Gee-gees gallop for gold
This was the first of four qualifying legs that will be held around the country for each province during the year.
A few local learners recently made their schools proud when they participated in the first leg of the South African National Equestrian Schools Association (Sanesa) inter-regional competition which was held at the picturesque Maple Ridge venue in Krugersdorp.
According to Kerryn Maher, owner of Glover Paddocks Riding School, ‘riding for your school’ has become more achievable now than ever before, with the sport being recognised by many government and private schools.
This qualifier saw Hoërskool Monument (Monnas), Curro Krugersdorp and Hoërskool Noordheuwel, among other local schools, supporting their young riders in their equestrian dreams.
The event was highly competitive with over 800 West Rand riders and horses participating.
One of Monnas’ riders, Karla Strydom, was able to reach her dream by participating in the first leg of the Inter-Regional equestrian competition. She rode Glover Paddocks’ magnificent Fresian X Noriker mare, known as Rosalie’s Freedom.
“It’s wonderful to offer young riders the opportunity to use ‘riding school ponies’ in the inter-schools league. It is no longer mandatory for riders to own their own ponies to achieve their riding goals,” Kerryn said.
“At last this sport is becoming more inclusive and offering an opportunity for participation across the board.”
Karla and Rosalie’s Freedom achieved an impressive first, second, third and fourth place in the four events in which they participated. Her coach, Tasmin Maher, said that this will be an exciting team to watch in the future.
Another young rider realising his equestrian dreams is the fearless Christiaan Prinsloo from Curro Krugersdorp. Riding his magnificent ‘spotty pony’ called Kondos Andraki II, Christiaan clocked up a number of placings for his new school.
Prinsloo also rides at Glover Paddocks in Honeydew, and his instructor Tasmin said he can regularly be seeing ‘galloping on the track’ practising his cowboy moves. According to her, this is another feisty team coming up the ranks.
Finally, Hoërskool Noordheuwel’s Kyla van Zyl also won a number of first places on her beautiful new steed, Marghoob.
This was the first of four qualifying legs that will be held around the country for each province during the year. Riders are then chosen, based on their results, to ride in the West Rand Regional team at the inter-regional finals. After this, a Gauteng team will be chosen to participate in the Gauteng Nationals.
The league is a national riding competition that covers all riding disciplines, including jumping, dressage, showing, equitation and eventing, among others.
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