HQ Magazine Issue 163C

Hello, and welcome to this bumper edition of HQ Magazine!

Filled to the brim with content, this edition REALLY has to have something for everyone!

From interviews with top riders, including Ryan Wallbridge and Jenna Odell (nee Barrow), to a deep dive into the genetic power of the mare through Callaho Cassina and a brief chat about the role of the farrier for foals, we really span the whole range of equestrian interests.

We’re thrilled to welcome 334 Sporthorses to the magazine. Their horses have been lighting up the showjumping arenas for some time now, but introducing them formally here gives us great pleasure. It’s wonderful to learn about the inspiration behind their stud, Wolke 334, and their plans going forwards. We wish them the very best for the future!

We’re also delighted to bring you the second instalment of our brand-new feature HQ Pro. If you like this content, follow us on Instagram and Facebook to see much, much more in the coming weeks and months.

We really hope you enjoy this issue and would love to hear from you if you have any suggestions for stories or articles in upcoming editions. We love hearing from readers, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Until next time, keep warm and happy horsing!

Dr Lizzie Harrison | Editor

Lizzie and the HQ team xxx

CONTENTS

Staying at the Top

The key to consistent success in showjumping

334 Sporthorse Stud

An introduction

The Callaho Online Auction

Winter Edition

The Genetic Power of the Mare

Callaho’s Cassina

iPharma Callaho Conrado

On a fast-track to the top

Callaho Liberty Lord Cassini and Jenna Odell

Winners of the Shongweni Grand Prix

Ryan Wallbridge

Passion and determination will go the distance

The KPC League

A festival of fun

A quick catch-up

With Jamie Alexander

HQ Pro

WBFSH Top 10 Sire Rankings

2022 for Dressage

Paris 2024

Understanding Olympic Qualification

Groundwork Part 7

Yield the forequarters with a direct feel

Magnawave

Sasha Chelin Physiotherapy introduces this new therapy to South Africa

Farriers and foals

Quick fire questions with Stephen Blakey

Crucial conformation Part 6

The jaws and teeth, mouth and muzzle, nostrils and throatlatch

Products We Love

Shopping fun

BRINGING

Ronnie Healy and Capital Magic Boy - Winner 2023 Stokkiesdraai FEI World Cup Qualifier CSI-W 1*

THE KEY TO CONSISTENT SUCCESS IN SHOWJUMPING

Not just reaching the summit, but thriving there - unveiling the secret of sustained success!”

In the world of showjumping, reaching the pinnacle of success is a remarkable achievement on its own, but the true measure of greatness lies in the ability to maintain that position and achieve consistent triumphs over time. At Capital Stud, we take immense pride in our horses’ remarkable journeys, not just in reaching the 1.50m classes but standing strong at that level for many years, consistently claiming podium spots. As we reflect on our journey as breeders and celebrate our horses’ achievements, we want to delve into the secrets behind consistent success in showjumping.

Ronnie Healy and Capital Magic BoyWinner 2023 Stokkiesdraai FEI World Cup Qualifier CSI-W 1*

A JOURNEY OF TRIUMPHS

Over the past years, Capital Stud has witnessed numerous moments of triumph and glory. Credit must go to the incredible teams behind our horses who put in tireless work and dedication, to ensure our talented athletes perform at their best, time and time again, allowing them to get to the top and remain there.

Bronwyn Meredith Dos Santos and Capital Levubu - 3rd Maple Ridge United Aviation Group Riders Grand Prix 2023

THE PATH TO CONSISTENCY

1. VISION AND FORESIGHT

As breeders, our ultimate aim has always been to achieve the coveted consistency of producing top-tier showjumping horses year after year. Casting a glance back at our first auction just over five years ago, we are reminded of the dreams we nurtured and the goals we set. Today, we stand proud of the progress we have made and the path we continue to traverse. Our commitment to this journey remains unwavering as we strive for excellence every step of the way.

2. FOUNDATION WORK, CONSISTENCY, AND DISCIPLINE

Success is reward for effort.

Cian O’Connor - Karlswood

Recently, during an enlightening clinic with the esteemed Karlswood’s Michael Kelly, we were reminded of the paramount importance of foundation work, consistency, and discipline in training our athletes. Instilling the basics and these qualities is not only instrumental in propelling our horses to the very top but, more importantly, in keeping them there. Michael’s invaluable insights have strengthened our resolve to continue to focus on the fundamentals we already know have served us well to date. Furthermore, his emphasis on being truly committed to rider discipline, striving for nothing less than perfection, managing our emotions, and honing our practice of the simplest elements has reminded us again that a horse, no matter the quality, can’t forge a remarkable equine partnership alone. The most dedicated riders, who put in the effort time and time again, will be the ones who get the results.

Producing

quality horses with unwavering dedication, coupled with countless hours of getting the basics right, stands as the cornerstone of our path to success.

Foundation work in young horses is not only good for their physical development but plays a big role in their mental development. Slowly teaching a young horse the basics ensures that the horse knows what is expected, reducing the likelihood of misunderstandings. Basics like extension and collection are skills needed to navigate jumping courses so teaching them these skills over pole work is fundamental to establishing con dence and consistency. If they can’t do these simple skills over poles they are not ready to jump tracks. -

Nicole Horwood, Capital Stud Team

Nicole Horwood and Capital Night Star - Winners United Aviation Group’s Diamond Grand Prix Tour 2022

3. INVESTING IN YOUR PARTNERSHIP

Of course, the right horse is essential in ascending to the top levels, and staying consistent there. We pride ourselves on breeding from the world’s best bloodlines to ensure the horses we provide to the showjumping community are made for the top and have the genetics to stay there.

We’ve had quality results at every show over the last year, including podiums in every single national show. The results say it all - our investment in quality horses, from proven international lines, and the dedicated production of these youngsters, have paid off. Our horses arrive in the big classes, and dominate – not once but time after time.

Excitingly, the quality of horses we are producing has not gone unnoticed overseas, where reaching the big classes and remaining there is the number one prize. With Capital Night Star bidding farewell to our SA podiums, we feel overwhelming excitement about his next chapter internationally. We have no doubt that his journey is just beginning, and greatness is really written in his stars.

Truly understanding your horse is the most important key to success, there is nothing more important than respecting time and having patience” - Hendrik von EckermannCurrent World Number One.

When you are on a great horse, you have the best seat you will ever have. - Winston Churchill.

CAPITAL STUD’S INVESTMENT

At Capital Stud, we are more than just breeders; we are devoted to raising the standards in SA Showjumping. We look forward to sharing the highly anticipated 2023 Capital Auction Collection, which is fit to burst with horses ready to take their riders to the very top.

We remain dedicated to providing South African showjumpers with world-class horses, and our next chapter sees us supporting these same riders through creating opportunities for growth that see them achieving sustainable success.

Capital My Lady - Thomas van Rijckevorsel 8th in the United Aviation Group Grand Prix 2023

FINAL WORDS

In conclusion, reaching the top in showjumping is a remarkable feat, but staying at the top is a testament to true greatness. At Capital Stud, we have embraced this philosophy, diligently working towards producing top horses that not only reach the summit but thrive there consistently. Our journey has been marked by highs and learnings and triumphs, but through it all, we remain steadfast in our pursuit of excellence. As we celebrate our horses’ achievements, we are eternally grateful to our dedicated teams and partners who have been instrumental in our success. The road ahead is filled with promise and potential, and we are eager to embrace every opportunity that awaits, as we continue our journey to secure a brighter, more triumphant future for SA Showjumping.

Jorja Rohrich and Capital Don Costello - Winners 2022 Burlington Tack ‘n Togs Cup

Where champions are bred and legends are made

The arrival of 334 Sporthorse Stud on the breeding scene in South Africa heralds a new era for the sport of showjumping. With Govett Triggol, a well-known Springbok showjumper, at the helm, it comes as no surprise that this new arrival has created great excitement in the South African equestrian community.

And their presence is hard to miss. Whether it be Chris and Leona van der Merwe excelling on the young 334 superstars in the ring, the generous sponsorship of the rst World Cup Quali er of the year or the exquisite foal pictures populating our social media feeds, we’ve all seen something of this new and oh so exciting addition. With no immediate auction dates on the horizon but so much interest in the next steps for 334 Sporthorse Stud, we felt it was apt to catch up with owner and founder Govett Triggol on his new venture.

This is a Stud to watch.

THE 334 SPORTHORSE STUD FOUNDER GOVETT TRIGGOL MY PHILOSOPHY

My philosophy for the 334 Sporthorse Stud, along with my breeding strategy, is to breed with mares that have competed at 1.40m level and above. This can be attributed to three key motivators.

The rst of these is success. The genetic foundation of our breeding process is rooted in our carefully selected black-type mares. The maternal lines are the source of up to 70% of the breeding outcomes; therefore, the likelihood of the offspring embodying the same qualities and success as their dam as future showjumping champions is high.

My second motivator is soundness. A mare that has remained sound in order to compete at the 1.40m level and above is likely to pass these qualities onto her offspring. She, therefore, breeds horses with the physical attributes, athleticism and temperament to excel in the discipline of showjumping.

My nal motivator is luxury. Breeding with mares that have competed in the sport at the top level allows me, as a breeder, the opportunity to examine and recognise these horses’ qualities and shortcomings. When it comes to breeding superior quality showjumpers, foals with a desirable temperament, conformation, rideability and physical characteristics are not produced by chance, but by understanding the genetic package a top mare and selected stallion can produce if they complement each other as competition horses.

WOLKE 334

The 334 Sporthorse Stud’s name has a treasured origin. It derives from my once-in-a-lifetime mare, Wolke 334. Wolke gifted me many title wins as well as my Springbok colours, accomplishing all this whilst jumping above her height division. This is truly a testament to the powerhouse mare she is – characterised by an abundance of ght, carefulness, heart, belief and, ultimately, grit. These characteristics gave her a competitive advantage very few possess – the ability to beat any horse, at any division, up to 1.50m level.

Wolke 334 embodies my fundamental goal and desire to breed horses with her ability to win at every level, allowing us to breed a diverse selection of horses, for everyone, for any height and with any dream or goal in mind.

In addition, we exclusively breed via embryo transfer, which assists us in breeding more than one foal a year per mare! Our surrogate mares are critical to the success of the 334 programme and are cared for as such.

Naming the stud after Wolke’s lineage highlights the importance of the mother line in our breeding philosophy, and the concept behind our logo design reinforces this. The embedded 334 suf x in the crown pays homage to the mare and her contribution to the genetic framework of breeding a top showjumper. The symbolism of the black background is attributed to our carefully selected black-type mares who have competed at or produced offspring who have competed at 1.40m or above.

We hope you’ll walk beside us on this journey as we strive to breed and live up to our slogan, ‘Where champions are bred, and legends are made!

Govett Triggol, 334 Sporthorse Stud Founder

STAY TUNED

There are big things to come from 334 Sporthorse Stud. Here at HQ, we’re looking forwards to getting to know the top mares that make up the 334 genetic pool; seeing the stallions that bring the promise of modern, athletic showjumpers to populate our sport; and following the journey of the young horses as they ascend through the grades.

