YOUNG HORSE PERFORMANCE SERIES 2017:

Leg 1 - Maple Ridge 11 March 2017

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The first leg of the 2017 Young Horse Performance Series was given a ‘leg up’ by Renita de Beer of Royal Feeds, who  generously sponsored part of the show. The ROYAL FEEDS jump took centre stage in the arena, courtesy of our talented course designer Brendau Kok.  Brendau gently eased the young horses into the Series by building flowing courses with ample space and not too many scary fillers. As has become tradition at the first Leg of the series, Verity and her Maple Ridge team provided an immaculate arena and equipment  for these equine ‘stars of the future’ and their proud owners.
Equestrian stalwarts Jose Mendes and Wayne Dale judged the Potential Showjumper section of the competition.  They are both knowledgeable and established riders, breeders and trainers who have served the sport in different capacities for many  years. Wayne was a top Junior and Adult showjumper and previous SA Derby winner who is now our premier Equine Dentist. Jose Mendes has also ridden his whole life and was in the Portuguese team  in Lorenco Marques competing against the Springboks as a 16 year old in the 1960’s.

4 YEAR OLDS
The 4 Year Old Potential Showjumper is judged over a single round, in which the final score comprises the jumping penalties (40%) and the ‘technique, rideability , attitude and scope’ (60%). In the production of young horses, the correct training and the temperament of the horse are two very important aspects in its ultimate success as a showjumper. In this series, our aim is to effect the correct training of the young horses and to reward those with a tractable temperament.

After the course walk,  we allow the young horses to enter the arena (either ridden or on foot) to familiarise themselves with the jumps and with the layout of the arena, to ensure a good experience in the ring. We want to encourage a relaxed and confident young horse, so that it can concentrate on the job in hand and not be overwhelmed by the occasion.

We start the show with a ‘warm up’ class which is 10cm lower than the 4 year old class. This is a prime opportunity for the riders to let the young horses see all the jumps and to build their confidence for the competitive round.  

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The pretty grey SAW mare Her Highness [by Udokes (KWPN) ex Ulior van het Wuitenhof (BWP) mare] owned by HB Zulch and ridden by Daniella Machiné were the winners of this class by two points from  Rika Kok and the Pienaardam owned Thoroughbred  gelding Dubliner [by Visionaire xx ex Tara’s Halls mare]. Third place went to SAW Credo Electra [by El Bundy (Hann) ex Bambix (SF) mare] owned by Tracy Davids and ridden by Dalene Steynburg with the Pretoria Equestrian Centre’s  SAW PEC Rumpus [by Davenport Ramzes 11 (SAW)  ex Cordoba xx mare] owned by Sue van der Merwe and ridden by Anre Diedricks in fourth. Fifth place went to one of the two ponies in this years series, Calvin Kok’s striking grey Nooitgedagt gelding, Daydream Aero Flight [by Daydream Admiral ex Daydream Fabius mare] so well ridden by Calvin. We look forward to seeing this combination being a real ‘force to be reckoned with’ in the future.  The grey SAW gelding Cognac [by Consuelo (Holst) ex Belmondo (BWP) mare] owned once again by the Pienaardam Resort and expertly ridden by Rika Kok was sixth with the chestnut SAW gelding PEC Liron [by Lustre (SAW) ex Rex Grannus Z mare] owned by Sue van der Merwe and ridden by Andie Hasewinkel in seventh. Liron is the grandson of Sue van der Merwe’s feisty A Grade mare Winnaling, and he is the spitting image of her.

The 4 year olds in general coped well with the course, but it was very obvious to see that those horses that did not do the warm up class were at a severe disadvantage. The warm up class is there for a reason, and we urge everyone entering these shows to use it.

The 5, 6 and 7 Year Old Categories are each divided into two separate sections. Each of these age groups basically have two competitions, with two sets of prizes, for one entry fee.  A real win for everyone in these difficult financial times! These two sections are divided into the ‘Showjumper’ section and the ‘Potential Showjumper’ section. The ‘Showjumper’ is run over two rounds, with the total jumping score and the time in the second round deciding the prize winners. The ‘Potential Showjumper’ comprises the total showjumping points over both rounds (40%) and the  ‘technique, rideability , attitude and scope’ (60%) judged in the first round.

5 YEAR OLDS

The  5 Year Old Showjumper section was won by the Thoroughbred gelding Elaine’s Magic [by Latino Magic xx ex Complete Warrior xx mare], owned and ridden by Angelique Atkins. Angelique and Elaine’s Magic were the 2016 Four Year Old Potential Showjumper Champions and are letting everyone know that they plan to continue in this vein for the 2017 Series! Second place went to another Thoroughbred, the glamorous big bay Thoroughbred gelding Dollar Time [by Mambo in Seattle xx ex Northern Guest xx mare] owned and beautifully ridden by Carmen Venter. Carmen and Dollar Time have both significantly matured from their debut in the 4 Year Olds last year. Third place went to the SAW gelding Nova Stud Quixote [by Quartz D’Eclipse (Holst) ex Ulior (BWP) mare] owned by Arnold Botha and ridden by Robyn Shaw, with fourth place going to Carl Boonzaier’s SAW Areion Latina [by Luxius (Holst) ex Parco (BWP) mare].  Michelle Hobbs riding the grey SAW mare PEC Roxy [by Davenport Ramzes 11 (SAW) ex Lindenberg (Old) mare] was fifth and the Thoroughbred Marcobomba [by Judpot xx ex Acatenanga xx mare] and Candice Laverge were sixth.  It is interesting to see that three out of the six prize winners in the showjumping were Thoroughbreds!

