Fourways Riding Centre hosts eventing clinic and cross country open weekend

TIMSRAND – Local horse riders take on the cross-country circuit and an eventing clinic at Fourways Riding Centre.

January 16, 2020

Nicholas Zaal 1 minute read

Sean Herron leads Court Marshall through water during the eventing clinic. Photo; Nicholas Zaal

If horses could smile nervously then they would match the expressions on their riders’ faces at the first event of the year at Fourways Riding Centre.

The centre in Timsrand took a four-week break from hosting shows over the festive period and on the first weekend back, 4 to 5 January, hosted an eventing clinic with Paul Hart, a World Equestrian Games rider who qualified for the London 2012 Summer Olympics, as well as an open weekend in the cross-country fields.

Casey-Leaigh Smit and Flick Speed take on the cross-country circuit. *Photo: Nicholas Zaal*

So riders got back into the swing of things with a clinic which had exercises that gradually increased in difficulty with Hart, or did their own thing on the various interesting obstacles that make up the cross-country course.

Christelle van der Merwe leads Tomahawk through water. *Photo: Nicholas Zaal*

“We have this event every year,” said the centre’s owner Marion Clough.

“We get going with eventing a bit earlier than the other disciplines because it takes a few weeks to get the horses fit for the season.”

Adrienne MacDonald-Hutcheson and Midgaurd Althea jump over an obstacle on the cross-country course. *Photo: Nicholas Zaal*

She added that the first eventing show in the area would be at Inanda Country Base on 25 and 26 January.

The opening of the cross-country circuit, likewise, helps riders prepare for the show.

Chané Smit jumps through the hole in the wall on Carlisles Anuk on the cross-country circuit. *Photo: Nicholas Zaal*

Hart explained that his clinic aimed to get horses ready for upcoming shows.

“We started easy and then got harder and jumped bigger jumps,” he said.

“We are training the horses and riders to be confident so when the season starts they are ready. We worked on lots of narrow jumps, going up and down banks and going through water.”

Clough concluded that the centre would

Sean Herron and Court Marshall walk down a bank. *Photo: Nicholas Zaal*

The inaugural Stepping Stones Super League Series will see riders compete in showjumping, eventing, showing, dressage and equitation over seven weeks, accumulating points at each show.

The FEI World Cup Challenge and national FEI Challenge will keep dressage riders excited and the FEI Challenge showjumping event will get the showjumpers revved up. The annual Fourways Challenge Cup is another big event local riders can look forward to.

Details: Fourways Riding Centre riding@global.co.za; 083 265 8278.

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