Hoedspruit equestrian gallops to success in show jumping
Tyla Coetzee (12) dominates showjumping with Lady Cheval, earning top Limpopo junior rankings and setting sights on SA Junior Champs.
LIMPOPO – Tyla Coetzee, a talented equestrian from Hoedspruit, is taking the world of showjumping by storm.
“My love for animals comes from a very young age when my mom took me to a stable yard, and I had my first experience with horses.”
Tyla says she started riding lessons when she was 8 years old and got her first horse when she was 12, Lady Cheval.
She competes in Western, dressage and showjumping.
She says that being a good equestrian requires one to be versatile and adaptable. “At graded shows, every course is built differently, and a rider has to read the course, remember the sequence of the jumps, adjust one’s riding style when necessary and make sure you finish your round within the given time frame.”
She says it is important that a horse is kept in good condition. “Lady Cheval gets groomed twice a day, she has clean water every day, she has lots of grass to eat and she is fed a balanced meal three times a day, and she also gets one slice of lucerne a day as a nice nutritional fiber treat.
“Also, there are regular veterinary visits to check up on our horses’ overall well-being and also the farrier who comes and checks on our horses’ hooves,” she says.
“I competed in graded shows for the first time this year and what an experience it has been. Together Lady Cheval and I achieved 5th, 7th and three 2nd places. This has earned us the top position in the rankings at South African Show Jumping discipline for juniors, 90cm in Limpopo. Our goal next year is to hopefully make it to the SA Junior Champs,” Tyla told the Herald.
“I contribute my achievements to a list of very special people; Sheri-lee Maguire, Traci Thompson, Shannon Hancock, Carla Swanepoel and all our friends.”
Tyla says that on weekdays, from about 14.15 to 15:30 she is at the stables.
For those who want to pursue horse riding, she suggests starting with basic lessons at a reputable stable and trainer.
“If possible, invest in suitable quality riding gear. Young equestrians have to learn and understand that horses are intelligent. Respect them and their intelligence and strengths, and find a good instructor that you can relate to,” she concludes.