Team 334 – we’re so excited to have you here! The future looks very bright indeed.

THE CALLAHO ONLINE AUCTION |

WINTER EDITION |

EVERYTHING OUR SPORT NEEDS, AND MORE

The latest Callaho Auction set the equestrian world abuzz. It’s been a long time since we’ve had an Auction as exciting and encouraging for our sport as the recent Callaho Online Auction | Winter Edition. The extraordinary Callaho Winter Collection really had something for everyone, from professionals looking for their next World Cup Qualifier horse to breeders wanting the best broodmares on the market and even amateurs seizing their next dressage prospect.

With two horses easily exceeding the R1 million mark and many others acquiring deservedly high prices, it was nice to see Callaho recognised for the quality they bring to our sport. Of course, there were also a couple of bargains to be had, including Callaho Gem d’Anzex, who we are certain will be cleaning up in the big classes in just a few short years, and Callaho C’est Bon, whose bloodlines promise a string of fabulous foals for her lucky new owners.

On the back of this exciting two-day Auction, Team HQ couldn’t resist chatting with some of the new owners to understand more about how they made their selections and what inspired them to take the leap and purchase one of these exceptional youngsters.

HORSES WENT UNDER THE HAMMER

RIDING HORSES (7 mares & 12 geldings) BROODMARES

A total of BUYERS (3 buyer s bought 2 hor ses each)

AVERAGE RIDING HORSE PRICE AVERAGE BROODMARE PRICE

63% OF BUYERS ATTENDED TRY-OUTS

52% (13 PEOPLE) WERE REPEAT BUYERS

Between them these 13 people have acquired 50 Callaho hor ses!!

That’s an average over 3.8 hor ses each!

2 BUYERS ARE ON THEIR 9TH CALLAHO HORSE PURCHASE!

CALLAHO CONTE VELLA (Contendro I/Lissabon/Raphael/Watzmann) and CALLAHO LIBERACE (Lissabon/Benicio/Sir Donnerhall/Beluga)

We caught up with Elsie Ella Parkin of Gondor Stud, who purchased two stunning horses on this Auction – Callaho Conte Vella and Callaho Liberace. As a successful Stud owner herself, she is very practised in choosing the right horses, and based on the quality of the horses and the transparency of the entire process, she happily selected both horses without attending tryouts. We learned more about her selection process and what led her to acquire these two special equines.

HQ: What were you looking for on the Auction?

Elsie: I love horses and breeding, so I literally look at each Auction and go through all the horses. When we look, we do focus on blood, but, more importantly, how the horses have been brought on. Callaho prepares their horses so well and gives them a very good basis to work from. They also provide so many options for novice to advanced riders so that you can make the right choice. I particularly love that they rate the horses so accurately; this makes the final decision much easier.

For myself, personally, as opposed to just my Stud, I always look at a good temperament; the blood, of course, is a bonus, but the rideability is a huge factor. Graham, Kirsten and Michelle Winn ride and help us with our personal horses and horses we want in the sport, and even they prioritise temperament. A good mind goes a long way, and Callaho breed them well for this!

HQ: What made you choose Callaho Conte Vella and Callaho Liberace?

Elsie: We chose both the horses because they ooze quality, and this was very clear in the beautiful videos seen online. The videos also allowed us to watch them under saddle and see clearly how both would jump. Both horses have very solid minds yet are bred to reach the top in jumping and dressage.

When we selected Callaho Conte Vella, we loved that she was rated rideable yet bred to jump to the top. So even if I want to ride her, Graham could still jump her 1.30m one day. It’s the best of both worlds. Her breeding also immediately caught my eye – I love Contendro - and the Callaho team did him justice by matching him with a great mare.

The same is true for Callaho Liberace. He’s so well bred to jump but also do dressage, so he works for Graham or my daughter!

Callaho Conte Vella

HQ: How do you make your choices without attending the Auction?

Elsie: Obviously, we take the auction catalogue and scrutinise it for days with great input from our instructors, the Winn family. We then watch videos (again, for days!), and then I look at the vettings - not that a small issue would ever put me off a good horse. Then we make the final decision on rideability because whether the horse is for me, my daughter or Graham, a great mind makes the experience enjoyable.

HQ: Are the horses now at home with you? What were your first impressions?

Elsie: Both the amazing horses are standing at Winstead Stables, and as they got off the truck, we were even more delighted than we were with how they appeared online. They were everything we hoped for and more. The videos and descriptions of each horse could not be more spot-on or specific. Callaho does this phenomenally well, and that’s why you can buy a horse online from them, not even having tried it!

HQ: What are your plans for the horses now?

Elsie: I think Conte Vella is going to jump to a significant height yet play with me at home. She is a strong, willing and well-bred mare. We are excited about her, and I think she’s going to be a phenomenal horse.

Callaho Liberace is just pure joy! He’s the most good-looking boy, and he knows it. He moves with great ease. He’s talented and playful, yet safe! I think he’s going to make a big name in dressage and jump a bit too. He’s more than capable of jumping to a significant grade too, but boy, does he move!

The work that was put in beforehand has made both horses a pleasure to start. For now, they are just working and getting into the system of how we do things. They are both very easy and such pleasures that I think Callaho Conte Vella might even be jumping at Revil at the end of August!

Callaho Liberace

CALLAHO GEM D’ANZEX (Gemini/Ryon D’Anzex/Impulsif A/Muscat)

Team HQ couldn’t resist catching up with the buyers of the bargain of the Auction Callaho Gem d’Anzex, Gareth and Lara Neill. Being part of the Callaho professional team, they were obviously very aware of what they were buying when they put in their bid on Gem. We asked them what it was that made him so affordable and what their plans are for him in the future.

HQ: What made you want to buy Gem d’Anzex?

Lara: Obviously, Gem is out of the same dam as Bolzano du Quinze, who we adore, and Gareth is enjoying some exciting success on, but it was really during the tryout videos that he caught our attention. He is very athletic, balanced and quite straightforward, so he should have been a very popular choice. Nevertheless, we checked his vetting and decided to keep an eye on him through the Auction process in case we got lucky.

HQ: Why do you think he was such a bargain?

Lara: I think his breeding wasn’t particularly familiar to people, as he is by a clone of the Thoroughbred Gem Twist, a two-times Olympic silver medallist. This meant his sire was more unknown to South Africans than the regular Callaho stallions, such as Con Coriano, Larison and Lissabon, who everyone is much more familiar with. For us, his breeding was very exciting. Gareth and I are huge Bolzano fans, and the fact that Gem is out of his direct mother was very appealing to us.

I also think that some people may have been put off by his size, but we rode him, and he has more than enough step, doesn’t feel small under saddle, and I’m not convinced that he has finished growing either!

We can’t believe we bought him for such a great price and are very excited to produce him into the sport.

Callaho Gem d’Anzex

CALLAHO ROMA ELEKTRA (Cartier/Escudo I/Graf Grannus/Eisenbarth)

Jenna Odell purchased the magnificent Callaho Roma Elektra from this Auction. After recently winning her first ever Grand Prix on her entirely self-produced Callaho Liberty Lord Cassini, we are very excited to see what will come for this pair.

She told us,

“Callaho Roma Elektra (Cartier x Escudo) has been having a nice break at the Stud, so she hasn’t arrived home with me yet, but I’m so excited for her! I loved her from her first free jump video and loved her just as much when I sat on her. I can’t wait to get started with her.”

Callaho Roma Elektra

“There were a number of reasons for Benedita being on our short list; the fact that she is dressage bred and has lovely movement, her size (I am not the tallest of riders) and her sweet nature at tryouts. Benedita is our first Callaho, and she has surpassed all our expectations. She is such a willing and brave partner with super movement, but what has impressed us more than anything is her sweet and wonderful temperament. The more I work with her, the more impressed I am with her!”

CALLAHO BENEDITA (Benicio/De Noir/Gefion/Lago)

Young rider, Emma Yates, purchased Callaho Benedita from the Auction on the basis of her beautiful movement, and lovely temperament. She told us this,

Callaho Benedita

CALLAHO RAS TAFARI (Cartier/Diamant de Semilly/Don Juan/Furioso II)

Callaho Ras Tafari was a firm favourite for several of us in the HQ office, so we caught up with his new owner, Christi-Lyn Davis, to find out what it was that drew her to this striking gelding.

HQ: What made you choose Ras Tafari?

Christi-Lyn: So, I chose Ras because I loved his canter and his feel over the jump. He stayed on one tempo and made the distances so easily. He landed up and not on the forehand. He’s also quite quirky, which I really enjoy. He’s a slow developer, but I think he’s amazing and so keen. I had a very tight budget, so I was hoping not too many people would bid on him.

HQ: When did you first become interested in him?

Christi-Lyn: I watched all the videos and went to try him out. He actually wasn’t in my top three after the videos, but I liked his pedigree, so I added him to my list of tryouts. After riding him (he was the second last horse I tried), I knew he was the one!

HQ: What were your first impressions when he arrived with you?

Christi-Lyn: It was tricky because he had travelled the whole day, so by the time he got to me in Benoni, it was pitch dark, but he unloaded and walked to the paddock well. I managed to blanket him and check him without any issues. The next morning, he was a pleasure. He settled well; I could do everything I needed with him without problems. He has a kind eye, and I can see they’d worked with him thoroughly as there were no ‘problem areas’.

Thank you to Callaho for breeding such an amazing horse!

Callaho Ras Tafari

CALLAHO C’EST BON (Clinton/Quidam de Revel/Pilot/Paradox I)

Another bargain of the Auction was certainly Callaho C’est Bon. We caught up with Emile Egen to find out what it was that drew him to the broodmare.

HQ: What were you looking for on the Auction and what made you choose Callaho C’est Bon?

Emile: We were after three broodmares at the Auction, and she actually wasn’t originally one of the first ones I liked because of her size. But on day two of the Auction, no bids had been placed, so I went and did some research to see if there was anything I was missing.

My research on C’est Bon showed that she has produced very tall offspring, and that got me very interested in her. She very rapidly became one of the three mares we wanted, and I told my owners that this might be the bargain of the Auction if we could get her because a lot of people would overlook her because of her size, and yet none of her foals have been under 16.2hh. We ended up being very lucky, I think!

HQ: Did you go and view any of the mares?

Emile: No, we didn’t go to the farm this time. We purely looked at the pictures and went on the basis of Callaho’s reputation; they won’t sell a horse that is not good enough to keep the standard of their name high.

HQ: Is the mare home with you now, and what was your first impression of her?

Emile: She is with us, yes, and is looking very pregnant at the moment. The plan is to breed another foal from her if all goes well, and then she will have a season off.

When we first saw her, I was really amazed at how well she looked, and she has the kindest eyes.

Callaho C’est Bon

CALLAHO IMAGINE (Innovation/Lissabon/Quidam de Revel)

When Ashlee Healy announced her purchase of Callaho Imagine on the night of the Auction, we knew he would reach every bit of his potential. This is a horse for the very big time, and his price tag was incredibly well deserved. We’ll be seeing this horse winning at the top in years to come!

HQ: What made you choose Imagine?

Ash: So his breeding was a big factor; he’s related to Callaho Larido, who I think is very special and has huge potential, so it was obvious that I would be interested in him. I love the damline. I don’t know too much about his father but for me the mom is the most important.

