HQ Pony Magazine Issue 28

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Hello!

Welcome to Issue 28 of HQ Pony Magazine.

September is a big month in the equestrian calendar this year, with the United Aviation Group Derby starting on the 27th of September. This is one of our favourite events, and we’re thrilled to hear that the action on the big day (1st October) will be livestreamed, so even if you can’t get a ticket, you’ll be able to view from home. We’d love to hear who you think will take home the trophy so drop us a DM or send us an email to let us know.

While you’re waiting for the Derby fever to hit, you can dive into this edition of HQ Pony Magazine to keep your horsey cravings at bay. In this edition, we have lots of interviews from all sorts of inspirational equestrians in our sport. From Janine Coetzee who just jumped her first 1.40m aboard the super-talented Capital Harrison, to KyraSchaé Lombard who has started an equestrian business before even leaving school – there’s something to pique your interest.

Enjoy this issue, and we hope to see you at Derby at the end of the month.

Until then, happy horsing!

GET IN TOUCH

We’d love to hear from you and receive your photos, drawings or pony-related thoughts. To get in touch send an email to lizzie@hqmagazine.co.za and we’ll get back to you!

Lizzie and the HQ Pony Team

Spotted at South African Adult Championships at Stokkiesdraai

Photography: Merlynn Trichardt Photography

Janine Coetzee

The definition of dedicated

HQP had the opportunity to catch up with rising Junior star Janine Coetzee after she recently jumped her first 1.40m.

HQP: Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

Janine: I turned 16 this year, and I do homeschooling, which gives me more time to ride my horses and my sister's horses, as she recently broke her leg. I started riding with my mom, and I was at Winstead to begin with. Now I am coached by the fantastic Charley Crockart, Adrian van Wyk and Mark Fox.

Interestingly, I'm the third generation of riders in my family; my granny used to ride, my grandpa rode, and so did my mom. From when I was little, my mom used to put me on a pony, and that is how I would fall asleep!

HQP: So, you were basically born to ride!

Janine: Yep, my mom got me into it and started with me, and then I moved on to Kirsten (Winn). I was probably about two months old when I was first put on a horse, but I properly started when I was around four years old.

Caracas. Photography: Merlynn Trichardt Photography

Text | Amelia Campbell Horne

Photography: Merlynn Trichardt

Horse and rider

HQP: So, did you know from then that it was what you wanted to do?

Janine: 100%! My gran asked me this question when I was maybe 4 or 5; she asked me and my two siblings (older sister Jade and younger brother Jonty) what we wanted to jump when we were older. My brother and sister both said 1.50m, and then she asked me, and I said, "No, 1.60m!" I've always had a love for the sport, and I hope it takes me far one day.

HQP: Well, from what we hear, we're sure it will! Can you tell us a bit about your Pony Rider experience?

Janine: So, my pony rider experience was TERRIBLE, but at least we can laugh about this now. They bought me this pony when I was about five; it wouldn't jump over a pole on the ground, and it was very naughty! In the end, I jumped her up to the 1m classes by the time I was 11, and she was only 13 hands tall. But, sjoe, she was naughty! My record for falling off her was seven times in 15 minutes…

HQP: Were they trying to test how badly you wanted to ride!?

Janine: I think so (laughing).

HQP: And falling off never put you off riding?

Capital Kamron. Photography: Merlynn Trichardt Photography

HQP: So, then you moved on to Juniors; how did that go?

Janine: After this little 'pony', I got a horse called Versuvio. When we went to go try him out, he nearly bucked me off, and I was like, "This is the one". He taught me how to sit and how to ride. He bucked me off so many times that in the end, my grandparents said, "We are taking you off this horse; he's going to injure you."

So, then we were looking for a new horse, and that is when we found Lettie (the Legend), a.k.a Quiletta. She was wild and kept running away from me, but I knew from that day that she was a champion and she was going to make me as a rider.

So, we bought her, and we took her to Blouberg in 2019, having only had her for three days, and I won the 1m Championship. I had her for three years and won five or six big Children's titles with her. She gave me so much confidence and made me the rider I am today.

Capital Kamron. Photography: Merlynn Trichardt Photography

Horse and rider

HQP: Lettie was quite small, wasn't she?

