Equestrian secures first place at Equestrian Schools Association Competition
Deutsche Internationale Schule Johannesburg equestrian started the sport in Grade 3.
Deutsche Internationale Schule Johannesburg learner Yasmeen Slamdien and her horse, Tokyo Drift, recently competed in the South African National Equestrian Schools Association Competition.
They took first place in equitation and placed in show jumping.
Yasmeen said the competition was a good first-time experience with her horse.
“This was the first time I entered Tokyo in the show jumping and equitation since joining our family three years ago. Tokyo used to be a racehorse, and we started training from the basics when I got him.”
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The equestrian began horseback riding in Grade 3 but wanted to ride much earlier.
She added, “I remember watching movies with horse riding and always thought it was a fascinating sport. It took some convincing until my parents finally agreed for me to try it out.”
Yasmeen practices horseback riding as often as possible, but on average trains once or twice a week. Her accolades include more than 30 rosette awards.
The Grade 9 learner noted that her biggest challenge she continued to face was a mental block to step out of her comfort zone when it came to trying something new or a different routine.
“As this is not a one-man show but riding together with someone else [Tokyo], I often have to remind myself that he and I are a team and we need to work together.”
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