2024 YHPS FINAL

This year’s YHPS Final came down to the wire, with a handful of the Series-leading horses missing out on titles that seemed almost guaranteed before the Final. However, this has often been the case as double clears are of such importance that riders have been known to ride ‘too’ carefully and make mistakes as a result.

For the first time in history, the winner of the Series in each age category won BOTH the Potential and Sporthorse sections of the competition! This is most unusual as often the horse who scores higher in the ‘Potential’ phase of the class is not the winner of the ‘Sport Horse’, as the ‘Potential’ riders frequently take fewer risks, and sometimes the ‘scopier’ horses are not the quickest. This year, we had several exceptions to the standard!

THE RULES

POTENTIAL SHOWJUMPER CATEGORY

1. There will be a minimum of two judges for each class and three judges at the final.
2. The horse will be judged as follows:
   1. Technique: Front /10 (x 2 judges)
   2. Technique: Hind /10 (x 2 judges)
   3. Rideability, Attitude, Obedience /20 (x 2 judges)
   4. Scope, Potential /10 (x 2 judges)
   5. Jumping Score: First Round /50     Second Round  /50   (NOTE: 4-year-old Jumping Score: first round only   /100)
   6. The SUM of scores from A to E divided by two provides a final score out of 100.

SPORTHORSE CATEGORY

1. Each class will be judged on a points and time system.

• Clear round = 50 points
• Double clear = 100 points
• Knock = – 4 points
• Refusal = – 5 points
• Each second overtime allowed = – 1 point
• 4-year-old class:
  • Clear round = 100 points (as the four-year-olds only jump one round

2. The second round is judged over a shortened course on time—all horses to go through to the second round. The scores for the second round will be an accumulation of points and time.
3. At the end of the Series, the Series winner will be the horse with the most points in the fastest cumulative time.

** Two scores from the first five legs of the Series may be discarded, but not the score from the Final.

** The Final is compulsory, and that score may not be dropped. Points scored in the Final will be multiplied by 1.5.

Did you know?

The YHPS welcomes all breeds of ponies and horses and all riders (adults, juniors and pony riders); the only criteria is the age of the horse or pony (4yo, 5yo, 6yo and 7yo).

THE 4YO CATEGORY

The 4yo Potential Showjumper 2024 was won by Rotoflo Cipriano, ridden by Janine Coetzee

Cipriano is a son of the impressive Chianti OT Lowlands Z (Clintissimo Z x Cassini I), who jumped up to 1.45m with Neriske Prinsloo Hill. His dam is sister Jade Coetzee’s Open showjumper, Ciao Z (Carusso La Silla x Quidam de Revel). The Rotoflo family did not only take home the Kellow Park Stud Trophy for the 4yo Potential Showjumper but also the ‘Lindenberg Trophy’ for the SA Bred 4yo Champion Sporthorse and the ‘Time to Dance’ Trophy, as ‘grandad’ Clive Robertson is the breeder of the Best SA Bred 4yo!

We had a quick catch-up with Janine and Clive to hear more.

HQ: What has it been like to produce a horse your family bred?

Janine: ⁠It has been a wonderful experience; he was the first horse we ever bred. It’s really rewarding to see them from day one to where they are now!

HQ: Did you expect to win the 4yo title?

Janine: ⁠⁠I definitely didn’t expect it!

HQ: Can you talk us through how Cipriano went throughout the Series?

Janine: I was part of the backing process with Annette Rousseau, and Cippy was super simple from day one, which made our job easier. Through the Series, he only got better and better!

HQ: What is Cippy like?

Janine: ⁠⁠Cippy is just lovely; as I have mentioned from day one, he was just simple. He is the kind of horse that allows you to make mistakes and grow from them. He is very rideable with a lovely canter and jump. He is the kind of horse you want to ride for hours because he is so nice! On the ground, he is the sweetest soul. I don’t know how we got so lucky on our first try!

HQ: Do you have any more exciting youngsters coming up?