In tryouts, he was actually the most difficult of the horses I tried. He was a lot more green, but it didn’t matter because I wasn’t looking for a horse to get on and be able to take straight into the show arena. When I tried him, I wanted to feel his natural scope and how he carried himself; all the other parts I can work on with time. I only jumped a few jumps with him before I went down the little gymnastic. I jumped it four times. The third time down the line, he jumped the oxer, and I felt what I was looking for…

HQ: Were there any other horses on the Auction that you were interested in?

Ash: Obviously, I looked at I’m Splendid as he was really special. I also sat on Roma Elektra and Con Pablo. They were all incredible horses but Imagine stuck out for me as he suited my style the most. He is a bit on the cold side, and he needs time and patience, and I enjoy taking time to produce and teach my horses. Since he has arrived at our stables, I have realised that he is super sharp and quirky, so I definitely think I have my work cut out for me. He’s going to keep me on my toes!

HQ: What are your plans for him for the next few months?

Ash: I’m sure we will go to a show towards the end of the year - maybe once the World Cup Qualifiers are over and I have a bit more time on my hands, but he’s not the type of horse that I’m going to be able to just get on and go. He will need time in order to reach his full potential.

HQ: And what about your plans with Callaho Larido?

Ash: My plan with Laz is to get him rideable, adjustable and competitive in the 1.20s. I would like him to feel settled before we go up to the 1.30s. I won’t push him, but if he’s ready to try a 1.30m class near the end of the year, then we will do it, but I prefer not to rush them when they have such quality.

Callaho

CALLAHO I’M SPLENDID AND CALLAHO CONEMO

Last but not least, we had to catch up with Cath MacFarlane on her purchase of the top-seller of the sale Callaho I’m Splendid, and another HQ office favourite, Callaho Conemo.

HQ: How do you choose the horses?

Cath: As soon as every catalogue comes out, we start studying them - we start researching the bloodlines. We watch the stallions in various shows and as youngsters on YouTube etc. We spend weeks doing this, as soon as the videos are released - same thing! So when we came across these two these we our thoughts. Conemo was very underrated; he didn’t stand out much from the videos and pictures but there was something about his technique, the way he landed very balanced, and just something special. With I’m Splendid, we saw his breeding at first and we already knew from the start that he’d be one of the top sellers so we kind of brushed him off until the videos came out. Then we knew for certain that he was too special - just everything about him - and his bloodlines are very, very good.

HQ: Did you go to try them at the Stud?

Cath: Yes, we went to try them but they weren’t the ones we were planning to get! We went to try some for clients, and then when I sat on Conemo, I knew instantly from his walk that he needed to come to us. He reminds me so much of my mare S’Fikile Uptown! He surprised us quite a lot with the power, technique, mind and attitude! He ticks every box; he’s not flashy and we have a feeling he’ll be a superstar!

Splendid on the other hand, was meant to be on Oscar’s list and at the last minute he suggested I got on; we were already expecting greatness and he more than fulfilled all our expectations! He’s filled with a lot of power; he’s quirky and can get very forward and he has one huge ego! He tried to show us that he knows what he’s doing, and he definitely does, but he is still a youngster!

We generally keep our tryouts very short and simple as they already get tried out a few times with others. However when you know what you’re looking for, and the horses give you an inch of that feeling, even if they’re explosive or quiet, we immediately get off and leave them. From then, we know immediately what the quality is and turn it into something magical with the right training and guidance from our coaches.

Callaho I’m Splendid

HQ: And what are your plans now?

Cath: We are so excited but we can’t overdo it yet as we’ve put them out to rest for three months to just chill and just play, but the wait is very painful! Although, when they arrived home, we did want to feel the magic so the next day we rode them for literally five minutes each. We popped them over a small vertical and an oxer, and they EXPLODED. The feeling was unbelievable – the scope, the step, the balance, the jumping ability, the movement. It was all just amazing. So immediately we put them out and they’ve been playing and teasing all the other horses since! We are ecstatic about them. We’ll take it slow with both but Conemo is very even-minded and easier - he’s just a very beautiful ride! As for Splendid, I know I’m expecting a few speeding fines so will go nice and slow. The Sfikile Consulting team are very hopeful and excited, as we are, and we are hoping for great things from these two purchases! Under Oscar and Barry Taylors’ great coaching and guidance, we are pumped for what magic they’ll bring.

FINAL THOUGHTS

The Callaho Online Auction | Winter Edition showcased the expertise of this breeding family, who have dedicated their lives to producing horses of exceptional quality. Encouragingly, it also demonstrated the dedication of our equestrian community to invest substantial sums in the pursuit of excellence in our sport.

Ultimately then, this Auction’s triumph extends beyond the immediate gains, as it has bolstered the horse industry as a whole. We were delighted to see Callaho recognised for their investment into our sport, and the sheer quality of the horses they produce, and also thrilled to see such a clear signal of optimism for the future of equestrian sports in our country.

As always, thank you, Callaho, for creating a bright future for our sport for many years to come.

Broodmares:

Lot 4 | Callaho’s Fiona - In foal to Callaho’s Victory for Ever

Lot 8 | Callaho C’est Bon - In foal to Callaho’s Victory For Ever

Lot 9 | Callaho’s Con Qassa - In foal to Callaho’s Corinth

Lot 17 | Callaho’s Beyonce - In foal to Callaho’s Larison

Lot 21 | Callaho’s Chocolate Love - In foal to Callaho’s Victory For Ever

Lot 22 | Callaho Ina du Ayenne - In foal to Callaho’s Corinth

Chatan Hendrik’s and Biogen’s Kolinko –Stokkiesdraai WCQ 2023

Photography: Crystal Baldwin

CALLAHO’S CASSINA

Text | Amelia Campbell-Horne

When it comes to breeding, the emphasis is often placed on the stallion. Yet, biology teaches us that the stallion will only contribute 50% of the genetics to the offspring, and the mare the other 50%. Some have speculated that stallions get more attention due to the quantity of offspring they can produce per season compared to the mare. In recent years, however, this has started to change thanks to the incorporation of embryo transfer into several breeding programmes, making us better able to evaluate the breeding potential of the mare as well.

One such example of a mare that we could evaluate on the basis of her numerous progeny is Callaho’s Cassina (Cassini I x Caletto II x Marlon xx). This mare has over 20 offspring, some of which were retained for breeding and some of which have, and continue to, compete successfully.

ACQUIRING CASSINA

Ian Callender-Easby first noted Cassina in 2006 when he heard about the mare on an upcoming auction in Holland. At this stage, Ian had realised that if they were really serious about breeding at Callaho, their focus needed to be on acquiring the best genetics they could afford.

As the story goes, Ian and his wife had already booked a trip to watch the FEI World Cup Final in Kuala Lumpur, which was at the same time as the Auction, and these were not the days of online auctions! They decided to send Jaco Fourie, their then Stud Manager, to Holland in their place. Ian had Jaco exchange his gold coins to ensure they had the capital to buy the mare, and Jaco took the cash with him. There is a huge time disparity between the two countries, which made the bidding challenging, but as bidding progressed, they realised that they were on to something with this mare as they were bidding against legendary breeder Paul Schockemöhle. Ian was set on buying the mare, and despite the hefty cost, they secured the deal.

FAST FACT

Capital Levubu’s mother, Zinnia I, is also a Cassini I mare, and is one of Henning Pretorius of Capital Stud’s top broodmares. She is also the dam of one of Capital’s up-and-coming stallions Capital Qorland (Corland).

DID YOU KNOW?

Cassina is closely related to the legendary World Equestrian Games winning stallion Cumano (Cassini I x Landgraff x Caletto II x Marlon xx), as they are both from the same sire, Cassini I, and Cassina’s dam, Weisse Dame, is Cumano’s grand-dam.

After her purchase, Cassina was initially kept at the Callaho base in Germany, where Callaho bred a Concorde mare, Callaho Concordia, who is still breeding for them there.

CASSINA’S EARLIEST OFFSPRING

Before being purchased by Callaho, Cassina had five offspring. Her very first foal was the licensed Athletico stallion, Optical, who jumped 1.60m with Piet Raijmakers.

Her next foal was Perpetua, who was by Lux Z and jumped 1.60m with Willem Greve before becoming a very successful broodmare herself.

Cassina then produced an Athletico filly, Vitesse, who has proven to be an exceptional broodmare in her own right. Having already produced 1.60m jumpers herself, one of Vitesse’s latest offspring, born in 2022, Bespelled JH (by Balou du Reventon) sold for £21,000 at last year’s Bolesworth Elite Auction! With six more embryos for 2023 having just been sold, we are sure to see more success from Vitesse in the future!

Before being obtained by Callaho Stud on the aforementioned Auction, Cassina produced two more top mares, ‘Want to do’ (Athletico), who jumped 1.50m and Virgin (Contender), who jumped 1.40m.

CASSINA IN SOUTH AFRICA

Cassina’s success as both a producer of sporthorses and broodmares by no means diminished once she was on South African soil! From her first crop of progeny in 2007, Callaho retained Callaho Salsa (Silvio mare) and Callaho Gemini (Granulit mare) for breeding. Both of these mares have already produced 1.50m progeny!

Callaho Gemini’s first foal by Lissabon, Callaho Libra, has moved up to the 1.50m classes this year with Lisa Rahman. Callaho Falvio is Callaho Salsa’s second foal (by For Joy) and is becoming a strong contender in the 1.50ms with Martyn Swanepoel. Also, keep an eye out on the Callaho Summer 2023 Auction, as there are two of Salsa’s grandchildren up for grabs - the dark bay gelding Callaho Fly Me High (For Joy x Lissabon x Silvio x Cassini I) and the bay mare Callaho Lichella (Lissabon x Con Coriano x Silvio x Cassini I).

Callaho retained Cassina’s next two daughters as well - C’est La Vie (Clinton) and Lissina (Lissabon) and their progeny are already working their way up the grades!

Callaho Libra & Lisa Rahman

Callaho Falvio & Martyn Swanepoel

CASSINA’S TOP SHOWJUMPERS IN THE SPORT

Cassina’s next crop of offspring, of which one was sold on the 2015 auction and the other four in 2016, is something to really get the showjumpers talking.

Firstly, from 2015, Callaho Con Casino (Con Coriano gelding) is a winning 1.30m showjumper with Morgan Piper from the Western Cape, and it shouldn’t be long before we see them move up the grades! In 2016, Callaho Lord Cassini (Lord Z gelding) was bought by Jenna Odell (nee Barrow) and has been slowly and carefully produced. Slow and steady clearly wins the race, as the pair won the Grand Prix in their first 1.50m outing at the Shongweni World Cup Qualifier in June!

Callaho Consina (Con Coriano mare) was sold on the same Auction and is currently under the saddle of junior rider Salomé Nel. Salomé says,

Consina has jumped up to 1.35m and has many Championship titles to her name!

“

Consina is a very cheeky 15.3hh mare with an enormous heart; she is so brave! She is also very beautiful and has a very special place in many people’s hearts.”

