Equestrian vaulters fundraise to attend national championships

EQUESTRIAN Vaulting is akin to gymnastics on horseback, and the five children making up the KZN Equestrian Vaulting team have trained diligently and developed exciting routines depicting Superman, Spiderman, Mission Impossible, Indiana Jones and James Bond. The routines are paired with music, and the end result is ‘like a dance, almost’, according to the team’s trainer, Sonja Rahn.

The championship is due to be held at the Lipizzaner Hall, Kyalami Park Club in Gauteng from September 22 to 25. The Kwandengezi youths are representing their province in the South African National Vaulting Championships and are looking forward to the competition they have trained so hard for.

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Golden Wings trainer Rahn says that she has seen her charges grow in numerous areas since the last championship.

She says, “This is a really exciting achievement for them. They have been training so diligently and eagerly to reach this point and have looked forward all year to this opportunity. I’ve seen first-hand the difference opportunities make to the lives of these children, particularly how they have grown and blossomed from shy, nervous, withdrawn children into confident, loyal, disciplined, well-spoken and caring teenagers.”

Sandile Zondi, Sphelele Ndlovu, Siyabonga Mazibuko and Kwanele Makhaye meet in Summerveld every Friday afternoon to train. Retired circus horse Rocky is patient and steady as he circles Rahn slowly in the arena. The children take it in turns to pose on the horse’s back, dismounting with a flourish at the end of each of their routines. The young men took up the sport in 2017 and are passionate about vaulting.

When asked how they started in the sport of equestrian vaulting, they laugh and say it started with them getting scared.

Rahn says, “None of them had been around a horse before so it was a big thing first to sit on the horse and then to learn how to do the moves on it. It was a really big thing to learn. We had an outreach group at St Mary’s Hospital in Mariannhill. The group worked with people in the community, and they initiated it.”

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The team requires some funding assistance to help them compete in this year’s competition.

Rahn explains, “While competition entry fees have been sponsored by Vaulting SA (VASA), we still need to raise R5 500 for transport, R2 000 for food and R6 500 for accommodation. We are appealing to everyone with a heart for the growth and improvement of disadvantaged children to sew something into the lives of these precious children and help them to experience their dream. All amounts, both large and small, will add up to help make this a reality.”

Golden Wings is a non-profit community organisation with a mandate to train children from disadvantaged backgrounds in horse riding and vaulting. The NPO has undertaken transport to lessons and shows and trained the young vaulters at no cost, thus far.

For more information: Sonja 076 020 9224.

Bank Account Details: Golden Wings, Standard Bank, Account number: 10117542871