Janine: ⁠⁠I do have a few more exciting young ones coming up! I currently have two two-year-olds. One we bred (Le Quitta) is by Charley (Crockart)’s stallion Legend out of my top Children’s mare, Quiletta. The second one is very special. We bought her from JD Du Preez. Her name is Danitoki. She is out of Capital Contiki (Catoki) by the imported Dominator 2000 Z stallion, Danone Z, so hopefully, she will honour her dad’s legacy and be just like him! We are also planning to breed two more this season.

HQ: You were also close to claiming the 5yo title with Capital Calvert but were unlucky in the Final. Will you be back next year to try and win the 5yo and 6yo again?

Janine: ⁠Calvert is a sensitive soul and quite sharp. Unfortunately, a pole being knocked in the warm-up completely distracted him, but we will definitely be back next year. I enjoy the Series because it allows the young horses to grow throughout the year, and Gail has been running young horses for 20 years, so I would love to continue to support it!

HQ: What are your plans for next year with the youngsters you rode in the YHPS?

Janine: I will do the Series again on Capital Calvert and hope to do some Open Equation on him as well. Rotoflo’s Cipriano will be ridden by my sister Jade next year.

HQ: What do you enjoy about the YHPS?

Janine: ⁠⁠I enjoy the whole journey! I like the way that YHPS builds them up throughout the year, and there is no pressure on them.

HQ: What does it mean that a horse you bred has won a young horse Series title?  

Clive: I think it is evident that the dam plays a significant role in any breeding plan. Ciao has undoubtedly passed on her jumping abilities. Annette was responsible for backing Cipriano, and between Janine and Jade, they have successfully schooled him to this level. Jade will probably carry this forward.

We owned both the sire and dam at the time, and it was a natural choice for us. Chianti has moved on, but Caio remains with us as a broodmare. She has carried foals for other parties up to now. We are fortunate to have Le Quitta and Danitoki, who will be ready to be backed in two years’ time. We have some interesting mares in our stable: Caio, Quiletta, Arden, and Contiki and, of course, our stallion Q- Bellisimo is also in our stables, so who knows what is still to come?

THE 5YO CATEGORY

The 5yo Potential and Showjumping Champion 2024 was Beneficent van Balou, ridden by Savanna Valjalo

Beneficent van Balou (Balou Peggio x Capital Ulrich), aka ‘Asterix’ and Savanna went into the final leading the Potential Series by only 3.75 points while only sitting in sixth on the Showjumping Series standings, with a full score of 300 points but a time nearly 7 seconds slower than the Series leader! The pair pulled off a classy double clear with a good time in the jump-off. With solid scores in the Potential, the pair, by only three points, claimed the title narrowly, beating Emile Egen and Callaho Con de Buissy (Con Coriano x Olala de Buissy), who went into the final in third on the standings.

In the showjumping category, three of the top five ranked horses did not compete in the final; the second-ranked combination had one rail in the jump-off, and the last horse to go, the Series leaders, took a wide turn in the jump-off. Ordinarily, this would not have cost them the title, as they had seven seconds in hand, but due to the x 1.5 weighting of the Final, this proved immensely costly, as it handed the title to Savanna and Beneficent! The pair took home the ‘Northlands’ Trophy for the Champion 5yo Potential Showjumper and the ‘Winnaling’ Trophy for the Champion 5yo Sporthorse.

Here is what Savanna had to say about the experience:

HQ: How long have you owned your boy, and how did you come to acquire him? Also, what drew you to him?

Savanna: ⁠I first learned about Asterix as a three-year-old, but at the time, I didn’t have the space for another horse, especially another young stallion. After tragically losing my dream horse, High Street Kensington, aka. ‘Shaggy’, I decided to take a break from riding and travel a bit (the perks of remote work and studies!). Then, last year, in June, Asterix crossed my path again, and my mom, Dina, encouraged me to meet him. He was smaller than I had anticipated, but he ticked most of my boxes, and I could see his potential. We always say that our animals find us, and we left meeting him, feeling there was a reason he had crossed my path again. I’m so grateful to my mom for bringing him into our family and giving me the opportunity to produce him!

HQ: What is he like to ride, and as a person?