Callaho Consina & Salomé Nel

“With Looch (as he is affectionately known), it was love at first sight. As I’m sure any young equestrian will agree, it is a dream to own a Callaho one day, and for me, it was just that. He is ultra-sensitive, but I firmly believe there is nothing he will not do for me. To me, he lacks nothing; scope, care, heart, and bravery are abundant, complimented with a neat technique. I always feel safe on him, and although he is tricky, he is kind. He is a one-person kind of horse, and I am so lucky he chose me. He has taken a long time to figure out – but the simpler everything is, the better he performs.”

The top seller of the 2016 auction was also a direct son of Cassina - Callaho Lucetto (Lissabon gelding) - who has been carefully produced by Paige Lee Goetsch up to the 1.40ms. Paige said,

Paige’s other Callaho, Corleone, is by Lissina, one of Cassina’s daughters, and she sees the same traits in him.

Callaho Lucetto & Paige Lee Goetsch

The last of Cassina’s progeny on the 2016 auction was Callaho Conrado (Con Coriano gelding). Conrado has shot to fame this year with Rainer Korber in the saddle. He’s had a quick rise up the grades from 1.35m-1.50m in a matter of months and picked up some impressive podium placings along the way, including third in his second 1.50m Grand Prix at the Stokkiesdraai World Cup. When we started looking into his story, we decided it was a special story and worth a share, so flip over the page to read this real-life fairy tale!

Callaho Conrado & Rainer Korber

FINAL THOUGHTS

Callaho, and the riders of these many Cassina offspring, explain that all of Cassina’s progeny have the most unbelievable will to please and resolve - they never give up! They are generally light in their body type with refined, beautiful faces. They also have a good level of blood and are forward going and reactive, which are all traits desired in the modern sport horse! A popular stallion may have hundreds of opportunities to sire a Baloubet du Rouet or a Totilas, but a mare may only have ten to twenty chances. Yet, this does not stop a mare such as Cassina from making a significant impact on our sport. What a mare she was!

DID YOU KNOW?

One of the most prized assets of Holstein breeders these days is a Cassini mare; Callaho made a wise investment!

Callaho C’est La Vie

IPHARMA CALLAHO CONRADO

ON A FAST-TRACK TO THE TOP

One of the most recent Callaho horses to feature in the showjumping spotlight has been the incredibly careful and quick iPharma Callaho Conrado. Conrado is yet another Con Coriano son jumping in the 1.50ms, joining his siblings Callaho's Consuri, Callaho Confidor, Callaho Con Quito and Callaho Conzano, and with Cassina as his dam, it was only a matter of time before he arrived here.

TEXT: AMELIA CAMPBELL-HORNE PHOTOGRAPHY: CRYSTAL BALDWIN, MERLYNN TRICHARDT

CALLAHO CONRADO'S EARLY DAYS WITH SAMANTHA HARDCASTLE:

Conrado was purchased by Samantha Hardcastle from the 2016 auction. Sam explained, "I went to try a few horses, and they were all amazing. On the night of bidding, we started to realise that we might not come home

In their first year together, Samantha and Callaho Conrado were based at a yard that allowed them to participate in several disciplines, including dressage and showing. They then moved under the tutelage of Nikki Thurgood at Thandeka Stables. In Sam's words, "Nikki was instrumental in transforming

Samantha Hardcastle and Callaho Conrado

Conrado learnt to jump everything that was put in front of him and became an amazing Derby horse. We also worked a lot on his front technique by doing various lines and exercises over the three years I was with her."

Samantha continues, "Conrado just has the most amazing temperament and work ethic. He loves human attention and face scratches. He liked to buck sometimes when we would hack out because he just loves his time outside. You can never put him in a big paddock with a herd, or he ends up chasing them all around the paddock. I found this quite funny when he was young until I realised he was also impossible to catch in the big herd paddocks! In our seven years together, he taught me so much. I still miss him every day, but I know he has the most amazing home now."

THE NEXT STEP

Conrado was acquired by Stewart Barker at the end of 2022 with the assistance of longtime friends and trainers Rainer and Jeanne Korber. HQ had the opportunity to catch up with Stewart, Jeanne and Ray to learn more about how this story came together and where they are now.

HQ: How did you end up acquiring Conrado?

Stewart: We had been looking for an experienced top horse that would be able to give me a shot at the higher levels: 1.40m and 1.50m. Unfortunately, these are really hard to come by!

Jeanne and Ray, who I have trained with for a long time, heard that Conrado was for sale, but they will be able to tell the story better than me.

Jeanne: I've always watched Conrado and liked him, and by pure chance, I heard that he might be on the market. So, I very quickly phoned Tamar Glicksman, who was selling him on behalf of Samantha, and said please, please can we try him, and by some miracle, we were first in line. We said to Stewart he needed to try the horse immediately! Stewart was actually on his way to China, and we told him you have to sit on this horse before you leave tonight! We battled with arenas as well, because it had been raining and all the arenas were under water. So, we went to go and try him at an indoor arena nearby. Two days later, Ray jumped him at our own arena over quite a big track, and we realised this was definitely the horse, so we had him vetted, and Stewart bought him!

Rainer: As we bought Conrado as a novice 1.35m horse, the plan was for me to give him some experience for six months or so. When he was purchased, he came straight to our yard for this purpose. It's been longer than 6 months now because the horse and I really clicked well. Now we find ourselves having jumped two 1.50m Grand Prixs and coming third in his second 1.50m ever.

HQ: Can you tell us a bit about Conrado?

Jeanne: 'Fred', as he is known, is lovely to ride. He is a wonderful character, a real trier, and absolutely loves his job. He is also lovely to work with in the stable, as he has such a nice attitude and personality; he is just such a pleasure to have in the stables with us. We also have his half-brother, who is out of the same mother as Fred (Cassina) but by Lissabon, Callaho Lassino. If you compare the two, I'd say Conrado, who is by Con Coriano, is a lot more solid in his brain; he's not anxious and is very playful and rideable. Both of them are super brave; they don't seem to spook at anything and are incredibly kind and competitive, which just shows how super the damline is. We really love him and feel very lucky to have acquired him for Stewart.

Rainer: He is special to me because he is by Con Coriano, who I rode up to the 1.50ms before he retired, and out of a super mare. There are a lot of similarities between the two (Con Coriano and Conrado); they have the same look and the same sort of canter. He's quite a long horse and stands over ground, but he is not big, perhaps only 16.1hh. I think he's quite a special horse. He's got a big heart. He has a slightly funny frontend technique, but he is really careful at the same time and very good behind. He is a kind horse and always wants to please, whether he is doing flatwork, out hacking or jumping in the ring. He is relatively straightforward. He is just such a trier, though - I think that's part of the reason we clicked so quickly because he just tries and tries!

HQ: What are the plans for the rest of the year?

Rainer: I'll ride him in some more 1.50m Grand Prixs, perhaps we will do a World Cup Qualifier soon, but we will see how strong he is. We are really aiming for Derby, though; we will decide closer to the time whether he will do the MiniDerby or the Main Derby, and then Stewart will likely take him over towards the end of the year or from the beginning of the new year.

HQ: Thank you, and we wish you and the whole team more success together in the future!

ANOTHER CALLAHO SUCCESS STORY

Callaho, in their 2016 auction catalogue, described Conrado as "an attractive horse with forward, ground-covering paces. He sports a really good jump and has considerable presence as well as a good mind, always willing to please. With his confident disposition, he is a safe, kind and easy ride and would suit someone looking for a horse to accelerate their learning curve with assurance". Callaho, once again, hit the nail on the head, with their evaluation of this one!

CALLAHO LIBERTY LORD CASSINI AND

Jenna Odell

WINNERS OF THE SHONGWENI GRAND PRIX

PHOTOGRAPHY: DENFORD STUDIOS

When Jenna Odell came into the ring on Callaho Liberty Lord Cassini for his first-ever Grand Prix in Shongweni earlier this year, it was clear we were watching a special partnership. Not only did these two jump a clear on a challenging track that had many of the experienced horses struggling to find their feet, but they went on to put in an exceptionally

HQ: Tell us a bit about your riding career. How did it all start?

Jenna: I started riding when I was about seven years old. I have no idea where the drive to ride came from, as none of my family were involved with horses at all! After months of begging them to take me for

I finally had a really nice string of self-produced 1.30m horses and I started to be a bit more competitive.

After school, I studied online so I could keep competing and moving up the grades. I jumped my first Grand Prix shortly after leaving school and slowly moved into the World Cups with my lovely Parc Pleasure. I've been in and out of the World Cup classes since then with two horses, Parc Pleasure and Figo. Parc Pleasure is now a happy old man retired at home with me, and Figo, unfortunately, had a bad injury, which has left him retired with me as well.

I'm hoping Lord Cassini will be my next horse to jump up in the World Cups with!

HQ: Tell us a bit about Liberty Lord Cassini.  Jenna: Lord Cassini was bred by Callaho Stud, and we bought him off the 2016 auction as a green, VERY naughty four-year-old. He is a Lord Z x Cassini I x Caletto gelding. He has been an extremely slow production - he is very quirky and difficult at times.

There were many times when giving up looked like the best route to take as he is a very sensitive, blood horse which comes with its challenges, yet is also what makes him an exceptional sporthorse.

But, as tricky as he can be, he is incredibly brave, electric and as careful as they come, and he gives me 100% every time we go into the ring!

In the barn, it's like butter wouldn't melt in his mouth! He is super sweet and affectionate, a perfect gentleman!

HQ: Who is your coach?

Jenna: I started riding with Gonda Betrix when I was 16, and she has helped me immensely since then! Unfortunately, she doesn't travel to us in KZN anymore, but I still get a few tips and tricks when we're at the shows if I run into a problem.

For the last four years or so, Chad Cunningham has been helping me. He and Gonda have worked closely together, so it has been such a nice transition within the same 'system'. Chad comes down to us for lessons every three months or so.

Then, my horses have been having weekly flatwork lessons with Sacha Roberts as well, and this has been a huge part of keeping my horses my horses fit, supple and feeling well in their bodies.

HQ: Talk to us about this Grand Prix.   Jenna: This was actually Paddy's first Grand Prix! We have been building him up quite slowly this year after he had a bit of time off last year. At the beginning of this year, my goal was to have him fit and strong enough to jump the Shongweni Grand Prix if I felt he was up for it. In the weeks leading up to the show, and with all the prep we had done this year, I knew he was ready. He was feeling better and stronger than ever, and I felt it was the perfect time to give the Grand Prix a go.

I must say, when I walked the track, I thought it was quite an ask for him, and I would have been really chuffed to come out with 1 or 2 down! From the minute I got on him, he felt amazing, which is saying a lot as he can be very difficult in the warm-up! I was also SO nervous

for this class, something very new for me as I don't usually feel the nerves at all! I so badly wanted it to go well for Paddy as well as myself, knowing that I had produced him myself right from the beginning.

When I went over that first fence, I knew I had nothing to worry about. I think he realised it was a big occasion, and he definitely rose to it. He jumped around that track as if he'd been doing it his whole life - he felt the best he's ever felt. I was very teary when I came out of the ring with a clear round. He is naturally a very quick horse who likes to run and jump, and our plan for the jump-off was to use that to our advantage and have a quick clear. Again he gave me absolutely everything he had when he went into the ring and came home with the win! It was definitely not expected, that's for sure, but it was a win that meant so much looking back at where we started!