Janine: Yes, she is tiny; she's 15hh, and she also qualified us for the Top 16 for Aachen, and she jumped around a 1.35m track! She may be tiny, but she has the heart of a lion, so that is all that matters.

From Lettie, I moved on to Ardenn Villers, who Charley found for me. I had to decide in two hours if I wanted her or not, but it all worked out. We started to build a partnership; I won the Junior 1.35m Gauteng Champs, and after that, she, unfortunately, had an injury, so then we weren't sure what to do!

Charley suggested Capital Harrison; we all thought she was crazy, and I didn't think I would ever be able to ride this horse because he is big, strong, and just a buffalo. I got on anyway, and I'm not going to lie, he scared me quite a lot in the beginning, but the partnership has just grown from there. I've been riding him for about a year now, and here we are, having just jumped our first 1.40m classes!

Caracas. Photography: Merlynn Trichardt Photography

HQP: Your family purchased Harrison as a young horse off the Capital Stud Auction, didn't they?

Janine: Yes, he was the cheapest horse we have ever bought off an Auction! I also got another Capital off an Auction, and that is Capital Kamron. He was given to Kelly O'Connor to ride. She took him overseas for a bit, and then when she decided to come back, she thought he would be the perfect ride for me, so she handed the ride over to me. He has been lots of hard work. I've jumped him up to the 1.35m, and he's been super, but he is probably the one I have worked the hardest on. He's got a small brain, but I love him so much.

I also have Caracas, who I'm not allowed to say is my favourite, but he is my favourite horse out of all my horses!

HQP: Don't worry, we won't tell the others…

Janine: I've had Caracas for just over six months; everyone told me I wouldn't be able to ride this horse but look at where we are now, winning in the 1.35s! He's a bit crazy but has been just incredible.

Capital Kamron. Photography: Merlynn Trichardt Photography

HQP: And you're quite busy at the moment with your sister out with an injury; we hear you are riding her horses too?

Janine: Yep, so I'm riding Capital Houghton, Catinio, Belissimo and Capital Hawk, and then I am also riding another horse called Cornerstone's Burmeister for Anton Hoek. Cornerstone's Burmeister is a six-year-old stallion that I only started on about six months ago, and he's been going so well. I am so thankful that Anton trusts me to ride him.

HQP: But that's not all, right? There are also some young horses on the way?

Janine: Yes! So, it's a funny story; we have two three-year-olds that were the first horses we ever bred ourselves. Before they were born, Jade got the first pick, and then I got the other one. Her one is called Cipriano, and my one is Quintana, but Cipriano was really naughty as a two-year-old, and Jade didn't want to deal with that, so she asked if we could swap. I said of course, because I love greys, and there is just something special about him. So, we did our swap, but now, as three-year-olds, she wants to swap back, but I'm not going to swap again; he's going to be incredible.

Capital Harrison. Photography: Crystal Baldwin Photography

HQP: So, you recently jumped your first 1.40m with Harrison. Was it his first as well?

Janine: Yes! Charley produced him for us; he has only ever jumped one 1.35m class with her. He and I have then won the 1.30m Derby and have had placings in the 1.35m, and then we did our first 1.40m at the World Cup Qualifier in Shongweni this month.

HQP: That is amazing; congratulations! How did you feel about your round and the experience?

Janine: It is obviously nerve-wracking because it's so big, and it was my first time jumping up. I was so nervous, but at the end of the day, I told myself that it was just a big 1.35m - nothing more. The nice thing about Harry is that he will never stop, try to hurt you, or get you off. He might have a few down, but I know I'll get around, so I trusted him enough, and he makes you feel so safe when you are on him, so it was easy once that bell went.

Caracas. Photography: Merlynn Trichardt Photography

Horse and rider

HQP: We like that advice – 'a big 1.35m'! And huge congratulations!

Janine: Thank you. I am so grateful to my grandparents and mom for all the opportunities and support they have given me and the great string of horses because I could not have asked for better. They do so much hard work to keep it all running.

HQP: So, what characteristics do you look for in a horse, and what are the most important things for you when choosing a horse?