Savanna: Asterix is a little pocket rocket! Producing him this far has been such fun—his playful personality makes up for his lack of height. He is an athletic type, learns fast, and truly enjoys his ‘job.’ which is important to me. He’s awesome to ride. He is kind in his ways, has a soft mouth, is quick, attentive, brave, scopey and always gives his best effort. He is generally a very well-behaved young stallion, with a few exceptions where his cheeky charm shines through. The way to his heart is with treats!

HQ: You won both titles. Was that expected? And how were you feeling before the Final?

Savanna: ⁠I went into the Final leading the Potential Series category, so I knew I needed a double clear to have a chance at winning the Potential category overall, but it didn’t occur to me that we would win both. I wasn’t really nervous because we had a great lesson with my coach, Ronnie Healy, leading up to the show. Asterix is careful enough and has been competitive in the previous legs, so I aimed to maintain the same level of consistency. We jumped early in the class, so it was most important for me to give him a confident double clear. I’d like to think we both enjoy being competitive, so I rode the jump-off, taking the turns I knew he’d easily do, and missed one I thought twice about.

HQ: What do you think about the Series, and what does it mean to you that he has won both parts of it?

Savanna: I think that the Series is a fantastic opportunity to showcase and develop young horses, and it’s a meaningful platform for their growth and exposure. For Strix to win both titles is incredibly validating. It shows his promise and potential as a young stallion and reflects our journey together. Nothing is more gratifying than witnessing the hard work put into a young horse pay off in such a big way. The titles have been won by role models of mine and by horses that have reached the top of their careers, so it means a lot to know our names will be on the same trophy. I am over the moon with Strix!

Did you know?

Several of the legends of the sport, as well as a handful of current top horses, have their names on YHPS trophies.

HQ: What are your plans for the future with him?

Savanna: I plan to continue producing Asterix, focusing on steady progress and taking each step as it comes. On the breeding side, we may offer him to selected mares if there’s interest in using him as a stallion. In competition, my goal was to have him jumping at 1.10m by the end of the year, and he’s ready for this exciting milestone. We’ll likely participate in the YHPS for his 6- and 7-year-old seasons. After that, I believe he has the potential to reach Open levels, and I’m hopeful that our future together will be bright, with more special achievements like this one at YHPS!

Other 5yo winners

The 5yo proved to be the most diverse category, with three horses claiming the various trophies on offer.

South African Bred Champion 5yo Sporthorse – Good Hope and the late Marie Deen

One of the other winners was Good Hope (Glasgow van het Merelsnest x Presto SP), who was ridden by Carina Lingerfelder and won the ‘Helderfontein Stud’ Trophy for the South African Bred Champion 5yo Sporthorse. The ‘Alzu Feeds’ Trophy for the Breeder of the SA Bred Champion 5yo Sporthorse was also awarded to George Roach on behalf of the late Marie Deen, who bred and owned Good Hope.

As the story goes, George caught Good Hope as she was born, while Maria was in the hospital as her granddaughter was born the same day! Maria bought Phaedra (Good Hope’s dam) for herself to ride, as she is placid but very quick and agile. She competed up to 1.10m (with other riders), but Maria wanted a ‘bigger’ Phaedra.

So, she chose to breed with Glasgow as his traits are: “a well-developed stallion with height and length who jumps with scope and care. He is a powerful, bold jumper with a forward, balanced, and rideable canter.” In George’s opinion, she accomplished what she desired in breeding Good Hope, as she is bigger than her mother and is just as fast and agile…

“We are so proud as Maria left us at the beginning of September just before the fourth leg. We are hoping Good Hope will have a successful jumping career”- George Roach

Carina Lingerfelder had this to say about Good Hope, also known as ‘Goodie’ or ‘Little Dancing Shoes’.

HQ: What is ‘Goodie’ like to ride and as a person?

Carina: She has so much personality on the ground and on top! She isn’t always easy, but she definitely gives her all. She is a fighter with the biggest heart. She loves children; she follows them around, but she pulls her ears back with adults! She loves jumping and is very brave…

HQ: How long have you been riding her?

