HQ Pony Magazine Issue 29

www.westernshoppe.com

A stable full of toys

Dear readers,

We had our regular issue planned (and ready!) to go, but the excitement of the Derby became too much for us, and we started ALL OVER AGAIN with a Derby special!

Here at HQ Pony, we love to tell stories about equines and equestrians and Ronnie Healy's Derby win about Gillian van Orshoff was certainly one for the history books. For Ronnie to win on his mentor Ronnie Lawrence's horse after Ronnie Lawrence sadly passed away earlier this year is a remarkable testament to Ronnie Lawrence's legacy. It was a privilege to watch this fairytale take place last week, and if you couldn't be there in person, go and check out the livestream. We challenge you not to cry when Ronnie clears the final fence!

We hope you enjoy diving into this issue of Derby content as much as we have enjoyed putting it together.

Next time, we'll be back with a 'regular' issue, but for now, get yourself some Derby fever!

Until next time, 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

Cardino 5 x Exkurs

15 years old

Cicero Z x Mr Blue 14 years old

UNITED AVIATION GROUP’S CAPITAL KRONOS

Darco x Cash 13 years old

Companiero x Mentor 12 years old

Con

Catoki x Zacharias

16 years old

Toulon x Darco 11 years old

11 years old

Coriano x Cassini I

Berger van de Riethoeve

x Polidiktus van de Hella 14 years old

Cosido x Con Air 7 13 years old

19 years old

Glenaygles Rebel x Rex Grannus Z

Forestyte Preamble D

x Carbonnieux van de Hella

12 years old

UNITED AVIATION GROUP’S KP LAUDANUM

Lord Z x Acclaim

13 years old

Consuelo x Lindenberg

13 years old

Carinjo x Barinello

16 years old

Callaho’s Lissabon x Baloubet du Rouet

9 years old

Eldorado van de Zeshoek TN x Sambucco

14 years old

Callaho’s Lissabon x Calando I

13 years old

Callaho’s Lissabon x Granulit

13 years old

Berlin (Casper) x Catoki

15 years old

UAG SA Derby Winners 2023

RONNIE HEALY AND GILLIAN VAN ORSHOF

HQ Pony had an opportunity to chat with the 2023 Derby Champion Ronnie Healy, fresh from his first big title win on Gillian van Orshoff, and their first Derby together.

Text | Amelia Campbell-Horne Photography | Merlynn Trichardt

Horse and rider

HQP: Ronnie, this really was one for the books! What did this win mean to you?  Ronnie: The win is everything! I actually had a good friend message me yesterday, who reminded me about when we used to go and watch Derby when it was at Inanda in Sandton. I have dreamed about winning it since then, so it has really been a lifelong ambition. It’s my biggest win, and it’s the one I’ve wanted the most, so it’s really special.

HQP: And to have won it on Goofy?

Ronnie: Sjoe, that’s even more special. Obviously, I was given Gillian/Goofy by Ronnie

(Lawrence) at the beginning of the year. We jumped at President’s Cup, and it was sketchy; then we did Outdoor Grand Prix, and I retired him; and then I think it started to click around Midrand World Cup when we had moved across to be coached by Gonda (Betrix). I had a couple of fences down in the World Cup, but I could feel where I was going, and that, I think, was my turning point in understanding him.

Until then, I had been starting to doubt that we were the right combination, but it has suddenly clicked. So ya, for the win to be on him, and so soon, is very special.

HQP: Ronnie Lawrence had a unique way of riding, and Goofy was obviously used to that, so did you have to adapt your way of riding or help him learn to go in your way?

Ronnie: I think both. When I first got him, he jumped to the right quite a bit, and Ron used to ride him slowly and then attack the last three strides before the fence. I ride a little more American, with a little more canter through the turn, so I think we were having fences down because I was riding Goofy quicker than he was used to.

In the beginning, I also didn’t have much contact when riding him. I was taught to ride a lot softer than Ron had ridden Goofy, and Goofy was used to a lot of contact. Gonda has helped a lot with his. Her words just ring through my head: “Contact, contact, CONTACT!!!” I never wanted him to change, so I learned to ride him better and he has also adapted to me.