Janine: The funny thing is, I hate getting new horses! But I would say I look for compact horses with suppleness in their body; the long ones are too hard to hold together. The most important thing I then look for is their mindset; they need to be able to work with me, not against me. They have to have a good mind and be brave.

Capital Kamron. Photography: Merlynn Trichardt Photography

HQP: You've touched on the impact Charley has had as a coach and in producing your horses and helping you find the right ones. Can you tell us a bit more about that?

Janine: So, when I first moved to Charley, I was a SANESA School Pony Rider. I just went; I didn't count and didn't think. We have built a great relationship, and I never see myself ever leaving her; she has done fantastic things for my riding. When I first started going to lessons, I think I cried for two months straight because I couldn't get anything right, but once it finally clicked, she made me the rider I am today. She gives me so much confidence, and I love the way she knows when to push and when to be sympathetic; she doesn't just keep pushing until you break.

HQP: What does a day in the life of Janine look like (at the moment)?

Janine: It's not a very healthy lifestyle! I wake up at 6am, start riding at 8am, and ride all eight horses. Some days are different as I go to ride the stallion at Anton's, and that takes the whole afternoon, and sometimes I go to Charley. I stop at lunch to eat and do a bit of schoolwork. I generally get home at 5.30pm, start schoolwork at 6pm, finish that a few hours later, and start again the next morning. Once Jade is back riding, I'll be able to go back to doing schoolwork in the afternoons. I am so thankful the rides on her horses got passed on to me, though, and I am so thankful for all the experience.

Caracas. Photography: Merlynn Trichardt Photography

Horse and rider

HQP: How's the schoolwork going?

Janine: Sometimes my brain switches off at night, and I know to call it and go to sleep, but generally not bad; I'm getting mostly As and Bs. The only reason I do online school is so that I can ride my horses. I'd much rather ride my horses than go to a 'normal' school.

HQP: What are your goals for your junior career?

Janine: I would like to form a better partnership with Capital Kamron and Caracas, and I'm really hoping once Caracas and I have built that partnership that, I can win at least one SA Champs on him (any of them - I'm not being picky). I'd like to win an Outdoor Grand Prix and gain lots of knowledge and experience, and ride as many horses as I can because one day, I want to be the type of rider that can get on anything, make it jump and win. That's the type of rider I want to be one day, so I am working really hard towards that.

Caracas. Photography: Merlynn Trichardt Photography

HQP: What are your long-term goals?

Janine: I don't know yet. I really want to go overseas for university, but I also don't want to stop riding. I think I'd go mad if I didn't ride. I was saying to my grandparents the other day that once Jade is better and riding, I am going to feel like half my horses have been taken away! I guess I'm enjoying what I have now and will cross that bridge when I get there as I'm only 16, so I have time.

Caracas. Photography: Merlynn Trichardt Photography

Horse and rider

HQP: Any advice for Pony and Junior riders?

Janine: Because 1.20m to 1.30m is a big step up, I'd say to a new 1.30m rider to look at it like it's a big 1.20m and try not to think too much. Also, you need to remember you are doing this sport because you love it. If you're doing it to make money or win all the time, I don't think you are doing it for the right reasons. Enjoy it, even if you come out with twenty rails or two stops; remember you are doing it for the love of the sport, not to get anything out of it.  Finally, whatever you do, be 100% committed; even if you are on the wrong stride, commit! Don't ever doubt, do what you love and enjoy, and love the horse first!!

HQP: What is the motto you live by?

Janine: Appreciate the hard times because the hard times are a small price to pay for what you will achieve later. When you go for a run, and you feel that burn in your stomach, or you are working really hard when you are riding – you need to appreciate those times. They make you who you are.

Caracas. Photography: Merlynn Trichardt Photography

Spotted at South African Adult Championships at Stokkiesdraai

Photography: Merlynn Trichardt Photography

Recognising achievements

Georgia Biet and Barbery Savoy Affair jump their first 1.50m

Western Cape’s Georgia Biet and her 11-year-old gelding, Barberg Savoy Affair, jumped their first 1.50m class at the WCQ at Stokkiesdraai. We were thrilled to catch up with Georgia after her momentous achievement with this special gelding.