HORSE AND RIDER

HQ: And - unrelated to your win - what happened with the broken bit on your gorgeous Thoroughbred? You did unbelievably well to control that so well! [For those who didn't see this, Jenna's bit broke just before the last fence in one of the earlier classes of the same day.]

Jenna: Ah, what a pity! My lovely TB Finding Troy was cantering clear to the last fence, and the bit snapped clean in half, leaving me with no controls. When I realised, I grabbed his martingale and gently pulled back, and he slowly came back to the walk and stopped in the corner for me - he is such a sweet boy!

HQ: Tell us about your current string of horses.  Jenna: I have four horses of my own currently, including Lord Cassini, who we've spoken about already.

Finding Troy is a lovely Thoroughbred that I've produced up to the 1.30ms. I have absolutely loved producing him. Compared to the Warmbloods, he has been so straightforward and easy; he's just a really nice person! I've had him for two and a half years now - I actually went to ride him for his previous owner as she wanted to sell him. The minute I popped him into the canter knew I wanted to try and buy him for myself. He was exceptionally balanced and had a huge, active canter for a green Thoroughbred.

The last two in my string are four-year-olds. The first is Cortes, a Consuelo gelding that we bought as a six-month-old. I backed him last year, and he's almost ready to head out to his first show. I'm really excited about him - he's a big boy standing at 17.1hh already, and he can be a bit nervous and suspicious of things, but I've been taking my time with him, and I think he's going to be something special!

My final one is Callaho Roma Elektra (Cartier x Escudo), who we recently purchased off the Callaho Auction. She has been having a nice break at the Stud, so she hasn't arrived home with me yet, but I'm so excited for her as well! I loved her from her first free jump video and loved her just as much when I sat on her. I'm very excited to get started with her.

horses for owners if they need working, and then I go into lessons for the rest of the day. My horses' schedules are stricter and specific for each of them. The older horses work four days in the school doing lots of flatwork, poles and cavalettis, and normally one jump school, and then they hack out twice a week doing track work and some hill work as well. We are so lucky to have lots of space to do this! The young horses usually only work in the school two, max three days a week, and then they do lots of hacking as well to keep their brains fresh.

Rider Championships in 2020 on Paddy as well.

HQ: What are your goals for the future?  Jenna: My goals for the rest of this year are, hopefully, to jump the last World Cup at Hartland with Paddy and to continue developing my younger horses and get them out to a few small shows. Long term, I would love to keep producing a nice string of young horses up the grades. I love producing the young horses; it is such a rewarding process, especially when you get one or two really special ones!

Kraut. These women are exceptional riders and athletes; I learn so much by watching them. McLain Ward and Marcus Ehning are another two that I always love watching and following!

Jenna: Never give up! Determination and persistence are so important. Quietly plugging away at things and getting a little bit better each day eventually adds up. Slow and steady wins the race…

Ryan

Wallbridge

PASSION AND DETERMINATION WILL GO THE DISTANCE

TEXT: AMELIA CAMPBELL HORNE PHOTOGRAPHY: VARIOUS

having spoken to Zimbabwean born and bred showjumper Ryan Wallbridge. Ryan spent several years working under Grant Langley in KZN and recently hopped across the pond to gain some international experience. We had the chance to catch up with him and find out how it is all going!

HQ: Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

Ryan: I am a born and bred Zimbabwean who lived in Harare for the first 18 years of my life. I was introduced to riding by my Granny, Lesley Wallbridge, who had an incredible love for animals but more especially for horses. This love of hers transferred to me, and I never realised then that it would become as important to me as it has.

Before I could walk, I was riding and spent most of my weekends at Granny’s, horse shows or riding in some way or other. I was lucky to have abundant opportunities, amazing instructors, and the support of my family to pursue my riding. Sadly, when my Granny died, there were a few changes that happened, and for a brief period, I left riding. However, there was always a longing in me to return to where I had been the happiest.

HQ: We’re sure most Zimbabweans will have fond memories of Granny Wallbridge arriving at horse shows with a multitude of ponies for her grandsons to ride and of course, her sound advice to the boys, like “Don’t cry in front of the ponies, it will upset them!”.  So, how did you get back into riding after your Granny?

Ryan: After just over a year of not riding, I realised that there was a part of me that still yearned to be with horses. I started enquiring and was lucky enough to be given the opportunity by Riven Stud, who had numerous horses they had bred that needed producing. Fortunately, at that

time, I lived reasonably close to their yard and was able to ride there as often as my school schedule would allow. It was there that I started to gain a deeper knowledge and understanding of young stock: how to back them and how to ride all sorts of different horses with their own characteristics and traits. I realise now that this knowledge was fundamental to helping me become who I am today. From this experience, I developed an interest in breeding and the art of finding the best mix. I would spend hours on my phone reading up on who was who in the world and trying to find what I thought the best mix would be!

HORSE AND RIDER

HQ: Wow, so your interest was allencompassing! How did you end up in South Africa from there?   Ryan: After school, I left Zimbabwe to join my mum in Durban, where I was blessed to be introduced to Grant Langley. It was from this moment that my hobby started to turn into a career, and I began to understand the workings and expertise needed to run a successful yard. My growth in maturity, stable management, horsemanship, and experience took an exponential leap, and I realised that there was so much to learn. I also realised then that I needed to figure out how I could make this my life’s career. Grant was and still is a huge inspiration to me, without whom I would never have been where I am. His input into my life has been invaluable, and I owe him so much.

HORSE AND RIDER

HQ: That is incredible. Can you tell us a bit more about your time working for Grant Langley?

Ryan: My time at the Langley

Equestrian and Foresyte Stud was both enjoyable and hard work. I loved what I was doing and learned an incredible amount. Working for Grant Langley was an amazing opportunity and one that kickstarted my riding career. Grant was a remarkable mentor. He is a true sportsman whose drive, ethics, as well as riding and teaching ability gave me the perfect platform to learn from. He has played a significant role in both my professional and personal life and for that I owe him hugely.

When I arrived at the yard, I immediately fell in love with the horses that I was given to school and struggled to give them up or change to take on others. However, by having to do so, I had the opportunity to work with a large variety of horses and their different personalities. This was just one of the positives from working at the yard.

My time at Langley also primarily consisted of being instructed by Grant. In doing so, I have developed considerably as a rider, teacher, and person. Through Grant’s instruction, I have achieved so much in my riding career as well as gained the confidence to teach others. I found that I share a great passion for teaching others and did so at all levels. I was able to develop an understanding and sense of when something was not right and why that was so.

there. One of my greatest memories is spending hours with Grant going through lists of possible semen donors, debating the potential and attributes. I still find myself excited to sift through the network of breeding sites to look for the ‘’One’’. To harness this passion, Grant secured a young horse Jupiter De Martelinville and allowed me to be a partner in raising and breaking him in. I instantly fell in love with Jupiter and spent much time teaching him. Jupiter

and I even had a chance to jump our first 1.50m Grand Prix. Since then, I have trained many foals who are now competing or have competed at the high levels. Of this, I am very proud.

Grant’s yard is largely focused on hard work and results, but that is not to say that we didn’t always laugh, harness friendships, and have downtime. I built many relationships through the yard and will always keep them close to my heart. I learnt an enormous amount at the yard to equip me with the confidence and knowledge needed to be a great horse rider and for that, I thank Grant.

Ryan: Now that I knew that working with horses was what I wanted to do, I needed to find a way to enjoy horses but at the same time make a living out of it. So, I decided I needed to get more exposure and see how the other half of the world worked and how I could improve myself and make a career out of what I loved. As I had a UK passport, the easiest choice was to move there which is where I find myself today.

HQ: The leap across the pond is a big one! How did you figure out where to go?  Ryan: I have been working at a horse farm called Oakingham Stud in Goring on Thames for just over six months. It’s been an incredible experience and a real eye-opener learning a completely different lifestyle.

HQ: What does a day in the life of someone working in the UK look like?  Ryan: As I am now officially employed as a groom/rider, an average day of mine, depending on the weather, starts at 7am. The days are incredibly physical, and I must admit it took me a while to get used to. To start with, I muck out six stables (wow I miss my grooms), which I can usually finish around 9am. I have a quick 15 min tea break and then get on with my riding, which can be anything from eight to nine horses. I have a 45-minute lunch break, which I often miss, and then I crack on and finish up with the remaining horses. Once completed, I get stuck into cleaning the main tack room and the wash bay. All grooms are assigned yard jobs to do, and mine is to keep the main tack room clean and one of the wash bays. I am fastidious about this, so it does take me a bit of time. It’s a standard six-day week for me, with a Sunday off every week unless it’s my weekend to work on the Sunday.

All being well, I try to finish this up around 4:30pm. Now I need to clean the stables again before feeding the horses at around 5:30pm. Once fed, I sweep the yard and make sure the yard is tidy, the stables are clean, and the horses are blanketed. Generally, this takes me up to 6:30ish if I am lucky.

During the summer, it changes a little as some of my horses get to go out into the paddocks during the day, so this allows me to start riding at 7am instead of starting with mucking out stables. The number of horses I ride increases to 10 or 11 a day, plus I like to keep the yard lawns mowed, so once a week, I hop onto the lawn mower and enjoy the peacefulness of the mow. The grounds are beautiful but very big, so this job takes quite a bit of time, but it is something I really enjoy.

There are a fair number of competitions to attend, which does change the yard into a hive of activity to try to get as much organised the day before as possible, and for those who stay on the property, the day of the show starts extra early. I organise the trucks to be packed and loaded with all the tack etc, ready for an early start. As the shows are a few hours away, our time management is crucial. Before leaving, stables must still be cleaned, and each horse must be turned out accordingly.

HQ: And what are your five top tips for people wanting to experience equestrianism on the other side of the world?

Ryan: So, based on my experience, my advice to young riders or riders wanting to travel abroad would be to remember that the grass is not always greener on the other side; it’s hard work and long hours here in Europe. The saying, “hard work with blood, sweat and tears”, is basically how it goes. I think anyone embarking on this route needs to be very sure about where they are going and what they want to accomplish. They need to be ready to do everything on

their own with very little guidance and keep their focus on why they are there. Ideally, one hopes to find a yard that has competition horses that the owner is willing to let you show so that you can grow and climb the ranks. This is not always easy to find. But if you do go for it, just make sure you don’t give up when it gets tough.

HQ: Thank you so much for taking the time to inspire us with how passionate you are about all things equine! We can’t wait to see where you go from here, but we are sure there are big things yet to come!

HORSE AND RIDER

TEXT: AMELIA CAMPBELL-HORNE

PHOTOGRAPHY: KAY PHOTOGRAPHY

THE LEAGUE

A FESTIVAL OF FUN

2

023 has seen the commencement of the Kyalami Park Club (KPC) League Series, and KPC has gone all out to bring something different to equestrian competition in South Africa! It has been fantastic to see the upgrades to KPC in the past year, including the new 65m x 70m multipurpose Member's arena, the upgraded and extended warm-up arena and the new trail path around the perimeter of KEP. The KPC Team were, however, not content to stop there and came up with the League series as an additional way to give back to the club members!