The  5 Year Old Potential  Showjumper was headed by the same two horses that won the Showjumping section, but with the order reversed! This time Dollar Time was first with Elaine’s Magic second. These two very talented thouroughbreds are going to hard to beat – the Warmbloods had better ‘pull up their socks’.  PEC Roxy was third and Nova Stud Quixote was fourth. Fifth place saw the first of the Callaho horses making their mark this year, with SAW Callaho Lucetto [by Lissabon (Old) ex Cassini I (Holst) mare] owned and ridden by Paige Goetsch in fifth and then the handsome grey stallion Kellow Confession [by Crusador (Holst) ex Clarinius (Holst) mare] owned, ridden and bred by Ryan Andrews following in sixth.

6 YEAR OLDS
The  6 Year Old Showjumper section was an intense and hotly contested competition  won by the grey SAW gelding  Equifox Casino [by Consuelo (Holst) ex Lindenberg (Old) mare] owned, ridden and bred by Gail Foxcroft, followed very closely (a mere 0.7 seconds slower) by Alwin van Breda’s striking looking iron grey  Namibian Warmblood  gelding Zonjati Conquest [by Consuelo (Holst) ex Glueckscup (Hann) mare]. Third place went to the imported chestnut gelding Lisandro [by Lordanus (Holst) ex Calvin (Holst) mare] owned by Craig and Ursula Wearing and ridden by Gail Foxcroft, and fourth to SAW Callaho Luther C [by Lissabon (Old) ex CalandoI (Holst) mare] owned by Karenza Hunter and ridden by Chatan Hendriks.  Fifth place was taken by the impressive bay SAW gelding Lord Ad Astra [by Lord Z (Holst) ex Davenport Peter Pan (SAW) mare] owned and ridden by Kirsty Lynch and bred by the Lynch family of GL Stud. The bay SAW gelding HSB Caleb [by Consuelo (Holst) ex Rex Grannus Z mare] owned, ridden and bred by Sonia Kroon took sixth. Caleb is out of the full sister to Romulus,  Sonia’s brave and talented 1.50m horse that was third in the SA Derby in 2015. You may also notice that the Holsteiner stallion Consuelo [by Corofino I (Holst) ex Landgraf I (Holst) mare], who stands in Namibia at Sitta Voigts’ Zonjati Stud, has 3 progeny in the first six placings!

The  6 Year Old Potential  Showjumper  was won by Lord Ad Astra and Kirsty. This horse is the full brother to Lord Jack, currently competing in the 1.30m classes with Zdenek Munchna. Second place went to the flamboyant chestnut  SAW gelding Callaho Liberia [by Lissabon (Old) ex Argentinus (Hann) mare] owned by Shawne Goetsch and ridden by her daughter Paige. This family also descend from a long line of riders – Paige is Shirley Green’s granddaughter!  Third, fourth and fifth places in this section mirrored the first three prize winners in the showjumping – Equifox Casino, Zonjati Conquest and Lisandro.

7 YEAR OLDS
The  7 Year Old Showjumper section was won by the flashy imported chestnut Zangersheide gelding  Ricochet du Rouet [by Balou du Rouet (Old) ex Royal Bravour (KWNP) mare] ridden by Amelia Campbell-Horne. This combination did extremely well in the six year olds last year, so they will definitely be the ones to watch.  Second place went to the stylish Nicole Horwood riding the Capital Stud’s very talented imported bay stallion Capital’s Kronos [by Darco (BWP) ex Cash (Holst) mare]. This horse is a very exciting prospect for the future for Nicole and Henning Pretorius who also owns the full brother Homerus, currently jumping in 1.40m with Leona van der Merwe.  Third place went to the lovely imported grey  Italian Warmblood mare Roma by Night [by Clinton (Holst) ex Beaujolais (KWPN) mare] owned by Springbok eventer Martyn Swanepoel and beautifully ridden by the ‘master producer of young horses’ Graham Winn. Fourth place went to the bay SAW gelding  Carshop Assegai Chant [by Canter Z ex Alzu Walkabout (SAW) mare] owned and ridden by a huge supporter of the Young Horse Series, Steve Atkinson. 

The  7 Year Old Potential  Showjumper  saw the same horses in the top four positions – the only change being that in this section Kronos was first and Ricochet du Rouet was second. We need more SA bred horses in the seven year olds to give these imported horses a run for their money! Last year the SA Warmbloods took all the trophies in the 7 year old category, but it looks like things might be different this year!

The second leg of the series in on the 16th April in the Stubbs Arena at Kyalami Equestrian Park during the Nissan Easter Festival.

We hope to see you there!