Text | Georgia Harley Photography: Crystal Baldwin

Horse and rider

HQP: How did you come across Savoy, and what led you to buy him?

Georgia: Barberg Savoy Affair was bred by Cally Hotson of Barberg Stud and then sold to Rivendell Stud, which is where we first saw him. The original plan was to purchase him as a production job, which luckily didn’t work out! It was love at first sight; he had this presence about him with his fiery red coat and chrome - he looked like he glowed. Even as a gangly three-year-old, he was beautiful!

HQP: A horse needs many qualities to jump the big classes. Did you always know he would jump the bug grades? Or what made you realise?

Georgia: Savoy was hopeless as a young horse - very clumsy and awkward! Initially, there was nothing spectacular about his jump, but I had faith that the quality I believed was there would come to the fore. As Savoy matured, his quality became more and more apparent. His step and quality are unparalleled in any other horse I have ridden.

His heart became apparent as he grew from the young horse classes to the bigger grades. I was convinced that he would always try for me, but I was never sure if we would actually achieve this crazy dream of jumping the 1.50m!

I’m very grateful to my sponsors, VIP Equestrian South Africa, Karien du Toit Lutz Veterinary Physiotherapy and Regenesis Vet, for their support on this crazy journey!

HQP: Have there been any challenges the two of you have faced as a partnership?

Georgia: Savoy is a stereotypical red head and a princess to boot! He has a hot and tricky mind; we often call him the pressure cooker, as he can blow. Sculpting his mind has been our biggest challenge.

HQP: How did you prepare for your first 1.50m? Did your training programme change leading up to the class?

Georgia: Savoy has been living in Johannesburg since mid-May, and I have only been able to ride him a handful of times in the time he’s been there. We had never planned to jump our first 1.50m at the Stokkies WCQ, but he had jumped so well in the first 1.40m class that we decided to give it a go! Prior to the show, I hadn’t been able to ride him for three and a half weeks, so I’m grateful to the team at Disa Stables that kept him ticking over in this time.

Horse and rider

HQP: What does a normal week look like for you and Savoy when you are back home in Cape Town?

Georgia: In a normal week, Savoy will lunge on a Monday and school on the flat on Tuesday. On Wednesdays, we train with Damian Stevens, who’s been with us since day one. On Thursdays, we hack, and on Fridays, we either focus on fitness or flat work, depending on what the weekend has in store. When not at a show on the weekend, Savoy will spend the weekend in the big, spacious paddocks we are lucky to have at home in Cape Town.

HQP: What are your plans with Savoy now? Which shows can we expect to see you at?

Georgia: Savoy and I will finish our Johannesburg stay with the SA Showjumping Champs at Stokkiesdraai. He will then make the trip home, where we will jump at the Mistico Outdoor Grand Prix in October and the Mistico Indoor Grand Prix in November.

HQP: Congratulations, Georgia and Savoy! We look forward to seeing much more of you both in the future.

EQUINITY

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EQUINITY

And the young equestrian entrepreneur

Every now and again, we come across one of those stories that we just can't ignore, and this is one of those. At the Midfeeds Spring Sale, we came across a friendly matric student named Kyra-Schaé Lombard, who was working at one of the pop-up stands to launch her new business: Equinity. We caught up with her to learn more about this exciting new venture!

Interview | Amelia Campbell-Horne

HQP: That is super! How was the move to Juniors?

Kyra: So, I started in Juniors on my horse Bruce, but he sadly passed away at the end of last year. Hailey Strydom then very kindly gave me the ride on Locarno Cosmopolitan. With the guidance of Chad Cunningham and Bronwyn Dos Santos, I was able to move up to the Junior 1.30m Open Classes. Last year, I did a bit of Equitation on Cosmo and jumped her and 4max Copan, but I've always found Showjumping is my passion, and it's what I'm good at, so I want to pursue that to the best of my abilities.

HQP: And your horse-riding plans going forward?

Kyra: With regards to next year, I want to focus on the business and hopefully grow that. I also want to start building a name for myself as a work rider. My two rides are getting a bit older, so I do not feel it is fair to try to be so competitive on them in the higher grades. In the future, I'd love for the business to take off and grow, and then we plan to put a few mares in foal so that we can grow my own string of horses, which is exciting. We are going to give breeding and starting from scratch a try, as we can't afford to buy a top, going horse.

