IN PICTURES: Children enjoy December Pony Camp at Riba Stables
KYALAMI – Young riders have fun playing games on horseback and learning how to take care of horses.
Riba Stables topped off a great year with a fun and adventurous December Pony Camp.
Young riders got to do things they don’t usually do at the stables in Kyalami, between 11 and 13 December.
This included outrides, scavenger hunts and games on horseback, vaulting, having a fancy dress-up with the horses, and learning all about grooming horses and looking after them.
Every day they swam in the dam or in the pool at the stables to stay cool between activities.
“We did these things because it needs to be fun and we also want the kids to see what happens when they are not at the stables,” said stables owner, Barbie Gertenbach.
“Many children come and ride during the week and then go home, but they do not know how to look after the horse, clean its stable or clean its feet, or ride outside.”
The stables saw two 12-year-olds, Erin Muller and Asea Pozniakow, win gold and silver medals respectively at the Competition Vaulting International Belgium 2018.
Furthermore, Gertenbach’s daughter Chelsey was the only South African vaulter to have qualified and competed at the International Federation for Equestrian Sports World Equestrian Games.
It was a good year for Riba Stables, Gertenbach said, and next year will see another of Gertenbach’s daughters, Kayla, instruct a number of new competitive show jumpers at the stables. “Every year we want to be bigger and better,” she concluded.
More pony camps will be held at Riba Stables in Easter and September next year.
Details: Riba Stables 082 453 3522; riding@ribastables.co.za
