SA Horseman - Volume 2, Issue 2, May 2007

Endurance riding in South Africa continues to go through exciting and challenging times. We recently participated in the world championships for juniors and young riders, where our team finished fourth, the best of all teams using leased horses, and the best ever by an SA endurance team abroad. Meanwhile a team of senior riders participated against New Zealand at an event that could possibly grow into a full three nations competition between ourselves, the Kiwi's and Aussies.

Die konsep van straf, as dit by perde kom, verdien heelwat tyd en studie. Kenners is dit eens dat perde leer wanneer hulle onmiddellike terugvoer kry. Om 'n perd dus vyf of tien minute na 'n gewenste of ongewenste aksie te beloon of straf, maak hoegenaamd nie sin nie.

In this issue we congratulate the Welsh Pony and Cob Society of South Africa with its 50th birthday celebration. The Welshies have certainly staked a huge claim in the South African equestrian environment.

SA Boerperd impressive

The South African invitation team to take part in the Celtic Horse of the year competition in Napier, New Zealand, consisted of Corrie van Niekerk (captain), Gillese de Villiers, Mariaan Liversage, Willa Botland and Laura Woods.

Healing horses the classical way

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Horse and rider fitness

Mention the word Welsh ponies, and one immediately thinks of picture-pretty ponies with adorable little tots on their backs, parading in the showring. Yes, this picture is accurate, but there is so much more to the Welsh pony in South Africa and the rest of the world.

Previous articles made mention of the present-day classification of Welsh Ponies. This article explains what they are, what they are used for and the criteria for each Section.

This year the Welsh Pony and Cob Society of South Africa celebrates its 50th anniversary. We at SA Horseman wish to use this opportunity to wish all the Welsh fanatics a happy fiftieth! But where did it all start? And how did this breed establish itself in South Africa?

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It all started in 1948 when Mrs Rosalie Lasbrey, on an extended visit to the United Kingdom, took the opportunity to look at different breeds of Mountain and Moorland Ponies with the idea of starting a small stud for breeding children's ponies in South Africa. She was very impressed by Tan-y-Bwylch Berwyn at the horse of the year show, and set out to buy some in-foal Section A mares and a stallion.

Riders from South Africa, New Zealand and Germany were selected to represent their countries in dressage, show jumping and endurance, all on loaned horses, in Hastings in New Zealand from 14-18 March this year. The event was run concurrently with the Kelt Capital horse of the year show. Calet de Vos and Jaco Fourie, both winners of the 2006 South African individual dressage championships, made up the South African dressage team.

Die nasionale junior en jongruiterspan vir die wêreld uithouritkampioenskap wat op 16 Maart vanjaar in Argentinië plaasgevind het, het die wêreld se aandag gevestig op ons ruiters se vernuf en uitstekende ruitervaardigheid.

David Stubbs has been described as one of South Africa's most accomplished and versatile horsemen. For the last 60 years, he has featured most prominently on the South African equestrian horizon, wearing many different hats - including that of rider, competitor, trainer, judge, selector and president of Sanef.

Sedert die eerste Friesperdmerries van 'n uitsonderlike merriestam sowat 'n halfeeu gelede na Suid-Afrika ingevoer is, het dit 'n buitengewone rol in Friesperdteling in die land vervul. En dit is steeds die geval. Die selektering van goeie merriestamme vir teling is van die uiterste belang. Sowat 50% van aanteel bestaan in werklikheid uit merries en, soos in die geval van hingste, moet merries ook verbeter en opgeteel word.

Minerals are an essential component of the horse's daily nutritional needs. The need for improved trace mineral bioavailability to meet the performance demands of the modern horse, often requires greater quantities of trace minerals than can be absorbed from conventional feed ingredients.

From Mongolia to Montana, the Moors to the Mexicans, there is a golden thread that runs through every horse culture, albeit in differing degrees. It is a culture rich in tradition and diversity, but has one thing in common: understanding of and responsibility towards the horse.

When talking of schooling, many people immediately shake their heads. "It is boring and anyway, I do not want to do dressage", they say. Nevertheless, just like human athletes, who have to practice for hours to tune their bodies and sharpen their minds to run better, jump better or swim better, horses need to be tuned to perform better at their chosen job.

A thorough understanding of horse psychology is necessary to fully grasp how the horse perceives our actions, and how he reacts to these actions. Monty Roberts, Pat Parelli, Kelly Marks, Richard Maxwell, Sylvia Loch, Linda Tellington-Jones to name but a few horse masters, all agree that cruelty and fear plays no role in training a horse - but respect for his rider does.

Hy mag nou wel al 84 jaar oud wees, maar met perde werk hy nog daagliks. Hy het dit sy hele lewe lank gedoen en hy het geen plan om op te hou nie. Oom Piet Steenkamp van die plaas Witkraal in die Middelposomgewing naby Calvinia, is 'n ou bekende en gedugte teenstander in die skouring. Maar weg van die skouring, op die plaas, word soveel moontlik van die werk ook met perde gedoen.

Today treating and healing involves more than just surgery and medicine. These days light therapy can be administered with easy-to-use, portable devices which can survive the rigours of stabling. More and more vets, physiotherapists and equestrians are turning to the healing benefits of light therapy to shorten recovery time, minimising scar tissue and proud flesh formation, reducing swelling and bruising and to offer a non-invasive holistic approach to pain control.

Good caretakers, good pastures and good horses go hand in hand. Good pasture is the cornerstone of successful horse production. Yet, it requires careful pasture management to maintain quality. Pastures vary in nutritious value from season to season and also from year to year.