HQP: And he is starting to look like one of your horses!

Ronnie: He is just the nicest horse; he sees you, and he wants to be in your pocket. It has been an absolute privilege to have him and ride him and be part of his journey. My last promise to Ron was that I would win Derby for him. I said I would win it this year, and I thought afterwards, “Shucks, Ronnie, that’s a big promise to make”. But it was like Goofy knew Derby was coming; at SA Champs, he was incredible, and he was second in the World Cup to Magic Boy, and he could have quite easily won it. He’s been there knocking on the door, and I knew that he was on form, and I thought to myself, “We’ve been building for this, just don’t mess it up, ‘cause you’re going to let the horse down”, but it all fell into place.

HQP: No pressure! So, we noticed some of the horses across all the levels would jump the first half of the track incredibly well, then run out of steam. Your horses both looked incredibly fit and ready; how did you prepare them for this?

Ronnie: They are quite fit anyway, but we started to do a lot more track work. As I went in, Anne-Marie Eslinger said, “Your second round starts after the dyke, so take a deep breath and carry on”. I jumped out of the dyke, took a deep breath, and carried on.

HQP: That is very interesting, as we saw many combinations start to take rails after the dyke!

Ronnie: Ya, things start to fall away from the planks, which are big and wavy and on flat cups, then the water, and you get all long and sprawled out to the water, and then the last three jumps are big and bold, but also fiddly little jumps.

Though I must say that as much as the horse’s fitness matters, riders also get tired. Through experience, I was surprisingly calm, which is important as when you are nervous, you waste energy. I felt very strong for both my rounds, better than I ever have. I think most people have their horses fit enough, but they get nervous, which makes them tired, and when they turn after the dyke they gasp and think we are nearly home, and you often see riders having a few poles down in quick succession.

HQP: So, you were the top qualifier and last to go, then Jeanne went and had the one rail, so you had to jump clear. You mentioned earlier in the week that you win Derby in your mind, so how did you mentally process it all?

Ronnie: You can just as easily lose Derby in your mind! On Friday, the qualifications came out, and I was the first and second top qualifier, and I was like, “Oh no, no one ever wins it from the

top qualifier”. I said this to Gonda as well, and her response was, “Oh brilliant!”, and I said, “No-one ever wins from the top qualifier”, and her response was: “Well, I did! You either embrace it and win it or fall away and let the pressure get to you.” That made a lot of sense to me, so I just didn’t let it get to me. Both my horses and I were on form, so I embraced it.

Before I went in, Jeanne had the plank down, which was really unlucky - my heart went out to her - but she will win it one day, and there is no one more deserving than her. I watched her go through the finish, knew I definitely needed a clear and I just knew what I had to do.

We train all our lives for these moments, to either rise to the occasion and jump a clear, or you can crumble. I’ve lost it from those positions, too! I lost the Outdoor Grand Prix this

year with time faults, and I lost President’s Cup on Eldo when I needed a clear and had one down, so from experience, you learn! You have to go through very difficult moments to enjoy the big ones. I was so angry at myself for having lost the Outdoor Grand Prix, but to win at Derby, I can understand why it had to happen. You have to take the good from the bad; I was calm, relaxed and knew what I had to do.

HQP: You’ve ridden a few Derbies yourself and some people have said it was maybe bigger and tougher than usual; what do you have to say about that?

Ronnie: I’m, of course, going to say that it was the biggest one yet, the hardest one ever... (laughing)! No, I thought Anna’s course last year was bigger. However, I think the course rode difficult this year, but maybe not as big.

Number three (the Liverpool) was possibly the biggest I’ve seen it and in a strange place and the planks were also big. The white hedge oxer at the top was a lot bigger and bushier than it has ever been, and that fell a lot. But all in all, it was just different, and I suppose that’s why we have different course designers every three years. But it was not an easy Derby; I’ve jumped enough, and it doesn’t get easier!

In the warmup, we were all feeling sick and thinking, ‘Why do we do this?’, and then you do it and come out feeling like it’s the best thing ever. Then you spend all year getting amped for these classes, and you get to them, and you think, ‘Why am I doing this?’

