A passion for horses
She has won so many rosettes and championships, that it is impossible to name all of them.
Local show jumper, Amoré Marais, 17, has a passion for showjumping and has shown courage, confidence and character. She is a dedicated, hardworking, and very talented rider who dreams of competing at the Olympic Games one day.
Amoré is a registered member of Dressage South Africa; SA Show Jumping as well as the South Africa Equestrian Federation (SAEF).
She started to ride and compete from the age of four. She never had the privilege to own a schoolmaster – a horse with the experience and the ability to help her learn and perfect certain skills – or an imported pony or horse like some other riders. She had to find and train her own ponies and horses – some of them were unwanted animals because they were seen as too difficult to train. Amoré schooled them herself and made champions of them.
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She seldom comes home from a show without a rosette or medal; in fact, she has won so many that it is impossible for her to name all of them. Three crates full of rosettes, medals and sashes attest to it.
Her highlight as a seven-year-old was when she won the Supreme Reserve Young Child Rider of the Year award at the Horse of the Year Show. Last year Amoré rode for the Benmar Black Friesian Stud at the Horse and Wine Show at The Dome in Parys. Another huge achievement was when she and her horse Gaegwyn Thackeray won the prestigious Children’s Dressage Derby two years in a row.
Amoré is now a junior rider. Because of her height, she needed a bigger horse so about 18 months ago she sold her pony and bought herself a very young warmblood gelding by the name of Areion Genius Loci. He was just backed, with no schooling so Amoré had to train him from the start. After only three shows, they are ranked fifth in Gauteng and have already won numerous first places at different dressage shows.
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Amoré was also given another horse, Rambo’s Glory, with which she also wishes to compete in dressage competitions. She rode him for the first time at a Saneca show during February this year and is considering using him for showjumping as well.
Her short-term goal is to be selected to ride for the Gauteng Team at the SA Championships in December. Her long-term goal is to work both her horses up to the highest level possible and to compete with them at shows.
To excel in horse riding requires hard work and dedication. The horse should preferably be ridden and trained for an average of 45 minutes every day to keep it flexible, and there must be variation in its training to prevent it from becoming bored. In addition, Amoré needs to allow sufficient time to do her schoolwork and other extra-curricular activities, therefore good planning is required.
For now, she has to school and train both her horses, and compete at as many shows as possible to be able to improve their grades. A very important factor is that she herself needs coaching from a professional coach at least once a week to help her improve.
Unfortunately, the costs involved are very high, therefore she appeals to the public for sponsorships to help her to live her out passion, talents and dreams.
For more information, send an email to marais_linda@yahoo.com.
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