Kyalami jumpers go the distance
KYALAMI – Riba show jumpers are the fastest and fittest at FEI.
Riba Stables stole the show at the recent Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) Children’s Classics at Kyalami Equestrian Park.
Not only did Riba take the first and second spot of the show jumping bronze tour (1m), but the two winners’ coach also won the adult division of the 1.10m jump.
The only thing separating Mina Arian (14) and Nicholas Howe (13) in the points was that Mina had better times over the two days.
But Nicholas won day two of the event, being the only rider to have two clears on the day.
“I had a very good tournament with three clears and one pole,” said Mina, who has been riding since she was two-and-a-half, and competed on Dakkam Treasure Island. “I made sure my balance was good and we had good rhythm in the jumps.”
For Nicholas, who has been riding on and off for 11 years, his horses MOT Assegai Leia and Dancing Apollo make riding great fun. “I love how friendly and sweet horses are,” he said when asked why he rides. “Next up for us is 1.10m jumps.”
Their coach and former South African show jumper, Errol Wucherpfennig had nothing but praise for his star students. “They did well on ponies that were perhaps not as good as their competitor’s ponies,” he said.
Wucherpfennig, who rode Alzu Shanghai added that the event featured a track of international standard with the same dimensions as FEI events around the world.
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