Equestrians go from strength to strength
Martyn Swanepoel came first and Graham Winn, second at the Polo International Horse Trials.
Two riders from the Winsted Stables outside Springs took the first two places at the recent polo trials.
Martyn Swanepoel came first and Graham Winn, second at the Polo International Horse Trials, held from October 3 to 5 at Kyalami.
Both are still competing and teaching after they competed in the 2010 World Equestrian Championships.
The Polo International Horse Trials is the closest experience South African horse riders will get to competing under international competition conditions.
It is an Olympic equestrian sport where a horse and rider combination, compete in three disciplines – dressage, cross-country and show jumping.
Martyn was mounted on Voightskirsch Cardinal, the horse with which he competed at the world championships and Graham, on a new horse, Voightskirsch Senator.
His horse of the 2010 world championships, Voightskirsch Zorba, retired shortly after they came back from the championships.
Michelle Winn of Winstead Sables says because a competition like the recent horse trials is one of the two big competitions South African riders can show their competence in each year, they compete in smaller competitions throughout the year.
The next big competition Graham and Martyn are preparing for is the SA Championships, to be held in December.
Michelle says the equestrian sport is one of high commitment.
Because there is a very special relationship between a horse and its rider, the pair has to practice each day of the week.
