriaan and here’s what he told us:

WHAT IS YOUR TOP TIP FOR IN-HAND SHOWING?

Always makes sure that the horse and handler are turned out ‘to a T’ as it creates a great first impression.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE BREED TO SHOW?

I don’t have a specific breed. I enjoy showing off any well conformed, quality horse in show condition.

A PULLED OR PLAITED TAIL?

Always pulled.

PLEASE COMPLETE THE SENTENCE: “NEVER WOULD I EVER (IN THE SHOW RING)...”

Never would I ever lose my temper in the show ring.

I always try and stay calm and collected and make the best out of every experience. It is not always about the win. A calm and friendly handler creates a calm horse. Your nerves transfer to the horse ten-fold and can make an already stressful situation far worse for the horse. Remain calm!

ARE YOU A STALLION, GELDING OR MARE MAN AND WHY?

Stallions. I enjoy their spunky ‘look at me’ factor! Their natural gleaming coat is the best advantage in the show ring.

YOUR LIFE MOTTO OR A QUOTE THAT YOU LIVE BY?

I would like to share with you three cardinal rules for sustainability and longevity...

1: Surround yourself with people whose eyes light up when they see you.

2: Slowly is the fastest way to get where you want to be.

3: And the most important one is to remember that the top of one mountain is the bottom of the next, so keep climbing.

?DID YOU KNOW

THE FIRST EVIDENCE WE HAVE OF HORSES BEING DEPICTED IN ARTWORK IS THE PREHISTORIC CAVE PAINTINGS IN THE LASCAUX CAVES IN FRANCE, AND OTHER LOCATIONS. THE LASCAUX CAVE PAINTINGS ARE ESTIMATED TO BE 16,000 YEARS OLD. 24 HQ|158A

DID YOU KNOW?

The Appaloosa’s coat colour is the combination of a base colour with an overlaid spotting pattern. The recognised base coat colours are: Bay Dark bay/brown Black Buckskin Grulla Dun Palomino Chestnut Gray Cremello/Perlino Bay roan Blue roan Red roan

The spots overlay darker skin and are often surrounded by a halo. The skin next to the spot is also dark, but the overlying hair coat is white.