HQP: Have you got your eye on any stallions or do you have a favourite?

Kyra: We're not sure now, but I love Capital Impossible, so some of his babies would be amazing! We've also looked at Contendro I but haven't made any decisions yet.

Horse and rider

HQ: Moving on to your new business, how did it all begin?

Kyra: Well, when I was trying to figure out what to do after school, I asked my parents what I could do to make my own money but still ride while doing it. My mom asked, "What do you know how to do?". We ruled out finance and people-focused jobs and looked towards something outdoorsy and animal-based.

We then considered that we've always been giving our horses rooibos tea. People used to joke with us and ask if it did anything, but we saw huge benefits, especially for their skin and coats. We also noted that their general health was always exceptional. We've also had people ask us how and why our horses look so well, and we put it down to the rooibos tea.

We have been giving our horses premium grade rooibos, and we realised that no one else in South Africa is supplying this premium grade for horses, so this was the niche in the market we were looking for. The premium-grade we supply is suitable for both human and animal consumption, so you can feed it to a baby and your animals, making the market quite wide, but as my passion is horses, so we decided to focus there.

HQP: You just have one product at the moment; are there plans to add more?

Kyra: Yes, we knew that it would be difficult to get our product into retail outlets with just one product, so we are looking to increase what we offer, but we are taking it one step at a time. Realistically, you can't grow a business with 20 products overnight!

My parents have thankfully assisted me with the capital, to begin with, but I'm still at school and don't have a job, so we need to get the one product to take off and make sure we are getting a good turnover before we bring out the next.

HQP: So obviously, your parents have been a big support in this start-up; how is the workload split?

Kyra: My parents really encourage me to do as much of the legwork as possible. We'd say I do 80% of the work, and they help with 20%. Getting the best price from suppliers and things like that can be quite tough, so I'm thankful for their support.

HQP: How did you come up with your brand name?

Kyra: It's simple and easy; it is "Equine" and "Tea", so Equinity. Simple and straight to the point.

HQP: Well, that makes sense! Okay, so tell us about your rooibos tea; what are the benefits?

Kyra: So, it is good for the horses' overall coat condition, their immune systems and metabolism. It is very high in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, so it acts as a multivitamin. Because of its antioxidant properties, it helps reduce the risk of cancer and infectious diseases, which hopefully reduces that vet bill at the end of the month!

HQP: Well, who doesn't want that? So why should people choose your premium product over other lower grades on the market?

Kyra: So Equinity's rooibos has no preservatives, caffeine, artificial flavourings or colourants. It is also of better quality, as you will find in the lower grades that there will be sticks, or it's a very fine powder, so when you put it in your horse's feed, it can fly away and be wasted. Our product is denser and more uniform, and you will find when you put it in their feed, there is very little wastage, and the horse can absorb all of its natural nutrients.

HQP: So where can people buy your product?

Kyra: We are so excited that Midfeeds will be stocking our product so it can be purchased from them. Alternatively, bulk orders can be placed directly with us, and we are based in Sun Valley, Midrand.

HQP: What's next for you? Do you have an idea of what the next products will be?

Kyra: We are planning on expanding our line, and the next product will likely be Rosehips. We've been giving them to our horses for the past five years, and they love it.

HQP: What are the benefits of rosehips?

Kyra: They also are a good source of vitamins, but they also boost their energy. They are also a nice healthy treat for them in the mornings.

HQP: How do we feed your products?

Kyra: Rosehips, I like to add to their dinner feed as we give the Rooibos in the morning, but it can be given with any meal.

HQP: Thank you so much for your time, Kyra; we wish you all the best on this business venture and for your upcoming Prelims!

Be sure to follow 'Equinitysa' on Instagram and Facebook to keep tabs on what is coming next and learn more about what their products can do for you and your horses!

| Amelia Campbell-Horne Photography: Crystal Baldwin

Oliver Bishop and Gaucho D’Emma

Their win at the Toyota Shongweni WCQ 2023

At just 24 years of age, KZN showjumper Oliver Bishop brought home his first World Cup Qualifier win aboard a horse just half his age, Gaucho D’Emma. Oliver’s home-grounds, the Durban Shongweni Club, seem to be a favourite for the combination and they have put in some exceptional performances here over the years.

