6 minute read

HAMZA MINTY

THE MAN OF THE HOUR

With the SASJ Junior Rankings released after the SA Youth Champs, we find Hamza Minty retaining and extending his lead in the 2024 Junior HighPerformance Rankings and the Junior Showjumper of the Year rankings with Callaho Conray.

We quickly caught up with Hamza to learn about his successful 2024 SA Youth Champs Show, where he finished on the podium in both the Individual Open Equitation and the Junior 1.35m Championships!

HQP: Can you tell us a bit about yourself, when and how you started riding and what disciplines you do?

Hamza: I am 15 years old; I started riding at the age of eight. I currently have four Open horses and two young horses. I compete up to 1.40m in showjumping and in Junior Open Equitation.

HQP: Could you talk us through your experience of the SA Individual Equitation Champs Class and tell us about the horse you competed on? 

Hamza: This year, it was a tough competition and had some of the best riders in the class. It was definitely harder than last year. The first two phases were actually a walk in the park, and I just had to ride like normal. In Part Three, I got a lovely horse who was very sweet and straightforward, but Alex Ric-Hansen and I were tied. In Part Four, we rode Capital Chaplin, who was amazing. Alex won, and I came 2nd.

It was a fantastic experience because the top three, including myself, all ride with Jenna Odell in KZN, so Jenna was really proud, but Olivia and I are also part of the Chambourne Team with Chad Cunningham).

Regarding horses, I was lucky enough to get the ride on Kiara Burns’ Erreplus Atoki. He is just a dream to ride. Even though I have a wide variety of horses myself, I didn't want them doing more than one discipline at Champs, so I was going to scratch the equitation. At the WCQ a few weeks prior, I was sitting with Kiara, and I remembered that last Champs, she rode Atoki and got amazing marks but unfortunately dismounted. If she had not, she would have been in the Philip Smith Memorial Competition. So we spoke and planned for him to come down for me to compete.

HQP: You were runner-up in the Philip Smith this year, and with second place in the SA Individual Equitation Youth Champs, you have qualified again! How do you feel about competing in the PSM again, and what will you do differently?

Hamza: I am super excited to have qualified for PSM again this year. I'm going to definitely give it my all and try to win it this year. It wasn't as daunting as you would expect… In the beginning, it was a little stressful, but as it went on, it got better. I'm just going to keep calm and let it go on as it is.

HQP: Then, on the showjumping side, you had a super time with good warm-up classes and two horses in the jump-off for the SA Junior Champs title. Can you talk us through your show and how the Champs class went?

Hamza: All my horses jumped amazingly! Conray has stayed on form since President’s Cup a few months back and won the first two qualifiers, so went into the Champs Class as the highest qualifier. Qui Cassa had a decent first two classes, and then she just stepped up and jumped flying clear rounds in the Champs Class (including my jump off with the error). I'm super happy for Divan, the winner of the class. He rode unbelievably, and he definitely deserved it.

HQP: Please tell us a bit about your current string of horses and what your plans are with them.

Hamza: I got my dual license this year and have done a few adult shows. I have Callaho Conray as my top horse at the moment, competing in the 1.40m, and we're planning on moving him up to the 1.50 sometime at the end of the year.

Next, I have my once-in-a-lifetime horse, Callaho Qui Cassa; she has the biggest heart in the world. Even though she’s just over 15.1hh she's jumped a round a few 1.40m classes successfully. Then I have Callaho Corida de Rebelle, who we purchased on the 2022 Callaho Auction for my brother; they didn't get along, so I took over the ride and produced her up to the 1.30m. Continental Drift (Conti) - I'm sure many people know this one. She is the one horse off the ground more than on the ground at shows. She's a whack job, and she is my craziest horse. I also have a young Thoroughbred who recently attended his first show. Last but not least, I was fortunate enough to have recently purchased Conray’s full brother, Callaho Con Calito (Lilo), at the auction a few weeks back. I'm super excited about our journey together and can't wait for him to arrive.

HQP: How do you deal with competition nerves?

Hamza: People actually think I deal with nerves well, but as a matter of fact, I don't. I feel really sick in my stomach and can't talk to anyone. What I find that helps me with nerves is sitting on the fence and just breathing and also sitting with certain people who are calm and also need time to get in the zone, like Luca Waston and Olivia Roberts.

HQP: And a final fun question: if you could compete with any horse in South Africa, which would you choose and why?

Hamza: I would compete Capital My Lady of Thomas van Rijckevorsel or Bronwyn Dos Santos’ Bibisi. I just love those two horses. They are my type of horse; they are little, quick, and have scope for days. I also love a good mare!

HQP: Thank you so much, and we wish you all the best!

This article is from: