Local black pearl steals show
When Friesian horses enter the arena or riding ring the ground trembles and a murmur runs through the crowd.
These horses not only combine beauty, elegance and power, they are graciously spirited and gentle. This was obvious at the Pretoria Friesian Horse Show 2015 that was held at Misty Meadows last week. The Lowveld was represented by two of its top studs, namely Danina Friesian Stud (Mbombela) and Selco Friesian Stud (Malalane). These two relative young studs competed against several of the country’s oldest and largest stud farms. One of the Lowveld’s own black pearls, a colt named Jillis fan Keatlingwier (owned by Jaco and Cecile Grobler – Danina Stud) was almost unbeaten in the ring.
He easily won his junior stallion under saddle class. The youngster also won a dressage class and was placed in the other. He then qualified for the Overall Championship Class on the last day. Another local black stallion which stamped his mark at the show is Roland van Doorndraai (owned by Selma van den Berg – Selco Stud). Despite having come out of a long rest he made a great comeback in the show ring with a new rider, Landé Willemse.
Danina’s mares stood out in the mares over five years In-hand class where they took two of the five placings.
The highlight of the show was however the various stud farms’ displays. Frik van Greune of the Fremar Stud showed his horses off in an amazing display of horsemanship when he brought them into the ring in an eight-horse team harness rig that made the ground tremble.
Selco Stud only had one horse at the show this year that performed a musical freestyle dressage.
It was, however, Danina Stud’s tango display that had the crowd cheering and clapping. The display was kicked off with two five-year-old toddlers, Nina Grobler and Ayla Willemse bareback on the massive yet gentle Friesians with Ayla’s twin brother Alex and Noah Mahomed leading the way on foot brandishing a large red rose each.
Jillis fan Keatlingwier of Danina Friesian Stud
• First – stallions four to five years in-hand (owned by Danina Friesian Stud and shown by Anton Ndlovu
• Reserve Champion Junior Stallion In-hand (shown by Anton Ndlovu)
Roland van Doorndraai of the Selco Friesian Stud
• Second – Graded elementary dressage test two (ridden by Lande’ Willemse)
• First – Graded elementary dressage test three (ridden by Lande’ Willemse)
• Third – Pleasure horse universal (ridden by Lande Willemse).
Elementary Dressage Test 2:
• First – Roland van Doorndraai ridden by Lande’ Willemse, owned by Selco Friesian Stud
• Second – Fleur M – ridden by Lande Willemse, owned by Danina Friesian Stud.
Elementary Dressage Test 3:
• First – Fleur M, ridden by Lande’ Willemse (Danina Friesian Stud)
• Second – Roland van Doorndraai, ridden by Lande Willemse (Selco Friesian Stud).
Leadrein class
• Three champions crowned: Nina Grobler on Gizelle, Ayla Willemse on Teakje van De Warf, Alex Willemse on Fleur M (all three riders are only five years old).