Text

Horse and rider

In fact, their first World Cup Qualifier together was at Shongweni in September of 2021. They were one of only two combinations to jump double clear and came home second to seasoned winners, Lisa Williams and Campbell. In 2022 at the Toyota Shongweni Festival WCQ, they had a quick four faults in the first round, and a clear in the second; just 0.25 seconds cost them a podium place, and they had to settle for fourth. But third time lucky, 2023 turned out to be their year, as they jumped two exceptional clears to take the win!

HQP had the opportunity to catch up with Oliver after his spectacular win and find out a bit more about this young combination, who certainly have a lot more wins in store for them!

HQP: How long have you been riding for, and who introduced you to the sport?

Oliver: I have been riding for 20 years now.

Horse riding was introduced to me by my mother who has had a passion for horses her whole life. Her passion came from her father who showjumped successfully in Germany.

Horse and rider

DID YOU KNOW?

HQP: Congratulations on the win! Can you tell us about your first round and what you thought of the course when walking and when you rode it?

Oliver: When walking the course for the first round, I thought the course builder had asked all the right questions and had most definitely built to standard. However, I didn't think that it would end up with only one double clear.

In the warm-up Gaucho felt fresh and eager. He then came into the arena and brought his A game to jump a clear round, and without me realising it was a quick one, too. It happened, in fact, to be the quickest which put me in good stead for the second round.

Gaucho is by the Olympic medal winning stallion Verdi TN, out of a mare by another Olympian, Animo.

Horse and rider

HQP: The second round was then quite an exciting one! As you were last to go, did your plans for the jump off change when it came to your round and ‘all’ you needed to do was jump clear to win?

Oliver: Yes, my plan certainly did change as I no longer had to do the high risk inside turns as there were no double clears. In saying that, the pressure was immense as I still had to watch the time allowed and there is always the risk of going slower and having a pole, which could then have

made me the slowest in the second round. I just stuck to my plan and rode it to the best of my ability, along with Gaucho who was a champion and fortunately it paid off.

HQP: Your horse Gaucho D’Emma was on exceptional form as you mentioned; how did you come to acquire him?

Oliver: I purchased Gaucho from Sancho Voerman in Belgium as a seven-year-old when I went overseas to try a completely different horse which turned out not to be the horse for me. I phoned Sancho and told him that I was in town trying horses and asked him if he had anything available; he said he had a few, one of which was Gaucho who ended up coming home with me. It has taken Gaucho and I a while to build the strong partnership that we have now. I am very lucky to have found him.

HQP: What are your plans going forward and do you have some young horses in your string coming up?

Oliver: I am hoping for a successful SA Champs at Stokkiesdraai as well as a successful WCQ at Heartland. I will continue bringing up my two other young horses, one of which is my mare, Phoenix Quarrel currently jumping in the 1.30s as well as my young horse, Capital Carsten.

HQP: Thank you, Oliver! We wish you well for Stokkies and Heartland!

All about Europe

Zandi Alcock has recently spent a couple of months riding and travelling in Europe. We caught up with her about her experience.

With Zandi Alcock

HQP : Could you tell us where you were riding in Europe and about a few of the horses you rode?

Zandi: I was riding in the Netherlands at a place called Franssen Stables. I rode quite a lot of different horses, some four-year-olds and then some older horses of various ages, but I mainly jumped and competed two mares called Gullit and Kyrah.

Gullit is a feisty black mare who looks to be on the smaller side, but she’s got quite a big stride and is super-fast in the ring!

Kyrah is a sensitive chestnut mare who isn’t the easiest to handle on the ground, but once you’re on her back, she’s a DREAM to ride! The feeling over the jump with her is amazing, and I just had to sit really quietly, which worked for me because I usually have to do that at home with my quirky Thoroughbred, Bold.

HQP: Were there any standout moments for you?