Carina: I started working with her as she got broken in as a three-year-old. We worked with her for six months and gave her off six months before she fully started her career.

HQ: What are your plans with her going forward?

Carina: We will see in 2025 what she gives us – it’s up to her!

The Champion 5yo Thoroughbred: Charisbrooke and Amelia Campbell-Horne

As we mentioned, the YHPS celebrates all breeds. That being said, each category has a trophy for the Champion Thoroughbred, paying special acknowledgement to the breed that formed the foundation upon which sporthorses have developed. South Africa has a rich history of world-class Thoroughbreds in eventing and showjumping, including Bronwyn dos Santos’ Fountain of Love, Daniella Machiné’s Iron Ruler, and most recently, Jessica George’s Wrap-Up.

The YHPS has a trophy on offer for the top Thoroughbred Sporthorse in each age category, but sadly, only the 5-year-old class this year had a handful of Thoroughbreds in the Final. This title turned out to be hotly contested as there were several Thoroughbreds with only a rail or two separating them. Charisbrooke (Great Britain xx x Al Mufti xx) and Amelia Campbell-Horne managed to maintain their Series lead and take home the ‘Gary Player’ Stud Trophy for the Champion 5yo Thoroughbred.

Here is what Amelia had to say:

HQ: How long have you owned your boy, and how did you come to acquire him?

Amelia: We came across ‘Lani’, as he is affectionately known, about 18 months ago. My mom (Penny) is always on the lookout for hidden gems. She spotted one called Quintus Arrius, and when we went to try him, Lani was there too. Lani was a colt then and hadn’t been ridden in a while, so we watched his owner ride him, and he was quite spunky. She was emigrating and, in a rush to sell the last two horses. We wanted Quintus, but we made an offer to take them both, as Lani was very pretty, moved nicely, had good breeding for sport, and had only raced twice as he wasn’t very good at it! My mom had produced and sold racehorses off the track in Zim for many years and has always had a good eye for a horse. We didn’t need another stallion, so he was sent to Graham Winn to be gelded and get some basic training.

HQ: What is he like to ride, and as a person?

Amelia: He is a dream to ride. His movement is very floaty, and he can really flick his toes in trot. Despite being small (15.3hh), he has a HUGE amount of step and is very reactive, so it took me some time to get used to exactly how much leg I needed to use. Given his small size, we joke that he has small man syndrome, as he can be pretty cheeky and opinionated but never mean. On the ground he loves to hate being loved but will do just about anything for treats. This little guy has a big part of my heart, and I always find myself beaming when I ride him.

HQ: You ride a mix of Thoroughbreds and Warmbloods. What is it that you particularly love about the Thoroughbreds?’

Amelia: They are so uncomplicated! They are naturally forward-going, so they take you to the jump. In general, I have found them to be very forgiving, and I’ve also found that they mature quicker. I am blessed to have three five-year-olds in my string at the moment, and he is undoubtedly the easiest and most advanced of them. My transition to horses was carefully planned by my mother, who put me on Warmblood-cross-TBs and OTTBs to begin with. It was only towards the end of my Junior career that I started riding some full Warmbloods. I am a firm believer that the best horses for young and novice riders are Thoroughbreds. 

HQ: What do you think about the Series, and what does it mean to you to have won the Thoroughbred title?

Amelia: I love the YHPS! I competed with my boys in it: Ricochet du Rouet (PZ) won the Potential as a 7yo, and Geloven BB was Champion Sporthorse as a 6yo and 7yo. I love that it is a Series that celebrates consistency (you need to jump clears). It is also a very kind introduction for the young horses, as you have the free arena familiarisation at every show from 7am to 8am and then a practice warm-up class. In past years, the Series moved venues, and this gave such a positive introduction to new venues for all the youngsters. The courses are always designed with young horses in mind, and the heights increase slightly throughout the Series. Above and beyond this – you pay one entry fee (one of the cheapest you can get) and are guaranteed to jump two rounds and can win prizes in both the Potential and Showjumper categories! Oh, and they celebrate our grooms and acknowledge and reward them for the effort they put into caring for and turning out their horses!