I’d probably summarise it and say it was maybe not the biggest Derby, but there were different questions in different places.

HQP: SA Derby or Hickstead bank, which one is worse?

Ronnie: Sjoe, the Hickstead bank is more difficult, but I have never had a pole down at the bank there, and I jumped it five times. SA Derby has planks, rather than poles like at Hickstead, which does it make that element more difficult, but at Hickstead, there is also a 1.20m vertical two strides before the bank, which sucks. So Hickstead is harder with the jump then the bank and SA Derby harder with the planks.

HQP: You’ve done Hickstead and SA Derby; have you done Hamburg?

Ronnie: Yes, Hamburg is the hardest because there is one stride at the bottom. It is also the most technical Derby I have ever ridden. I’ve only done it once; there was a four-fault jump-off, and I tied for 3rd on eight faults. I had stupid faults, though; I had the plank down

because I actually didn’t know how to jump it, and in hindsight, I would know to slide all the way down to the bottom rather than jump off it like we do here. Weirdly, I also had a fault going into the dyke because there was a big camera hanging overhead and my horse was so busy looking at the camera he didn’t look at the jump! But Hamburg is very technical, but Hickstead and SA Derby are very similar.

HQP: That’s so interesting and nice to know we are on par with Europe! There seemed to be less time penalties this year than in the past; why do you think that was?

Ronnie: I think everyone is riding quicker. In the qualifiers, all the horses looked much quicker in their canters. We are having to ride much quicker in our normal shows, and I think it helps. Also, on the grass there is so much distance between fences that you really get going; there are less pulls.

HQP: Do you do anything extra to get yourself fit enough for Derby?

Ronnie: I obviously ride a lot and get some fitness from working on the track, but I also do boxing. A guy called Raf, whose competition name is “War-Child” (so that says it all), comes and trains me between riding and coaching; it’s brutal, but you need to be in pain and suffer. Last year I was sick and hadn’t trained so much, and I turned after the dyke, and I felt sick. I was on Cornet’s Mandarino in his first Derby, and he’s strong and I thought to myself, ‘I never want

to feel like this again, so I better train’. It’s a horrible feeling, realising you are not fit enough, and I wanted to vomit. But I rode two horses around this year (Goofy and Capital Magic Boy), and I felt like I could go again. You have to be fit; mistakes happen when you are not.

HQP: Your plans with Gillian for the rest of the year?

Ronnie: We have the World Cup at Heartlands coming up, and he’s been on such form I will probably choose him as my nominated horse.

HQP: And then Derby next year?

Ronnie: 100%. I’ve won my first one, and I told Gonda I am coming after her record of six Derby wins. But if I can get half of that, it would be enough. Nicole won three in a row, so why not? I’d love to do it again on Goofy. Cornet’s Mandarino is also back, and I now know Magic Boy can do it so I do have options… Now I’ve got the first one under the

HQP: Well, we will be rooting for you! Lastly, Junior Derby is around the corner; what advice do you have for the younger generation?

Ronnie: I hope all the adult riders motivate the younger generation. We are also at a point where we have to give back, and I hope we inspire the younger generation. I had so many little people coming up and wanting autographs, and it was so special. I hope the future generation of Derby champions were there watching. I was one of those kids who watched the Derby years ago and wanted it then; I saw Ronnie win on Panaché and Barry and wanted to be like them. You have to dream it, want it and work for it. It takes hard work, and what you put in is what you get out. You can have the most money in the world, but you must also work hard. You can buy the best horses in the world, but if you don’t work, it’s all for nothing. So, dream big and work hard!

Runners-Up for the UAG 2023 SA Derby

JEANNE KÖRBER AND CALLAHO LEXINGTON

HQ Pony couldn't resist having a quick chat with 2023 Derby Runner-Up Jeanne Körber after her spectacular round (and terrifying moment at the bank!).

Text | Amelia Campbell-Horne

Photography | Merlynn Trichardt

HQ: First things first - the bank! Talk us through what happened.