Zandi: Yes! I’d heard many stories about riding in Europe, about working really hard and not being given much opportunity to ride and compete nice horses. But within my first week, I was being trained by a really nice guy called Gerard (Gerard and Tim run Franssen stables), riding really nice quality horses and I rode in my first show having only been there for three days!

I did also work hard; I mucked out stables, gave grass, swept, etc, twice a day - but it was really worth it because I had the opportunity to learn, ride and compete. So, I’d say a big standout moment for me was thinking that I’d won the lottery in terms of the place that I was working at.

Other standout moments were placing 5th out of 80 people in my second show in Europe, AND it was even better because I thought I was competing as an HC and then was handed a rosette when I walked out of the arena! Next was competing at Peelbergen Pro Tour (Peelbergen is a huge venue where international shows are held) and placing on both days. I then placed 1st and 3rd at another show and just felt proud to see the South African flag in the rankings at these shows.

I also just had an awesome time with everyone at the yard who became really good friends, so anytime I was laughing and having fun with them were definitely standout moments for me as well!

Horse and rider

Zandi's top horse in South Africa, Callaho Lansink.

Zandi and her feisty Thoroughbred, Bold.

HQP: Will you be returning to Europe in the future?

Zandi: Definitely! I’m hoping to go over again sometime next year.

HQP: Do you have any tips for other riders wanting to go overseas?

Zandi: Yes. Firstly, don’t plan to go over for a long period of time if you’ve never gone to work and ride at a yard overseas. I’d suggest planning to go for three weeks to a month first and then extending your stay if you’re enjoying it.

Secondly, I found adapting to working and riding in Europe easier because I’m very hands-on with my horses and do a lot of things myself. If you’re thinking of going to work and ride overseas, then trust me, you’re going to enjoy it a lot more if you start becoming more hands-on before you go over.

Thirdly, I combined a bit of travelling in my trip. I started by going to Paris and watching the Longines Global Champions Tour with my friend Amy Hay; then I went to work and ride for two weeks in Holland; then met up with my boyfriend in Amsterdam for ten days; and then went back to work and ride for a month before coming home. If you can do a little bit of travelling during your trip, I think it’s worth it! And it doesn’t have to be super expensive - you can stay in a hostel, which is still really nice.

Lastly, just be open-minded to different ways of doing things - to learning - and just know that it’s not going to be in your comfort zone. In fact, it’s going to be really uncomfortable at first, but that’s the best and most effective way for you to learn. Just remind yourself that you can do hard things.

Horse and rider

HQP: How did you find the competition experience in Europe compared to back home?

Zandi: Honestly, I felt it was quite similar to here in SA. The only thing I found that was different was the height. Their 1.20m is like our 1.30m, and I watched some of the 1.35m Grand Prix at Peelbergen thinking that it looked like our 1.40m at home. Other than that, I feel like we have some really good competitive riders in South Africa, and I believe that a lot of our riders could do really well overseas, given the time to adjust to the small differences.

HQP: It's great to have you back Zandi, and we look forwards to seeing you in the competition rink on Callaho Lansink and Favour the Bold very soon!

Spotted at South African Adult Championships at Stokkiesdraai

Photography: Merlynn Trichardt Photography

GROUNDWORK

Part 6

YIELD THE HINDQUARTERS WITH AN INDIRECT FEEL

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.

This issue, we look at one of the most useful exercises for moving your horse around, the hindquarter yield.

YIELD THE HINDQUARTERS WITH AN INDIRECT FEEL

In this exercise, you will need to ask your horse to step away from you while keeping his body softly flexed around you and his front legs relatively still. Using an indirect feel means that you do this exercise from a distance without touching your horse. So, without touching, you will ask your horse to step his hindquarters away from you and turn to face you (you might know this as a turn on the forehand). If you can control the hindquarters in this way, you can move the whole horse.

How to do the exercise

Stand about 1.8 metres from your horse’s shoulders, facing him and run your hand down the lead line to ask him to bend his head and neck towards you. Turn to look at his hindquarters.

Walk towards his hindquarters in an arc while maintaining the lateral flexion in the neck. NOTE: Be careful in doing this not to pull the horse’s front end towards you.  Keep focusing your energy towards the hindquarters, and if this does not cause him to step across with his hindlegs, then start to rhythmically move your stick or the end of your rope towards the hindquarters.

