Carina and her horses
"I love horses because they speak a silent language and you must listen with your soul to hear them."
In equestrian riding, Carina Lingerfelder (24) has been scaling the heights.
The former Marais Viljoen pupil started riding at just five years old; on an Arab horse that previously belonged to a family member.
“If you’re the younger sibling, you want to do everything your older sister does – so because my older sister, Yolandi Allison, was riding, I began as well,” recalls Carina. I started competing with my sisters pony, Pay Me, in dressage at the age of eight – when my sister outgrew him (score for me) – and I jumped him as well”, she adds.
In grade nine she got a horse she still owns to this day: the Alzu stud (Alzu Sahara). “Of course I picked the one that runs away and is naughty,” says Carina jokingly.
Carina also has another horse called Crystal Soul (her sister’s horse) that she uses to compete with too.
“I introduced both to the open grades with the help of Carlos Ferreira, but had to move on and I’m now with one of the best horse riders and instructors, Carl Boonzaaier.
About why she does what she does, Carina answered: “This is my dream and passion. I love horses and animals. As a child, I would take my dog and my pony on a picnic (with a basket containing sweets for me, biscuits for my dog and apples for my pony).
“I remember my pre-primary school teacher asking me what I wanted to be when I grow up, so I stood up proudly and said: ‘a cowgirl’; and my parents will back me up that I sure am one.”
Carina said her parents are always behind her and that her dad was always shouting the loudest; when I was competing in other sports at school.
“They’re always pushing me harder and I thank them for always believing in me and doing everything they could, to support me in every way – getting me up for all of those early mornings; making breakfast; helping me into my jodhpurs (quite a feat); getting me to shows on time and all the other things they always do for me.
“God gave me this talent and I’m working harder every day to be better then I was the day before; learning new things constantly,” Carina explained.
“I love horses because they speak a silent language and you must listen with your soul to hear them; they are so therapeutic and such big creatures, so to handle a horse is an art – you can only work with them if they allow you to.”
Carina recently won the 1:35 Grand Prix in Polokwane at the FEI (Fédération Equestre Internationale) World Cup qualifier and she said she wants to improve so that people can know who she is.
“Sponsorships are hard to come by and this is an expensive sport, so it’s an important aspect – if anyone would be interested in sponsoring me, please get in touch; I promise I won’t let you down,” Carina asked.
Any prospective sponsors can contact Carina on: 081 042 0198.
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