Jeanne: I think my heart is still in my throat! I thought I had a nice slow approach to give him time to go down, but then the next thing I just felt him launch off! The grass on the bank seemed to give way under him, so maybe he didn't feel secure and then just jumped; who knows? I was then trying really hard to look up and stay secure in the saddle when I just felt him leaving the ground (again) too early after just one stride! He is just exceptional; that was a big mistake and could've ended very badly for both of us, but he just pricked his ears and tried his heart out to clear it!

an injury, she couldn't carry on with her sporting career. While I was still competing with her, Lexington was coming up on auction, and I knew that he was going to be very popular because he was amazing, but he's also beautiful, and the black horses always seem to go for more money on the auctions. So, I roped in Michael Whitehouse to try and help me buy him at the

him - I didn't ride any other horses - and knew that that was the horse I wanted.

Michael gave me a hard time saying, "Why did you not try other horses? You should have sat on more of them and just made sure", and I said to him, "This is the one". We were very lucky to get him that evening. It was a very, very special evening.

HQ: Can you tell us about Callaho

Lexington?

Jeanne: Lexington has just been the most giving horse from day one. He never says no; he never spooks at any jumps; he always tries his heart out; and he loves his work. We always joke and laugh because he's like Mr Perfect. Even if you're walking on an outride on a loose rein, he is on the bit. He never puts a

with us three or four times from excitement on an outride, and then literally within split seconds, he'll be walking on the bit marching as if to say, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry - I didn't mean to do that", and so we always giggle at him because he really is Mr Perfect.

He has got the most beautiful personality and nature in the stables. He just loves attention and cuddles and pulls the funniest faces. When you bring carrots, he shows his teeth and his tongue and gives you kisses, and he just is a is a magnificent horse. Even with those pictures of him jumping off the bank, if you look at his expression, he's just pricking his ears and making a plan. I mean, that could have ended terribly with us both falling, but he just pricked his ears, made a plan and tried his heart out.

It is a privilege to jump a horse like him in the big classes and World Cups because I know I will make it through the finish. If I just give him half a decent ride, he's going to try his heart out and get through, so yeah, I'm very lucky to have a horse like him.

He's also absolutely beautiful to ride. On the flat, I could probably ride him in a halter. With the jumping, he gets very strong, and he gets very keen and sometimes actually also quite anxious, but maybe that is because of me as well? I also get very nervous, and I'm not as cool, calm and collected as other riders, and that can make him quite anxious and strong.

HQ: Do you have any tips or tricks for dealing with anxiety?

Jeanne: I work a lot on getting both him and me in calm spaces. Around corners, I try to take deep breaths and talk to him, and that seems to be working. This has been the best year we have had so far, with quite a few podium finishes, and I feel like we still have a lot more to achieve together.

I have also been working with a lady who doesn't like to be called a life coach but helps me mentally with dealing with stuff in lifefamily, work and sport. She helps with my riding to try and stay calm and stay focused. Horse riding has got a lot of highs and lowsthe highs are unreal, but the lows are super disappointing, and she's really helped me with dealing with that and staying positive and focusing on the good things. It really helps me a lot.

HQ: Any tips for riders planning on doing a Big Derby one day?

Jeanne: You definitely need to feel like you are sitting on a horse that can do it; one that has the ability to do it and one that is brave enough to do it. It's a very big track; it's hectic on the rider and the horse and there's that added pressure of the crowd. It is exhilarating,

and it's exciting and amazing, but it's also incredibly stressful and creates a lot of anxiety, so I would say you definitely need to put in the work at home building up to Derby.

I would recommend that you go and do plenty of training; you can't overdo it! Even though Lexington is super brave and has done Derby three times, we did three training sessions specifically for Derby - one with him at Chatan's place, once at Dunblane, and then once at Bryce McCall's. At home, we've also put up a couple of Derby-type fences. It's better to do bits of Derby stuff regularly to make sure that you and the horse feel confident and prepared. You don't want to get into the arena and feel like you could have trained more. If you feel confident that your horse knows the obstacles and they feel confident, it just makes it much easier on the last day.

HQ: What would you say are some of the most difficult Derby elements?