WHAT IS THE KPC LEAGUE?

The KPC League is a three-part, multidiscipline series for all ages hosted by KPC. These League shows are for everyone - adults, juniors, pony riders, mini-leaguers and para-equestrians! The multidiscipline aspect of these competitions was important to the team as they desire to promote involvement and participation in the 'smaller' disciplines such as dressage, equitation and showing.

The main aims of the League are to create a sense of unity amongst riders, sponsors, and the KPC community and to 'give back' to the KPC Members. The carnival atmosphere associated with the first of these three shows provided an entertainment-packed, familyorientated celebration of our sport. The following two themed legs will continue in this vein to provide a fun introduction to equestrian sport for the greater non-horsey Kyalami residents!

HORSE AND RIDER

WHEN IS IT?

Leg 1: 20-21st May 2023

Leg 2: 19-20th August 2023

Leg 3: 9-10th December 2023

Awards evening 12th December 2023

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Everyone can enter the show, but only KPC Members can accumulate points in each leg of the League series and win the extra sponsored spot prizes. The members with the most points after the three legs will be crowned the KPC League Champion for each height/level/grade. These Champions will win 'super prizes', which may even include discounted memberships for 2024, amongst others!

HORSE AND RIDER

Points are awarded for placings in each class, with first place securing 100 points and if you complete your round, you are guaranteed a minimum of 30 points. You can check out the KPC website for more info on scoring-

https://www.kyalamiparkclub.co.za/league/

Finally, you do not have to participate in every leg, but if you do enter all three legs, you will get a special goodie bag at the final leg!

LEG 1 – ‘THE CARNIVAL’

The first leg of the series was all-out carnival themed. Beyond horses, there was something for everyone: a Ferris wheel, jumping castles, inflatable horse races, a vendor village, craft beer and a gin bar. There were miniature ponies to pet, and the Pony Club even came through to give a display!

HORSE

It was fantastic to see all the arenas abuzz with the different disciplines on display simultaneously. Thanks to the incorporation of the 'Mini-League', we were even able to spot some of our youngest generation from South Africa's big names starting out in the ring with great success!

Michelle Fleming's daughter Zara and her pony Gezebelle took the win in the Newcomer Working Riding Pony and a win in the Mini League Pony Rider Dressage. Jeanne and Rainer Korber's daughter, Lilly-Rae, placed 3rd and 4th in the PR 60/70cm on her two ponies. Alexandra Wexler Snow's daughter, Georgina, riding Ample Ideas Foresyte Carnival won the Maqmac Mini League Lead Rein Equitation, as well as the Show Pony and Working Riding Pony on Lead Rein. Tamar Gliksman's daughter Layah won the Mini League Working Riding Pony Off Lead Rein on CDE Baloo.

Celeste Lochoff, having had great success with her first crop, producing Aisling and Kelly O'Connor, has moved on to the next generation with her grandchildren, the Triggol boys entering the ring and Qinn Luden winning the First Ridden Equitation and the Show Pony Classes on Maqmac Blue Knight.

LEAGUE COMPETITION

One of the many 'Super' Sponsors that KPC has brought on board for the series is Equestrian Diva Couture, who have sponsored unbelievable prizes to the Best Turned out Showjumping Pony Rider and Junior/ Adult Rider (and runner-ups). For Leg 1, this saw Jessica Du Preez and Cornerstone's Foxy Lady winning a Tattini Helmet and Amelia Campbell-Horne and Geloven BB winning a FairPlay Quantinum Helmet of their choice!  Amelia said Anotidaishe, who turns out Geloven BB, takes such pride in always ensuring he is clean, shining and has perfect plaits! It does help that 'Max', as he is affectionately known, enjoys his spa days and all the attention that comes with them!

We expect to see some super turnout in Leg 2 with such amazing prizes up for grabs!

LEG 2 – ‘MEXICAN FIESTA’

The second leg of the KPC League will be back on the 19th and 20th of August, and this time the theme is Mexican Fiesta! We expect things to be bigger and even better this time round, and with all things Mexican, there is sure to be food and fun for the whole family!

HORSE AND RIDER

HQ: Where in Europe did you go?  Jamie: We went to Germany and the Netherlands. We were based at and training at Terhoeven-Urselmans Horses (stables) in Germany.

HQ: What did you do while there?

Jamie: We had two lessons a day on different horses; lessons from Michel Van Eck of Van Eck Sportorses and Kai Terhoeven-Urselmans. We went to watch four shows, including the Longines Global Champions Tour at Riesenbeck. We competed in a small show in Holland. We shopped at Emmers Equestrian, went for dinners in the neighbourhood towns, had a theory lesson and went to a music festival in the Netherlands.

HQ: How did you find the overall experience?

Jamie: I loved every minute of it; the shows are extremely well run and have an overall calm environment. Michel is an exceptional coach whose training style dovetails perfectly with my coach at home (Ronnie Healy). Our German instructor was also excellent, and it was great to get an international point of view on our riding.

HQ: Can you tell us a bit about the horses you got to ride?

Jamie: The horses were lovely. Very different to my horses at home as most of them were very tall with lots of blood. Champ is the horse I rode most and rode at the show; he was a real gentleman with a flashy jump. He is by the stallion London and out of a Chacco Blue mare; he is a nine-year-old gelding. We got on very well from the start, and I thoroughly enjoyed being paired with him. I also rode two mares and another gelding, all with quality bloodlines; they were all very different, but all had a lot of blood.

are extremely well organised, attended by lots of people and have a festive atmosphere. The warm-up arenas are much calmer than South

Many South Africans only really focus on the riding part.

HQ: Do you have future ambitions of going back?

Jamie: Yes, as soon as possible. I just need to win the lottery. I'd love to attend more clinics and possibly even work at a yard in Europe.

HQ: What was a moment that stood out?

Jamie: Watching Harrie Smolders and Uricas vd Kattevennen in their jump-off at the Longines

Global Champions Tour was the most incredible thing I have ever witnessed. It was so cleverly ridden, and the stallion was magnificent.

HQ: Is there anything else you'd like to tell us?

Jamie: I'd just like to say a huge thank you to Michel Van Eck of Van Eck Sporthorses in the Netherlands for putting the whole tour together.

Amy Michau and Go to Blue – Stokkiesdraai WCQ 2023

Photography: Crystal Baldwin

WELCOME TO THE NEWEST ADDITION TO THE HQ COLLECTIVE - HQ PRO.

Focusing on the best of the best both internationally and locally, this new platform will keep you up to date with the big happenings here and overseas.

Join the conversation today, to follow the highs, the lows, and the action behind the scenes. It’s all for the love of the sport.

WBFSH

SIRE RANKINGS 2022 FOR DRESSAGE

TOP 10

In order to create these rankings, the points of all the progeny in the nal WBFSH Breeder Rankings are added for each sire, and the top 100-ranked sires are published. Over the course of the year, data is continuously cleaned and unknown horses identi ed, such that they can contribute to both the studbook and these sire rankings. The rankings are updated on the 1st October every year.

29 551 POINTS

2021 RANKING: 2nd

Stallion | 2002 | Brown | 1.73 m

JAZZ x FLEMMINGH x SULTAN

Approved sons: 38 | Grand Prix Dressage: 75 | 1,60m (Jumping): 1

SOUTH AFRICAN HORSES WITH JOHNSON BLOODLINES

Jenica Dane

KP Japan

Edelman

Adela Je T’aime

Justine DB

Blair Ghyl Luke Skywalker

Darco Janeiro

Don Johnson R

Capital Jumping Johnson

Justus de Jeu

Enzo Johnson

WELL KNOWN OFFSPRING BY JOHNSON

Firestone (full brother to Justus de Jeu)

Offspring of Firestone in SA:

• Grande Roux Falcon

20 467 POINTS

2021 RANKING: 5th

Stallion | 2003 | Chestnut | 1.72 m QUATERMAN I x BRANDENBURGER x BRENTANO II

Approved sons: 74 | Grand Prix Dressage: 54

SOUTH AFRICAN HORSES WITH QUATERBACK BLOODLINES

Quintet Compton House Quantico

Rivendell Quickbeam (damsire)

Rivendell Quickstep (damsire)

17 911 POINTS

2021 RANKING: 4th

Stallion | 2001 | Dark brown | 1.70 m

SANDRO HIT x DONNERHALL x FELDHERR

Approved sons: 107 | Grand Prix Dressage: 75 | 1,60m (Jumping): 1

SOUTH AFRICAN HORSES WITH SIR DONNERHALL BLOODLINES

Callaho Santino

Rivendell Stromboli

Conatella

Suavitas

Neuland Miss Dior

San Rubina

Rivendell Quickbeam

Sir Donnerhit

Crownlands Donnertanz

Sonnentanzer

Rivendell Statesman

Sira Queen

Von Ghaku Samira

Callaho Savuka

Legacy’s Don Salvador

Equespro’s Berlin (damsire)

15 631 POINTS

2021 RANKING: 7th

Stallion | 2000 | Black | 1.70 m

GRIBALDI x GLENDALE x AKTEUR

Approved sons: 41 | Grand Prix Dressage: 23 | 1,60m (Jumping): 1

SOUTH AFRICAN HORSES WITH TOTILAS BLOODLINES

Agbenoir’s Tausendschön

Cellehof Totaleur

15 516 POINTS

2021 RANKING: 3rd

Stallion | 1991 | Chestnut | 1.73 m

COCKTAIL x ULSTER x AMOR

Approved sons: 57 | Grand Prix Dressage: 158

SOUTH AFRICAN HORSES WITH JAZZ BLOODLINES

Mossindi Stud’s Nightwatch

EEH Jazz

Desperado

14 946 POINTS

2021 RANKING: 27th

Stallion | 2004 | Brown | 1.74 m

ROUSSEAU x JAZZ x BELISAR

Approved sons: 107 | Grand Prix Dressage: 75 | 1,60m (Jumping): 1

14 072 POINTS

2021 RANKING: 6th

Hanoverian Stallion of the Year 2021

Stallion | 2002 | Dark brown | 1.69 m

FIDERMARK NRW x RAVALLO x FRUEHLINGSTRAUM II

Approved sons: 61 | Grand Prix Dressage: 158 | 5 star Eventing: 1

SOUTH AFRICAN HORSES WITH FIDERTANZ BLOODLINES

Dane Stud Fine Art

Fidertanz Feather

Vaderladsche His Kiss (damsire)

Callaho Escatanz (damsire)

Callaho Leika (damsire)

WELL KNOWN SON BY FIDERTANZ

Formidable

Offspring of Formidable in SA:

• Martini Frangelica

• KP Falcon

13 567 POINTS

2021 RANKING: 1st

Stallion | 1993 | Black | 1.72 m SANDRO SONG x RAMINO x WELT AS

Approved sons: 194 | Grand Prix Dressage: 104

SOUTH AFRICAN HORSES WITH SANDRO HIT BLOODLINES

Saratoga’s Senergy

Vinducath PR Step By Step

Bvlgari (damsire)

(daughter of Step By Step)

DIAMOND HIT IS MATERNAL BROTHER TO SANDRO HIT

Offspring of Diamond Hit in SA:

• Diamond Dream

• Rivendell Dior (grandsire)

WELL KNOWN OFFSPRING BY SANDRO HIT

Sandreo

Offspring of Sandreo in SA:

• Alzu Sandria

11 984 POINTS

2021 RANKING: 17th

Stallion | 2006 | Dark brown | 1.68 m

UNITED x GRIBALDI x DONNERHALL

Approved sons: 36 | Grand Prix Dressage: 16

SOUTH AFRICAN HORSES WITH BORDEAUX 28 BLOODLINES

Freulevrouwe Burberry

11 263 POINTS

2021 RANKING: 11th

Stallion | 2002 | Chestnut | 1.70 m

KRACK C x JAZZ x ULFT

Approved sons: 69 | Grand Prix Dressage: 32

SOUTH AFRICAN HORSES WITH VIVALDI BLOODLINES

Ville Valo SN Capital’s First Lady (damsire)

DERSTANDING

OLYMPICQUALIFICATION

With one year to go until the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, we thought it would be a good time to catch up on those who have qualified and those who still can! The equestrian events, which are set to take place, for the most part, in the heart of the gardens of the Palace of Versailles, will see 200 competitors from across the three Olympic disciplines: 75 for jumping, 65 for eventing and 60 for dressage.

