ARCH RIVAL jumps his first 1.30m classes Kayla Gertenbach tells us about her very exciting show jumping partner, ARCH RIVAL.
really has a huge buck, but only ever playful, never nasty.
He came from Geoff Woodruff’s yard, and was a very good stayer, winning 6 races and placing 13 times, including the Grade 2 OK Gold Bowl, amassing stakes of almost R775000. He’s by A.P. Arrow out of the National Emblem mare, Competitive Edge.
Within a month I took him to a training show and jumped him around the 90cm class and then he progressed very quickly on from there. He has plenty very natural ability and an attitude to match! He goes around the ring like he’s a king.
I was still in Europe at this time. He did a bit of work and was mostly hacked in the beginning. I came back to SA in May 2018 and started with him then.
July 2019 he jumped his first 1.20m show and then in August 2019 I was kicked by a horse in the chest and suffered severe, life threatening injuries, so I was out of action for about 7 months. In this time my sister Chelsey kept him in work for me and took him to a handful of 1.10m shows.
He had a great attitude right from the start. Was very bold and brave, but very very sensitive – he does not react well to pressure at all. He is also very receptive and vocal. Squeals when he is having fun, or when he does a big jump. Whinnies every time I come past his stable or paddock and can buck like hell, he
Then when I finally got up and running again, covid happened. So after lockdown we jumped a couple of 1.20m shows to get going again (and for myself to get going again) and now this past weekend jumped his first open show in the 1.30m classes.