Jeanne: Funny you say that… Obviously, in my case, I would now say the bank and the plank! But even before what happened with us this year, for me, it would be the bank and the plank because it's so important to be slow enough to the bank but also keep the momentum so that your horse doesn't back away. Then you have to have the timing right in terms of when the horse jumps off the bank; make sure you look up at the right moment at the top of the planks; and keep your balance as best as possible for the horse so that they have the best possible chance of clearing the jump – it's a lot to think about!

Top tip from legend Gonda

Betrix who trains Jeanne and Lexington

Gonda always says, “Don't hear what happens behind you". For example, if you have a pole down or have had a bad ride at one jump, don't think about it, don't hear it and just focus on the next jump. It seems like such a simple thing, but it is hard to do because you are upset about the pole or you're upset about the ride, and it can affect the rest of your round, whereas if you keep it together, you can carry on.

HQ: Congratulations, Jeanne. It was a stunning round, and we hope to see you at the top of the podium next year!

The Mini Derby is the bridge between the Micro and the Main Derby. The track is built to 1.40m Championship standards and runs under normal competition rules where all the clears go through to a jump-off over a shortened course. This year, Kevin Spratley built a strong track for the 24 starters, and the riders were clearly well-prepared. Five riders jumped clear to progress through to the jump-off: three very experienced Derby riders, Nicole Horwood, Jonathan Clarke and Graham Winn and two of our top young riders, Kiara Burn and Paige Lee Goetsch.

HQP quickly caught up with Kiara Burn as she was on her way to her parents and coach after her impressive win.

HQP: How was your build-up to the Derby?

Kiara: We just had one down in each class, but I was very happy with him. He hasn’t done a lot of 1.40m classes, and neither have I, so I was really chuffed with him the whole weekend. We just had to try to keep him as energetic as possible because he can get quite tired.

HQP: Tell us about today.

Kiara: My goal for today was to just have a nice clear, and we got that, and I was so happy! Then I realised I’d have to do a jump-off, and I wasn’t sure I’d even be able to do it; I was so tired after the first round, and I couldn’t stop coughing. I was even saying to my groom that we were just going to go and have a nice second round, as there is no way we can beat these people. I mean - I was competing against Jonathan Clarke and Nicole Horwood! So, we just went in and rode what we had planned, and I was really surprised!! He got me out of that big combination at the end; he was just incredible! This was our first Derby together as well, so it was just incredible.

Horse and rider

HQP: Being your first Derby together, was there anything you were nervous about?

Kiara: Well, yes, obviously! It’s Derby!! The poles that I had had in the warmup classes were mostly my fault because I don’t know how to ride Derby and how to go up and down the hills. My main thing was focusing on keeping a good rhythm with him and making sure the hills and things didn’t break my canter. The planks were making me nervous as well, as everyone was getting three strides there, and I wasn’t sure I’d be able to get it. But Lindor was just amazing; he just knew what to do and took over!

HQP: Well, huge congratulations on this incredible achievement! Seeing as you can’t improve on your Mini Derby record, is it Big Derby next year?

Kiara: (Nervous laugh) We will see; I’m just taking it one step at a time for now.

Chat with Simon Burn, Kiara’s dad

HQP: Simon (dad), how does it feel that your daughter has just won the Mini Derby?

Simon: I am so proud; I couldn’t be prouder.

HQP: And on a horse that you had originally ridden! Simon: Yes, well, I trained him; what can I say!

Chat with Joanne Van Achtenburg

We also caught hold of Kiara’s long-time coach and previous Big Derby contender, Joanne Van Achtenburg; she said:

It was completely unexpected because it was Kiara’s first adult Derby and her first Derby in the Bob Charter. She has been knocking on the door the whole year, being the first princess at many big title competitions, and today was just her day, and I am so over the moon for her!”.

Chat with Jonathan Clark

We also caught up with bronze medal winner Jonathan Clark. He rode the 10-year-old Indoctro x Conti gelding, Back on Track Sheldon.

HQP: How did it go?

Jono: Ah, I was really disappointed I hit the rail, but I am pleased with him; he has come third three times this show.