Following a new rule implemented before the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, the teams will consist of only three horse and rider pairs and a non-competing reserve, which adds pressure to the team members, as there is no longer a drop score! There will be 20 teams for jumping, 16 for eventing, and 15 for dressage, and the selected team members will also receive entry to the individual competition.

Countries that did not qualify teams are eligible to earn one of the 15 available individual places in dressage and jumping and up to two of the 17 individual slots for eventing.

Teams primarily qualify through specific competitions such as the World Equestrian Games, continental Championships and Group Specific Qualification events. In contrast, individuals qualify through Olympic Rankings with specific quotas allowed per Group.

HORSE AND RIDER

OLYMPIC QUALIFYING GROUPS NATIONAL FEDERATIONS

Denmark

Great Britain

Netherlands

Olympic Group A (North-Western Europe)

Finland

Germany

Andorra

Austria

Iceland

Ireland

Norway

Sweden

Olympic Group B (South-Western Europe)

Belgium

Bosnia Herzegovina

France

Italy

Albania

Armenia

Azerbaljan

Belarus

Liechtenstein

Luxemburg

Malta

Monaco

Portugal

San Marino

Spain

Switzerland

Olympic Group C (Central & Eastern Europe, Central Asia

Bulgaria

Croatia

Cyprus

Czech Republic

Estonia

Georgia

Antigua

Olympic Group D (North America)

Barbados

Bermuda

Argentina

Bolivia

Brazil

Olympic Group E (South & Central America)

Chile

Colombia

Costa Rica

Cuba

Dominican Republic

Greece

Hungary

Israel

Kazakhstan

Kyrgyzstan

Latvia

Lithuania

Macedonia

Moldova

Poland

Canada

Cayman Islands

Jamaica

Romania

Russia

Serbia

Slovakia

Slovenia

Turkey

Turkmenistan

Ukraine

Uzbekistan

Trinidad & Tobago

USA

Virgin Islands

Ecuador

El Salvador

Guatemaia

Haiti

Honduras

Mexico

Nicaragua

Panama

Paraguay

Peru

Puerto Rico

Venezuela

Uruguay

OLYMPIC

QUALIFYING GROUPS NATIONAL FEDERATIONS

Algeria

Angola

Bahrain

Botswana

Congo Democratic Republic

Lebanon

Libya

Madagascar

Malawi

Mauritius

Senegal

Republic of South Africa

Sudan

Syria

Olympic Group F (Africa/Middle East)

Egypt

Ethiopia

Iraq

Iran

Jordan

Kenya

Kuwait

Australia

Brunei

Morocco

Namibia

Oman

Pakistan

Palestine

Qatar

Kingdom Saudi Arabia

India

Swaziland

Tunisia

UAE

Republic of Yemen

Zambia

Zimbabwe

Myanmar

New Zealand

Olympic Group G (South East Asia, Oceania)

Cambodia

China

Chinese Taipei

Hong Kong

Indonesia

Japan

Korea

Malaysia

Philippines

Singapore

Sri Lanka

Thailand

The host nation, France, automatically qualifies a team in each discipline. You can check out the Olympic rankings through the FEI webpage

SO, WHERE ARE WE WITH QUALIFICATIONS?

DRESSAGE:

Of the 15 team spots available for dressage, Australia, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Netherlands, Poland, Sweden and the United States have secured their places.

Three team spots remain available for Groups A and B at the 2023 European Dressage Championships. Two spots are up for grabs for Group D and E from the 2023 Pan American Games, and one spot is available for South Africa's Group F, but the qualification event at which this will be awarded has yet to be announced - so stay tuned for updates!

Regarding the individual vacancies, two are available for each group, plus one more for the next highest-ranked athlete overall. As South Africa will not be hosting any Olympic Qualifier Events at which individuals here can achieve the Minimum Eligibility Requirements and gain Olympic Ranking Points, the only way a South African can qualify will be from abroad. All hope is, however, not lost as our very own Gretha Hausmann-Ferreira is currently sitting in 3rd with Zidane and 4th with Kalliani van het Molenzicht in the Group F Olympic Rankings. She has until the 31st of December 2023 to make it into the top two and secure a qualification place.

EVENTING

With most of the Eventing team qualifiers having already taken place, there are only five team vacancies left. So far, France, Germany, United States, New Zealand, Great Britain, Ireland, Sweden, Switzerland, Poland, Australia and China have secured their seats.

The next vacancies to be decided will be for Group A and B from the 2023 European Eventing Championships held this month (August) at Le Pin-au-Haras in France. Ruling out teams that have already qualified, five teams will be competing for the two vacancies: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Italy and the Netherlands. Two teams from Groups D and E will also qualify at the Pan American Games in October, and the final spot will be awarded to the highest-placed

FEI Eventing Nations Cup Team, which, with three qualifiers left, is currently Belgium.

Individual rankings once again have two places allocated per group to countries that have not qualified teams and then an additional three places to the next highest-ranked competitor from each country, with a maximum of two individuals per nation being eligible to qualify.

Some welcome news is that South Africans are able to obtain their Minimum Eligibility Requirements (MERs) and qualify for the Olympics from here this year, and so far, our very own KZN-based eventer Jessica George is leading the Group F rankings! Hopefully, she will remain on top as of the 31st December 2023! With Alexander Peternell, who is based abroad, sitting in tied third place in the rankings, the odds are currently in our favour to be represented in Paris!

For eventing, an MER is achieved by completing a CCI4*-L or CCI4*-S with no more than 45 dressage penalties, no jumping penalties, no more than 75 seconds over the optimal time for cross-country and no more than 16 showjumping penalties—only those with MERs count for FEI Olympic Rankings.

So far this year, Jessica has achieved her MERs at CCI4*-S Curry's Post - Mount Helmsley and CCI4*-S - Oaksprings. This means she will now need to obtain one qualifying result at either the CCI4*-L at Northern Farms or at Oaksprings later this year. She must also obtain a qualifying result in a CCI4*-S, 4*L or 5*L between 1st January 2024 and 24th June 2024 to secure her ticket and ultimately get there! Jessica and Alex - we are rooting for you!

SHOWJUMPING:

Of the 20 team spots available, so far, France, Sweden, Netherlands, Great Britain, Ireland, Germany, Belgium, Saudi Arabia, The United Arab Emirates, Australia, Japan and most recently Israel and Poland have secured their places.

This means there are seven team spots left up for grabs for jumping.

There are three team vacancies to be filled at the 2023 European Jumping Championships from Groups A and B, three vacancies at the 2023 Pan American games from Group D and E, and one last vacancy from the 2023 Jumping Nations Cup Final. With Saudi Arabia and The UAE taking the two Group F spots, sadly, South Africa will not be able to enter a showjumping team in the next Olympics.

There are, however, two individual spots for Group F up for grabs, so all hope is not lost! With one of our European-based riders Oliver Lazarus currently the 7th ranked rider on the Olympic Rankings for Group F with Butterfly Ennemmel, it is possible for him to move up into one of the top two spots by the 31st of December 2023!

Additionally, South Africa has been hosting several of their World Cups as Olympic qualifiers this year so individuals can meet the MERs and gain qualifying points. As our World Cups are built to a height of 1.55m, competitors will need to complete the first round of three FEI Jumping World Cup™ Competitions with a score of four (4) penalties or less between January 2023 and June 2024 to fulfil MERs to compete in the Olympic Games in Paris 2024. With two Olympic qualifiers completed, and two to go this year, we have eight combinations that are one round away from meeting the MERs:

are currently the 14th and 15th ranked riders, respectively, but as the Stokkiesdraai World Cup results have not yet been loaded to the rankings, we should see some changes soon!

at least one 64% or above score at a FEI Para Equestrian 3* event in a Grand Prix Test A or Grand Prix Test B from 1 January 2023 to 19 June 2024.

the Americas, Asia and Oceania. The remaining nations on the FEI Paralympic Team Ranking List. Without an eligible team from the African region at this stage, an additional spot will be available to the next highest-ranked nation.

As it currently stands, team qualification is looking likely for Australia and Canada in their regions, while the rest of the rankings are too close to bet on!

These team members automatically receive individual qualifications and will be joined by 18 individuals. The first 15 individual slots are allocated to the three highest-ranked athletes (excluding those with teams qualified) from each of the five regions on the FEI Para-Dressage Paralympic Ranking. Additionally, any nation may only qualify a maximum of two individuals. The final three slots will be allocated by the FEI and International Paralympic Committee (IPC) as

Bipartite Commission Invitation slots, which are awarded to top athletes who may not have had the opportunity to qualify due to extraordinary circumstances.

South Africa's very own Philippa JohnsonDwyer is currently sitting in 13th on the FEI Para-Dressage Paralympic Individual Rankings and is by far the highest qualified from the African region, and looking highly likely to be on her way to her 6th Paralympic appearance in Paris 2024!

The new logo is a synthesis of what we have been for almost fifty years and a promise of who we will be in the future. It stands for Prestige, but also for Partnership, Performance, Passion and Planet.

Groundwork

PART 7

YIELD THE FOREQUARTERS WITH A DIRECT FEEL

Over the past few months, we’ve received an increasing number of questions about getting started with groundwork. Whilst we advise that an instructor helps you to get started, there are a few basics that you can teach at home that

ultimately form the foundation of all groundwork activities. Over the following few issues, we will look at these basic building blocks of your groundwork toolbox and help you to build a solid foundation for your in-hand work.

HORSE

In this issue, we look at the forehand yield.

YIELD THE FOREQUARTERS WITH A DIRECT FEEL

The aim of this exercise is to get to the point where the horse, bending in the direction of the turn, walks forwards around the inside hind foot (on the opposite side to you) – picking it up and putting it down in virtually the same spot.

This manoeuvre is practised on the ground, stimulating the action of the rider’s aids so that the horse becomes familiar with the movement, learns to rebalance, and performs it with understanding when ridden.