Start with a single step and reward.

Over time you can build up the number of steps until your horse can execute a complete turn and turn to face you.

Troubleshooting

If he goes forward around you, rather than stepping sideways with his hindquarters, lift your rein hand. This should lift his shoulder and change his weight so he is less inclined to move forwards. Also, make sure that your energy is going through his hindquarters, not behind them, as this will also serve to drive him forwards. If he falls in on his shoulder, make sure you are not pulling on the rope. Using your hand to support the shoulder, or even flicking the end of the rope towards his shoulder, can help encourage him to remain upright.

If he does not want you to touch him or threatens to kick – use a stick to apply light pressure to the hindquarters, as this keeps you out of his range. Once he understands that he doesn’t need to feel defensive, the kicking should stop, and you will hopefully be able to touch him with your hand.

If he swings away from you too vigorously, he probably feels defensive, so he is reacting rather than responding to your request. Spend some time rubbing him all over while in lateral flexion. Then ask him again once he has relaxed.

If he doesn’t move his hindquarters, apply rhythmic pressure by tapping lightly towards his hindquarters using the stick or rope. As soon as he moves, release the pressure and reward him.

If he pivots around the outside foreleg, he is travelling backwards. This is probably because he feels

Benefits

Disengaging the hindquarters takes the horse’s forward power away, so this exercise can be used to stop him, make transitions and also calm him down in difficult situations.

How to make the exercise more difficult

Once your horse understands this exercise completely, you can try to do it starting from a metre or two in front of him and causing him to yield his hindquarters just by looking at them without moving your feet. This is also very useful for straightening a wonky backup!

NEXT TIME

In our next issue, we will look at yielding the forehand with a direct feel.

Spotted at South African Adult Championships at Stokkiesdraai

Photography: Merlynn Trichardt Photography

PUZZLE FUN

Can you find these past derby winners in our wordsearch?

NICOLE HORWOOD | LISA WILLIAMS | BARRY TAYLOR | LORETTE KNOWLES TAYLOR | GAIL FOXCROFT | GONDA BETRIX | TONY LEWIS | DOMINEY ALEXANDER | RAY KORBER | KELLY O’CONNOR

NOTE: Spaces and any punctuation marks have been removed

Can you spot all 10 differences?

PUZZLE FUN

What is a puissance competition? And how does it work?

A puissance competition, also known as the 'high jump' in equestrian sports, is a popular showjumping event that tests the horse and rider's ability to clear an increasingly high obstacle, typically a wall or fence. The name 'puissance' is derived from the French word for 'power,' which aptly describes the strength and skill required to compete in this event.

A puissance competition generally works as follows:

1. Obstacle: The primary feature of a puissance competition is a single jump, usually a wall or fence, which is initially set at a moderate height, typically around 1.2 to 1.5 metres. The wall or fence is designed to be knocked down easily if touched by the horse.

2. Rounds: The competition typically consists of multiple rounds, and in each round, the height of the jump is increased. Riders and their horses must successfully clear the obstacle in each round to advance to the next.

3. Elimination: If a horse and rider fail to clear the obstacle or knock it down, they are eliminated from the competition. The last pair remaining that successfully clears the highest jump wins.

4. Winning height: The winning height in a puissance competition can vary but is often impressive, with some competitions seeing jumps exceeding 2.13 metres or more.

Puissance competitions are popular with spectators. They are known for their excitement and suspense as the jumps get higher with each round, and riders and horses must display exceptional skill, power, and trust in each other to successfully clear the obstacles.

It's important to note, however, that while puissance competitions are thrilling to watch, they are physically demanding for the horses and require careful training and preparation to ensure the safety and well-being of the equine athletes. Riders and horses participating in puissance competitions typically have strong showjumping backgrounds and are welltrained and fit.

Spotted at South African Adult Championships at Stokkiesdraai

Photography: Merlynn Trichardt Photography

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OUR NEXT EDITION OF HQ PONY MAGAZINE IS AVAILABLE ON 5 OCTOBER.

SEE YOU THEN!