HQP: You and Sheldon have been developing a super partnership recently. Maybe he will be in the Big Derby next year?

Jono: Ya, it has finally come together. And maybe… He’s quite little, though.  Despite the myriad of titles Jono has to his name, he is missing a Derby title, so hopefully, we will see him back next year to take on the ‘Big’ one!

finished up in fifth then too!

HQP: How was your build-up to the show?

Paige: Well, I have always known since he was a young horse that he was brave enough and careful enough to do the Derby stuff without getting too

rattled, so I have been building him up towards this show. I took him down a level at SA Champs and put him back up into the 1.40m for this show, and he exceeded all my expectations.

HQP: Were you nervous?

Paige: Yes, extremely! I always find I get a little more nervous for Derby. The first Derby attempt I did on Caspar, I remember I was really, really nervous, so I prepared myself mentally to get nervous! But Looch is a solid oke; he’s not scared of a thing; he can actually be too game, so I don’t have to worry about him; I just need to worry about me helping him get the best result he can get.

HQP: Big one next year?

Paige: 100%... If I have the guts, yes!

Horse and rider

The Micro Derby, or perhaps more appropriately, the Speed Derby, was the highlight of Saturday at the UAG SA Derby. The Micro Derby is run under 'Table C' rules, meaning 4 seconds are added to the time for every rail a horse has down, rather than penalties. A refusal would not incur penalties either but would obviously increase the final time. Two refusals, however, would still result in elimination. To put it simply, the 'Micro Derby' winner would be calculated by who could complete the course in the fastest time. It is the ultimate test of the balance of riding carefully to not incur knocks and time penalties but riding fast enough to win it!

Kevin Spratley built a solid track with clever alternative options for riders to choose between. This allowed horses that were perhaps less confident with derby elements to complete the round but also provided options to save on time.

As the class was run in reverse order of classification, it was unsurprising that the first few combinations had a tough time. Several struggled with the balustrades at the top of the slope, and this was potentially the bogey fence across all grades throughout the show. Horses either felt unsure and uncomfortable with jumping into the downhill or would drop their hind legs over it and take the top rail.

HQ Pony had a quick chat with our podium placing riders and some of their support team after the competition.

this barefoot Thoroughbred jumped an incredibly speedy round, coming home in 101.52 seconds with only one rail, ending up on 105.52s.

We asked a very emotional Kelly about her special partner, Al and their round.   Kelly: I got Al off the track; I knew the owners in Cape Town, and they said I should watch him race, so I turned on Teletrack and saw this little Thoroughbred that was flicking toes, and I wanted him! For a year after that, I messaged the owners every couple of months, asking when my horse was coming off the track. Then one day they phoned me and told me to fetch him the next day. I had two horses in livery, and I actually didn't have space for another one, but I went there all excited, and when I got there and realised he was 15.2/15.3hh (and I am very tall), so I thought, 'oh no'…. But I got on, and I rode him, and he rides big and forward and had a beautiful canter and trot, so I took him home as they gave him to me for free. I evented him up to 1m and showjumped as well up to 1.20m. He moved on to another rider for a year, and then she kindly gave him back to me; I am very grateful for that!

anything (including jump a double of verticals over water trays and then open water!)

Horse and rider

Second place: Tracey Carney and Locarno Nikita

Taking home silver was Tracey Carney with her own Locarno Nikita. They got home just 0.02 seconds inside of Kelly's time (despite having one rail), so they finished up on 105.50 seconds.

HQP: Can you tell us about Locarno Nikita and your round?

Tracey: He is affectionately known as Nicolas. I bought him as a 7-year-old from Steve Atkinson; Johan Lotter found him for me. He turns 17 in November and was ranked the top 1.35m horse in SA last year. I'm so glad I managed to give him a podium finish this year at Derby.

Winners Courtney Webber and Opal de la Bastide

The winning combination was KZN rider Courtney Webber aboard Opal de la Bastide, owned by Courtney and Shelley Moore. HQ had a quick catch-up with the pair and some of their support team.

scratch and then sadly lost to a traumatic injury. Opal produced one foal before

Horse and rider

Opal was backed and produced by the Foresyte team for me, and I rode him for a while, but he is quite a sensitive horse, and after Courtney jumped him in the 6 Bar at Shongweni and fell in love with him, I decided to give her the ride on him.

