WARHORSE

LORELOCK CONQUERER AKA GALINDEZ

Photography: Amy White Media

HQ: Tell us a bit about your background in horses.

TP: My name is Tacita Anne Peters, and horses are in my blood. Horses are a passion that has always been within me since I was a little girl. My father, legendary horse-racing commentator Craig 'Eagle-Eye' Peters, introduced me to these majestic creatures at a young age through his love for them, and I have been in awe of horses ever since.

I started riding at the age of six or seven years old; at the time, I was having ballet lessons, which, to this day, I still believe contributed to a good posture, elegance and focus, which has served me well within my equestrian endeavours. I remember I wanted to start having horse riding lessons, and my mom, Lorraine, agreed that if I still wished to do so when I was ten years old, I could move away from my ballet and take up my passion.

Well, needless to say, on my tenth birthday, I hung up my ballet shoes for a pair of riding boots.

I got my first pony at the age of eleven years old. He was an Arabian pony called Mount Shar Shar Xenophon, who was from the SPCA horse rescue. He was a beautiful silver grey with a free spirit, full of fire and fun. As a child, I remember riding him bareback, exploring the sugar cane fields, stopping for picnics with my friends and having the most wonderful adventures together. We started competing in Pony Club very successfully (when Xeni was in the mood) and sometimes, not so successfully, such as the time at the Pietermaritzburg Pony Show, held at the Royal Show Grounds, where Xeni slipped during the showjumping course; I fell off and he proceeded to jump some of the track by himself in fine fashion, giving the crowds great entertainment!

I then moved into my Junior career and had the privilege of owning the most handsome, kind and willing Thoroughbred horse called Sweet n' Free, aka Shub ('good-looking' in Lebanese). He taught me confidence, determination, and strong will, and he gave me unconditional love. Shub and I moved up into the higher grades of showjumping, equitation and dressage, competing very successfully across all disciplines. He was an absolute gem of a horse that radiated with ring presence. That horse still has my heart; every time I think of him, I know he was the horse that gave everything to me and taught me so many life lessons that have moulded me into who I am as a rider.

Equitation has always been a passion of mine, and in my junior career, I held the title of Kwa-Zulu Natal Open Equitation Champion twice. I was also selected twice to captain the KZN Equitation Team. One of my proudest moments was having the honour of competing in the prestigious Philip Smith Memorial Cup; it was the experience of a lifetime.

In my adult career, I still own a super Namibian Warmblood called Locarno Just Happy. He is a 15,3hh firecracker who jumps every paddock fence, no matter what height. This included a 1.50m+ electric fence that allowed him to escape into the sugar cane fields, where we chased him on four-wheelers to try to bring him home. I seem to pick them fiery and full of character, which I love. Happy competed up the grades into the Open categories, and gave me great joy. He was a true gentleman in the stable but feisty in the ring. He was a tricky horse because he enjoyed jumping at pace, but he was very aware of his surroundings, which could either give us an 'out of this world' round or, especially in his early years, end up with me on the floor. He is happily retired at the age of 21 years, living his best life…still jumping paddock fences.

My passion for the Equitation discipline still continues. I am a Master Judge, which was an achievement, as I was the youngest person to be promoted to this elite panel and level. As a SANEF-qualified coach, I have a passion for coaching and enjoy giving clinics in between balancing my full-time corporate job, my horse-riding, my showjumping, my position as KZN equitation chairperson, as well as my friends and family.

I am currently competing in the 1.30m grade with my 'war horse', Lorelock Conquerer, aka Galindez. We finished off the 2023 season as the KZN 1.30m Adult Showjumping Champions, which I am exceptionally proud of. I am also very fortunate to have the opportunity to ride and compete a very talented Brandenburg mare, who is beautiful and aptly named 'Brandenburg Cleopatra'. We hold the 2023 KZN 1.10m Adult Showjumping Championship title.

HQ: Tell us about your 'war horse'

TP: This is my war horse, Lorelock Conquerer. He is a South African Warmblood from the wonderful Lorelock Stud. He is a 10-year-old gelding by Captain Zelano out of Lorelock Bernadette and was born on the 24th of October 2013. He is beautifully bred with a big match temperament in the ring, massive power and scope, and to top it off, he is a very kind soul.

The story of how we came to be is actually quite endearing. It seemed that the stars aligned and pushed us toward each other. My mom, Lorraine, had seen him jump at a show and fell in love with him instantly, being drawn to him by his strong will, majestic presence and that 'X-factor' that can't be explained but is just there. He was not on the market; however, Carol Nurden, a very highly accredited rider, horsewoman, and friend, agreed to let me sit on him and try him out. As soon as he picked up the trot, I just knew that we were meant to be. I will be forever grateful to Carol for allowing Galindez and me to be together.

His nickname, 'Galindez', speaks to his war horse type of personality. The name is taken from a world-famous boxing champion who was tough, won World Championship titles and was a 'fighter'. Galindez is always full of scars from playing in the paddock and is strong and built like a boxer; hence, his nickname, which my father, Craig, gave rise to and has stuck as it is so fitting. My family is unwavering in their support and enjoyment of this great journey of ours.

I call him my 'war horse' because I feel he could carry me into war, face the toughest challenges, and still have my back.

He is an amazing horse; his talent is superb, but what makes him so special to me is his ability to stay calm under pressure and focus on the job at hand. He fights for me when we are in the ring and exudes confidence. He is my teammate, and when I need him, he lifts me up, and when he needs me, I lift him up. You can't ask for more in a partner because that is what he is to me; when you go into that showjumping ring, it is all about how much you are willing to give and try for each other, and we will do whatever it takes. This is a testament to how brilliantly Anri and Rita Mare bred him at Lorelock Stud. I am sure that the late, very kind Rita Mare, who was always so supportive of us would be extremely proud of the horse he has become.

HQ: What are your hopes and aspirations for this partnership?

TP: 2024 is a very exciting year filled with great opportunities. I have an amazing support system in my family, my friends, AAN Equine and a team that works together to continue growing us as a pair. My brilliant coach, Lauriane Minett and anchor and support, Martin Minett continuously coach and guide us towards our goals, with further support and flatwork teachings from Eric Higgs. Our hope for this year is to move up into the 1.35m/1.40m grades of showjumping and be competitive whilst gaining more experience at a national level. Most of all, though, I want to enjoy the journey ahead and all the moments it brings with this magnificent horse.