Development rider aims for professional career and Olympic Games
KYALAMI – Nhlanhla Vilakazi is best friends with horses and rides for the joy of it.
Nhlanhla Vilakazi (19) has impressed all with his skills in showjumping and won a few 90cm classes at graded shows.
This despite him being a development rider and his horses, gear, training and competition entries all being sponsored by Kayla Gertenbach Equestrian and Riba Stables.
“I ride because it is a passion and I love horses. Showjumping is my favourite discipline,” explained the Soweto resident who studies at Beaulieu College and has a hobby in deejaying.
“Some people do not ride for fun, they ride just to win competitions. But horses are living beings and cannot please you all the time, they make mistakes. I am an animal person and they are my best friends.”
On average, Vilakazi rides eight to 10 horses per day and jumps up to 1.2m in training.
Despite riding for the love of it and love of horses, his dreams are still big and he wants to ride professionally and jump at the Olympic Games. “When I ride, I do not feel any stress about anything. Things like the coronavirus, I do not worry about them when I ride. I used to get nervous when jumping a big fence but now it is second nature. I relax and it gets easier.”
Vilakazi started training under Enos Mafokate at the Soweto Equestrian Centre eight years ago. Last year, when his studies brought him to the area, he began lessons with Kayla Gertenbach at the Riba Stables arenas. “Nhlanhla’s strengths are that he has a good feel for a horse and he is a hard-working rider,” commented Gertenbach, who is an international showjumper herself.
“He has come so far in just a year and if he keeps doing what he is doing he will get noticed.”
Details: Kayla Gertenbach Equestrian kaylagertenbach1@gmail.com, 081 888 8933.