She has a great bond with him and gets the best out of him. We briefly contemplated selling him, but the thought of not having him in my barn broke my heart as I just adore him, so Courtney now co-owns him, and he is staying! Courts has done the most wonderful job with him, and they've already jumped a few 1.50m classes together.

I love watching her ride him, and I was over the moon at their beautiful winning round in the Micro Derby. Her mom and I came up from Durban to watch, and it was so exciting to be here to see it in person. She deserves this as she is such a hard worker and truly loves her horses. I'm looking forward to seeing them go on too many more wins together.

HQP: Lynette (Mom), how are you feeling after that win?

Lynette: Not being the most impulsive person, messaging Shelly, "Let's go and watch Courtney ride", was the best decision I’ve made this year. To see your daughter achieving her dreams is such a joy. She loves her horses, and without Grant and Shelly at her side, it would literally just be a dream.

HQP: And Courtney, how did you get into riding?

Courtney: My mom and sister rode horses, and apparently, from a young age, I was obsessed. I started riding at the age of six and went to ride with Grant Langley when I was eight years old. Grant has changed my riding, and I couldn't be more grateful that he believed in me and pushed me to achieve goals I never thought were possible.

HQP: Congratultations! Tell us about your round.

Courtney: I honestly never expected to win; all I was hoping for was to go into the arena, ride as best as I can, and give Opal the best opportunity to jump clear. I was so nervous before I went in; I was third last to go, and some very fast riders had already gone. I thought I stood no chance, but Opal felt so good and had lots of energy.

As I started, he just felt so insane over number one and then everything was just there. I didn't even think I was fast and as I landed, I saw on the board, ranked first and that just made my day. I'd like to give the biggest thank you to my horse Opal, my groom Ticha, Grant Langley, Shelly Moore, my parents and the whole of Team Langley rooting for me back home. It was my first win on Opal and a win I will never forget!

HQP: Surely the first of many! If you had to do it again, would you prefer to ride the Speed Derby or ride it as a Competition?

Courtney: I would definitely ride the Speed Derby again; it was intense, as you have no time to chill, but I realised that Opal enjoys that tempo and jumped his best.

HQP: What are your plans from here?

Courtney: My plans for the next few years are to jump a few more 1.50m classes with Opal. I hadn't done a Derby on Opal before but realised after this show that he is so brave, so I'm very keen to keep doing Derby with him and do the 1.40m Derby next year! I've also been on the team for Foreyste Auctions, so I'm very excited to get planning for our next auction in the new year.

What a win!

Congratulations to our podium winners – such a wonderful representation of KZN, Gauteng, and the Cape!

PUZZLE FUN

Can you find these Derby Horses 2023 in our wordsearch?

GILLIAN VAN ORSHOF | CALLAHO LEXINGTON | CAPITAL LEVUBU | ATHENA VI | CALLAHO

LAMOUR | CAPITAL MAGIC BOY | REGENESIS VET PILGRIM | CAPITAL KRONOS | CALLAHO

| EQUIFOX

|

| HAUSBERGERS

NOTE: Spaces and any punctuation marks have been removed

Can you spot all 10 differences?

PUZZLE FUN

PRODUCTS WE LOVE

Equilibrium Massage Mitt Hotspot

Ready to pamper your pony?

The Equilibrium Massage Mitt Hotspot is your very own massaging heat pad, allowing you to give your pony TLC exactly where he or she needs. The Hotspot offers three different massage strengths and various heat settings to customise your pony’s pamper session, all in just 10 minutes. It’s portable, battery operated and you can even use it on yourself after a long day at a show!

Equilibrium Massage Mitt Hotspot can increase skin temperature by an average of 8.7°C!

This cool gadget improves circulation, soothes tired muscles, maintains oxygen supply to the muscles, aids in relaxation and helps increase flexibility.

Find the Equilibrium Therapy range at Western Shoppe. Learn more online at www. westernshoppe.com.

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

SEE YOU THEN!