The first South African National Equestrian Schools Association (Sanesa) qualifier show for Mpumalanga was held at Badplaas Resort over the weekend of February 6 to 8 with young riders impressing one and all with their skill on their pristine horses.
Paul-Hendri van der Merwe, Savannah Combrink and Anisca Smit were some of those who started the year with a bang with some strong performances in various disciplines.
Seven riders and their horses of Mataffin Riding Club attended the qualifier to represent their respective schools, many of them on new young horses which coped very well with the nerves and excitement of their first big show.
Each province in South Africa has Sanesa representation and some of them are also broken up into regions. Every province holds up to four multidiscipline competitions in the first seven months of the year and then the top-eight riders with the most accumulated points in each discipline are chosen to represent their province at the annual Sanesa National Championships during September and October.
Final results:
Savannah Combrink riding Dunhill, representing Hoërskool Bergvlam
Working hunter: Second
Dressage novice: Second and third
Equitation: Second.
Paul-Hendri van der Merwe riding Li Juan Prins, representing Hoërskool Nelspruit
In-hand utility: First
Equitation: Second
Performance riding: Third
Working riding horse: 10th.
Anisca Smit riding Rockys Rivals Pride, representing Laerskool Bergland
Dressage prelim: First in both tests
Equitation level: Third
Showjumping ideal time: 70 centimetres
and four penalties
Showjumping competition: 70 centimetres and eight penalties
Performance riding: Third
Working hunter: Fourth
Working riding: Fourth.
Eldone Janse van Rensburg riding Lucky For Some, representing Hoërskool Bergvlam
Showjumping competition: 70 centimetres and eight penalties
Showjumping ideal time: 70 centimetres
and third
Working hunter: 70 centimetres and second
Dressage prelim 1: First
Dressage prelim 2: Second.
Ashleigh Buys riding Hail The King, representing Home school
80-centimetre accumulator: Third
80-centimetre competition: Four penalties in jump-off.