THE NEXT GENERATION

AT HOYS

TEXT: AMELIA CAMPBELL-HORNE PHOTOGRAPHY: MERLYNN TRICHARDT

We love it when we see the next generation of our leading equestrians entering the ring, but we love it even more when these future champs are encouraged to try out a variety of disciplines, especially ones that encourage bonding time with their horses and ponies!

We caught up with a few of our next-gen and their parents (and grandparents) to hear about their experience of HOYS...

LILLY KORBER

Lilly is the first child of Rainer and Jeanne Korber, two of our top showjumping contenders. Lilly and her pony, Lady Athelina, had some winning moments and some learning moments, but they always left the arena with a smile…

HQ: As a parent, why is it important that your child does several disciplines, including showing?

Jeanne: We feel it is very good for our children to experience different disciplines. Just because we are showjumpers does not mean they have to be. It also teaches them ring craft and different aspects of riding.

HQ: Do you have any top showing tips as a parent?

Jeanne: Buy a pony or horse with black or brown legs! Jokes aside, make sure you have enough preparation time to get your pony/horse turned out and ready; it takes long!

HQ: What classes did Lilly and her pony do?

Jeanne: Lilly competed on her pony, Lady Athelina, in the Pony Rider Novice Classes in the Show Hunter, Show Riding, Working Hunter and Working Riding Classes. She really rode beautifully and learnt a lot! They came third in the Working Riding.

HQ: How did you find HOYS, Lilly?

Lilly: HOYS was really fun! I enjoyed it so much; Lady was such a good pony. My favourite part was that I could ride in the Bob Charter, but unfortunately, I fell off in the dyke… But I’m so proud of Lady for getting a third place for me in the Working Riding. We had lots of fun, and she was the best pony ever!

HQ: What is your favourite showing class and why?

Lilly: Working Hunter is my favourite class because I love jumping and the gallop at the end, and Lady also really enjoys it.

HQ: What is your favourite and least favourite thing about showing?

Lilly: My favourite thing about showing is that Lady always looks so beautiful, and my least favourite thing is that you always have to dress up so fancy!

LAYAH GLIKSMAN

Our resident speed queen’s daughter, Layah, had a super outing at HOYS, making it to the Supreme Young Child’s Championship for their Working Hunter Win, and picking up a few more tickets along the way!

HQ: As a parent and coach, why is it important that children do showing?

Tamar: I think all kids should do showing! It’s a great discipline to teach kids how to be good horsemen, from the preparation of the ponies to the in-hand work, as opposed to just getting on and jumping. It also teaches them amazing ring craft (if that’s the right word), to think for themselves, and to lose!

HQ: What was your experience of the Children’s Classes at HOYS?

Tamar: We loved the show! The judges were so kind to the kids, encouraging showing and making it a great experience for them. We loved prepping the horses; the whole yard got involved, and my grooms had amazing team spirit. In the Supreme Class, they all got prizes, and my daughter came out so happy. We have to thank the sponsors, too. It’s amazing to see such big companies as Bongela Mining and Pomona Road Truck Sales sponsoring the showing!

HQ: Layah, what was your favourite thing about HOYS?

Layah: I loved being with my ponies, and I loved seeing the different ponies, especially the Miniatures in the Grooms’ Class. The Arab dress-up class was also really fun!

win or buck through the whole class and refuse to move forward... But I still love him! Pinky is a new partnership, so we only entered one class, and he came second. He’s a young pony, and I was so proud of both of us. I’m very excited about future shows, because he is the nicest person, and we are becoming good friends. Then there is Little

HQ: Can you tell us a bit about the ponies you rode:

Layah: Baloo is my first pony, and I am in love with him. He's my golden boy, but he does whatever he feels like on the day. He will either go in and win or buck through the whole class and refuse to move forward... But I still love him! Pinky is a new partnership, so we only entered one class, and he came second. He’s a young pony, and I was so proud of both of us. I’m very excited about future shows, because he is the nicest person, and we are becoming good friends. Then there is Little Copper Coin; he's 20 years old, and I adore him... He's quite big, but he makes me feel so brave!

HQ: What do you love about riding?

Layah: 1. Being surrounded by ponies and your friends all day and all weekends

2. Ponies are my babies

3. I love winning

4. And I love going fast, jumping big and doing tests!

(HQ: wonder where she gets that from…)

QINN LUDEN

Qinn is our next-generation star, coming from a family line that has had success in all facets of equestrian sport in the country! With a family involved in racing, breeding, Derby winning (Aunt Kelly O’Connor), and even equestrian attire (Macqmac), Qinn has the ‘pedigree’ to excel!

We had a quick catch-up with a few family members and checked out their impressively organized set-up at the show.

HQ: We asked ‘Gogo’ Celeste Lochoff what her key to a successful showing outing is.

Celeste: Between Dom (Qinn’s mom) and myself, we try to have everything you could possibly need for showing with us - from safety pins to elastics for numbers. Dom has a box, especially for Qinn’s hair goodies and ties and Galahad’s browbands! A good outing is seeing Qinn remembering the test the judge has asked for and the pony behaving well! Preparation and attention to detail, from the pony’s condition to Qinn being relaxed, are essential. I think it is very important for her at this age to learn to take the losses with the wins.

HQ: Can you tell us a bit about Qinn and her pony?

Dom: Qinn has been riding since she was two years old, and she’s had her pony, Sir Galahad, since 2022. They started on-lead rein together and went off-lead last year, ending the year as SANESA National Champions in Dressage, Equitation, and Performance Riding for Level 0.

HQ: What classes did she enter at HOYS, and how did it all go?

Dom: This HOY, they entered the following four classes: SASA Child’s First Pony, SASA Child’s First Working Pony, SANESA Show Riding Pony and SANESA Working Riding Pony. They won the SASA Child’s First Working Pony and the SANESA Show Riding Pony, which qualified them for the Young Child’s Supreme class. They also came second in the SANESA Working Riding Pony.

HQ: What is your favourite showing class and why?

Qinn: It’s the Show Pony Class because I get to make my pony look pretty!

HQ: What is your favourite part of showing?

Qinn: My favourite part is cantering a figure of eight.

HQ: What is your least favourite part of showing?

Qinn: Wearing the hot jacket!

HQ: What showing title/prize would you love to win one day?

Qinn: I want to win a Supreme Class at HOYS so that I can win a trophy, a sash and a day sheet for my pony!

HQ: We’ll look out for that moment in the future!

FINAL THOUGHTS

There are big things to come from these three ladies, and we look forward to seeing them excel across multiple disciplines in 2024.