Lowveld riders do it with precision
A number of local riders from the Lowveld Western Riding Club (LWRC) recently competed in the first qualifier for the Western Mounted Games in Ermelo.
The six riders, Stefanie, Marike and Chrisné Vermeulen, Tiaan de Bruin, Zanlee Steyl and Cor-Mari Oliver, worked hard to earn rosettes for first, second and third places.
The next qualifying round will take place in Bethal on March 19. If they accumulate enough points, they will get selected for the provincial team to represent Mpumalanga at the South African Western Mounted Games Association (SAWMGA)later this year.
“Well done to all the riders. You made us proud. We look forward to the competition in Bethal,” said club president, Christo Steyl.
The first qualifying round for the Reigning and Western Performance will take place at the LWRC, just outside Barberton on May 7. Enquiries: Christo Steyl on 082-670-6230.
A short description of Western Mounted Games
It is the action-packed, precision sport of the equestrian world. A good Western Mounted Games horse does not only require the speed of a racehorse, but the turning ability of a cutting horse and the control and responsiveness of the stock horse. Western Mounted Games has its origin in colonial gymkhana, but some games have been dropped and others of American Indian and modern American origin, such as the rescue race and barrel racing have been added, making it a sport that has a distinct American Western-riding flavour.
The word gymkhana is said to have originated in India, meaning “games on horseback”. English military, who in those days used horses for both transportation and military manoeuvres, would get together on Sunday afternoons and compete in horseback games. In the United States, Western Mounted Games are still referred to as gymkhana, but in other parts of the world, including South Africa, it is understood to encompass the games of British origin such as tent-pegging, ring spearing and pony-club games.
Events
• Barrel racing
• Keyhole race
• Hurry-scurry race
• Pole bending – poles 1 and 2
• Quadrangle stake race
• Bi-rangle stake race
• Single stake race
• Fig 8 flag race
• Fig 8 stake race
• Speedball
• Big T
• Speed barrels.
Source: SAWMGA