HOW DO I DO THIS?

• Stand beside your horse’s neck facing him.

• Place one hand on his cheek and the other hand on his shoulder near his elbow.

• Without asking him to move his feet, ask him to turn his nose away from you a little so he is looking in the direction you want his forehand to move.

• Focus through his neck and project your energy where you want him to go.

• Keep his neck bent away from you, and ask him to step over by applying light pressure on his shoulder.

• When he takes even a single step to the side, step with him, release the pressure immediately, and praise him.

• Start with just one step, and over time build up step by step to a complete turn.

POINTS TO NOTE

• It is important to ensure your horse moves over in this exercise, not forwards or backwards.

• Ensure you do not lose the neck bend when the shoulders step across. You must step with your horse to keep his nose in the correct direction.

• Be sure to practice this equally from both sides.

BENEFITS

Through practising this exercise, your horse will become lighter and more manoeuvrable by using his hindquarters better and counteracting his natural inclination to push forward or out through his shoulder.

TOP TIPS

• Begin with just one step at a time, releasing all pressure and rewarding even the slightest try your horse makes. Remember that your horse doesn’t know what you want but will learn very quickly if you release at the right moment and praise his efforts.

• It can help for this exercise to visualize your horse as a gate, with his hindquarters being the hinge and the forequarters being the latch that opens for you to walk through. This often helps to focus your energy and direct where you need to move.

• Where you direct your energy and focus will have a strong effect on the direction your horse moves in. Ensure you focus through the neck, not in front or behind the horse.

PROBLEM SOLVING

• If your horse moves too much, stop and make sure you are clear about what you are asking for and break it down into individual steps. If he still moves his feet too much, you may need to keep turning with him until he stops, praise him for stopping, and ask just for neck

flexion. Once he can offer neck flexion without moving his feet, you can ask him to move his feet for one step. Be patient and reward him for every slightest improvement.

• If your horse does not move at all, keep your hand positioned on the shoulder and wait for even a slight shift of weight. Release and reward when he shifts his weight, and then ask for a bigger weight shift the next time before releasing and rewarding. Keep going with this until he can offer a full step.

• If your horse goes backwards, he may be feeling a little defensive. Use the halter to reposition him at the starting point rather than allowing him to move his feet and just ask him to flex away from you as a first step. You can ask for movement once he is comfortable and soft in his body while giving you neck flexion.

• If he moves around, but the hindquarters do not stay still, you probably do not have him bending away from you correctly, meaning he is ‘holding’ through his outside ribs. When he is more comfortable with the exercise, his body will relax, and his hindquarters will remain more steady.

• If the shoulders stay still, but the hindquarters move, you have simply bent the neck around too far.

TEXT: CRYSTAL BALDWIN

WAVE

SASHA CHELIN PHYSIOTHERAPY INTRODUCES

THIS NEW THERAPY TO SOUTH AFRICA

Afor our horses here in South Africa. the topic. groups. Penetration of the charge

can be up to 40cm into the equine body. Visible muscle twitching help to identify imbalances, pain or sore muscles that need to be further worked on by Magnawave.

THE BENEFITS

The benefits of PEMF include:

• The promotion of relaxation and stress reduction

• Pain management

• Improved circulation

• Accelerated recovery

• Reduced inflammation and soreness

• Joint and muscle health support

• Enhanced performance

• Hoof health support

• Muscle relaxation

• Improvement of gastrointestinal issues

WHAT THE RIDERS SAY

Post-treatment riders report that their horses feel more supple, relaxed and ‘straight’.

TAKE HOME MESSAGE

This amazing therapy can be used on all animals and humans. MagnaWave is used in nearly every competitive equestrian discipline for equine performance, health maintenance and recovery. MagnaWave for horses is a safe, effective, drug-free alternative to keep your horse in optimal health. The MagnaWave we have currently in SA is FEI legal and may be used during competition.

To find out more, contact Sasha Chelin Physiotherapy on 079 544 3549

Bronwyn Meredith Dos

Santos and Capital Levubu

- Stokkiesdraai WCQ 2023

Photography: Crystal Baldwin

Farriers and foals

QUICK FIRE QUESTIONS WITH STEPHEN BLAKEY

Q: How old is a foal when you first have to take a look at it as a farrier?

A: Foals can be assessed from as young two weeks of age, and if needed the feet can be balanced at this stage. However, it is more usual for the first trim to occur at four weeks of age.

Q: Up to what age can you make corrections?

A: The closure of the growth plates restricts the time you have to correct these issues. Conformational problems in the fetlock and below should be dealt with before three months of age, and with the knee you can still make changes up until about one year of age.

Q: What are the most common issues you see in foals in your practice?

A: These are divided between fetlock varus (turning in from the fetlock usually in conjunction with offset knees) and carpus valgus (outward deviation of the lower leg from the knee). With fetlock varus, I tend to use extensions, which I have used with good success. Carpus valgus usually requires surgical intervention and extensions, and in most cases the vet will perform a periosteal strip.

Q: Irregular feet often develop because the foals place their forelegs wide to be able to graze. Is there anything breeders can do to prevent 'grazing feet' developing?

A: These issues are very rare in my practice. The most important element is to have your foals trimmed monthly and to not over trim the feet. If we have severe problems, we usually do surgery. This may involve the vet cutting the check ligament.

Q: Is there any specific advice you would give to breeders about feet?

A: The best advice for breeders is have your youngstock done on a regular four week cycle. Foals grow rapidly and change all the time, so it’s best to keep on top of their feet. I’d also advise using someone who has extensive knowledge and experience in working with young stock.

Crucial conformation

Part 6: The jaws and teeth, mouth and muzzle, nostrils and throatlatch

When choosing or evaluating a horse, there are many factors to consider: breed, breed type (how the horse embodies the characteristics of his breed or type), pedigree, colour, temperament and personality. However, the most important element is the conformation, particularly if you want the horse to have an athletic career or breed. Choosing a horse based on an understanding of conformation makes it less likely that you will endure the disappointment or heartbreak of a career-ending injury or early loss of use due to arthritis or injury.

A horse with good conformation has no apparent faults that detract from his general appearance and function. Crucially, however, conformation is not just about looks but also about suitability for the job the horse will be asked to do. Some of the 'rules' of conformation are based on pure physics – structural strength, leverage forces and proper angles, for instance – and these help us understand why some horses stay sound and others do not.

Of course, some horses with poor conformation go on to be winners, but these are truly the exception to the rule. Most of the best equine athletes possess certain qualities of good conformation that enable them to perform at a higher level. Generally, the horse with good conformation and proper body and leg angles experiences less wear and tear on joints and other structures. He is more apt to stay sound and perform well during a long life of athletic service than a horse with serious conformational flaws.

In our last issue, we looked at the overall conformation of the head of the horse. Here we dive in-depth into the jaws and teeth, the mouth and muzzle, the nostrils and the throatlatch.

THE JAWS AND TEETH

In horses, the jaw should be clearly defined, and the space between the two sides of the lower jaw (the deep groove that runs between them underneath the head) should be wide, with enough room for the larynx and the muscle

attachments. To check the width, make a first and place it fingers up, with the back of the hand facing the neck, under the horse's throatlatch, then slide it forward between the two jawbones. If there is room to accommodate all four knuckles of an average-sized man's hand (at least 7.5cm), this is considered a good width. A wide space between the upper ends of the lower jaw is regarded favourably because it allows enough room for a large windpipe to run in an unrestricted fashion.

The cheek should not be too large and heavy. A big cheek adds a lot of weight to the head. It also reduces the horse's ability to flex at the poll to bring his head and neck into proper position for collection and for balancing himself during various movements. Furthermore, heavy cheeks can hinder the horse's breathing when he is working hard and may even prevent him from positioning his tongue properly when eating, drinking, and swallowing.

The cheekbones should be well constructed because they support the molars, which are essential for chewing. In profile, the horse's molars lie along the line that starts below the upper corner of the horse's eye and ends about 2.5cm above the corner of his mouth. The bone structure supporting the line of molars should be substantial, giving plenty of width to the horse's cheekbones, which should look prominent and well-sculpted. In essence, ideally, a horse should not be too narrow through the cheeks, but equally, the cheeks must not be too large or heavy.

The upper and lower jaw should match in length, and the top and bottom sets of teeth should meet evenly. A horse with an overbite (referred to as a parrot mouth) or an undershot jaw may struggle to eat, and it can be a challenge for him to consume enough to meet his energy requirements. A serious mismatch makes it difficult for the horse to bite off grass when grazing and impossible for him to chew properly, which will affect his roughage intake, putting him at risk of colic, ulcers and behavioural issues. He will also develop dental problems due to

misalignment, specifically hooks on the first and last molars, as the opposite tooth does not wear them evenly. These hooks hinder the proper movement of the jaws, which in turn can interfere with the positioning of his head, affecting his athletic performance.

NOTE: A mismatch of jaws may not be immediately apparent when looking at a horse unless you open his mouth to see if the top and bottom teeth meet evenly. Make sure you look at a horse's teeth before purchasing him!

THE MOUTH AND MUZZLE

Ideally, the horse's mouth should not be too deep or too shallow when measured from the front of the incisors to the corner of the mouth. A deep mouth extends beyond the narrowest part of the chin, and a shallow mouth ends below the narrow chin groove.

The muzzle should be smooth and proportionate in size to the head, not too coarse or too narrow. A too-small muzzle might suggest inadequate width of nostrils and air passages and improper jaw alignment.

DID YOU KNOW?

Draft horses tend to have small nostrils since they originate in colder climates (a smaller nostril is advantageous for protecting their lungs from too much cold air) and do not need substantial amounts of air to do their slow, steady work.

THE NOSTRILS

Unlike us, horses cannot breathe through their mouths very easily because the soft palate at the roof of the mouth tends to drop down, obstructing the air passages. Therefore, the horse must be able to inhale and exhale large volumes of air through his nostrils when exercising. For this reason, the nostrils should be very wide as well as thin and elastic to allow for maximum expansion. A horse with small, narrow or thick-walled nostrils cannot expand them enough for adequate air intake when exerting themselves.

THE THROATLATCH

The throatlatch, where the jaw joins the neck, should be open and clean rather than a heavy conglomeration of muscle and fat. The oesophagus, windpipe, blood supply and nerves all pass through the throatlatch. If the area is too thick and heavy, these passageways are constricted when the horse bends his neck. Fineness and cleanness in this area is also important to allow for a good range of motion of the head on the neck.

The throatlatch should not be thick and bulky, but it should be wide. As one would imagine, a narrow throatlatch can constrict the airway, making the horse more prone to respiratory problems. It may also cause restricted upper airways or air turbulence due to the impairment of the nerve that opens the larynx. This is associated with 'roaring', the loud raspy sound some horses make when they inhale when galloping. Surgery is often required to fix this issue.

Finally, the angle of the throat should not be sharp and cramped but gradual and arched. For proper neck flexion, there should be some space between the large first vertebrae of the neck and the cheekbone.

NEXT TIME

In our next edition, we will be looking at the neck of the horse and how the conformation of this structure affects the horse's athletic ability.

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