Mersadez has serious horse-power

Getting on a horse was always on the cards for Delta Park School Grade 11 pupil Mersadez van Zyl. “My mother rides. I think the first time I was put on a horse I was about two,” she says.

She has come a considerable way since then. She competes at SANESA (South African National Equestrian Schools Association) where she participates in show jumping, dressage, equitation and working hunter disciplines. She has made it through to the Regional Finals, to take place in August. If she places, she will represent Gauteng at Nationals in October. This is a commendable effort, since she only started jumping in 2009 and competing in 2010.

Understandably, Mersadez manages to balance her riding with her school work quite carefully. “Sometimes I only get home at around 5pm. I ride for 20 minutes then eat, then shower, then study. During exams my groom will lunge my horses because my education comes first. I’d rather pass than ride. Every Tuesday is a bit different because I also model part-time. I’ll ride between 4pm and 5pm and then model from 6.30pm to 7.30pm.”

As for matric next year, she knows that the pressure will increase. When asked if she has planned beyond matric, Mersadez says “I’d like to study something within the beauty industry. But I’d like to study part-time so I can continue to ride.”

Her advice to aspiring equestrians is, “First, never give up. Second, winning is not everything. You have to know how to lose before you know how to win. Third, never be sad about losing or falling off – it happens.”