As for the Series win… I have three black and gold Champion rosettes and have always said I would LOVE to win either an SA-bred or the Thoroughbred title. At the start of the season, I didn’t think it would be possible. The first leg of the Series was Lani’s first 90cm and my first show on him, as Shannay Marais had been competing with him for us while I was out injured. He handled it well, finishing with just one rail, but his turning didn’t work so well. He has come such a long way and was leading going into the Final, so I am thrilled and very excited for the 6yo classes next year!

HQ: What are your plans for the future with him?

Amelia: I would love to do the 6yo Series with him next year. He will move up to the 1.10m classes now and hopefully step up again next year; he definitely has the step and scope for higher grades! He is also ridden by a young girl I coach a few times a week, so he will hopefully do a little equitation and dressage with her, too!

THE 6YO CATEGORY

The 6yo Category was another age group dominated by one horse: Los Valientos. The striking son of Branic Consuelos (Consuelo x Jokinal de Bornival) out of an Atlanticus mare is now owned by Carolyn van Schalkwyk and was ridden by Jason Phillips. The pair won the ‘Cellehof’ Trophy awarded to the Champion 6yo Potential Showjumper, as well as the ‘Yokozuma’ Trophy for the Champion 6yo Sporthorse, and the Lorelock Stud Trophy for the SA Bred Champion 6yo Sporthorse.

We spoke to Los Valientos’ very proud owner, Carolyn, to find out more about him:

HQ: How long have you owned your boy, and how did you come to acquire him? Also, what drew you to him?

Carolyn: I had a shoot with Kelly O’Connor at her yard in Kyalami. As I walked onto the property, I saw him immediately. I sneaked into his stable and instantly fell in love! He was 18 months old at the time. He was not for sale, but I begged long enough until they agreed to sell him to me. Kelly’s mom, Celeste Lochoff, owned him at the time. It took a fair amount of persuasion for her to sell him, but I just knew he was special. Kelly told me afterwards that he arrived at the yard the same morning I went to go and do the shoot. I was not looking for a horse when we bought him, but sometimes things work out in miraculous ways and many small moments fall into place at exactly the right time. In this case, it was my most treasured find.

HQ: What is he like to ride, and as a person?

Carolyn: He was extremely sensitive when I started him. He did not like big movements around him, and he got me off a fair number of times. Luckily, he is extremely kind and loves to please, so with time together, he has really learnt to trust and form a partnership. He has really big movement and a powerful engine. He gives an incredible feel! Although he isn’t the largest horse, he never lacks in stride or scope. He is very affectionate, kind and loving.

HQ: You had Jason in the saddle this year; how has it been watching him be produced and go through the 6yo Series?

Carolyn: It has been such a joy to watch him with Jason whilst I had my baby. I have been riding with Jason for almost 15 years now. We have journeyed together with a couple of horses now, but this one has been incredibly special. I did not send him to Johannesburg with any expectations, but wow, has he surprised me! I have always just enjoyed Valient as a person, so anything he achieved was just a bonus. Jason has achieved so much on him and instilled incredible confidence during his year of training. His wife Erika and his two daughters have been just as instrumental in the year there and have given Valient all the love he needed to thrive like he did. I am incredibly thankful to them as a family for sharing the sport and horses with me.

I look forward to working with Jason in the years to come, learning from both him and Valient, and helping Valient develop into the horse I dream for him to be.

HQ: What do you think about the Series, and what does it mean to you that he has won it?

Carolyn: The Series is amazing for young horses. I have always taken my young horses to the series. I won the Series 10 years ago on Swazi-Lizkhar Land of Lagos. I love that the courses are built kindly for young horses to encourage them to build confidence in the early stages of their jumping career. The height of the jumps is lower than what they are competing at in graded shows, and it often gives them a nice breather show. It is really encouraging to share the same trophy that Valient won, with horses performing incredibly well at the top of the sport.

HQ: What are your plans for the future with him?

Carolyn: I look forward to having him back home with me in Cape Town again. We have all dearly missed him. I would love to keep him sound and happy and let him lead me in his career and how far he can go. I have big dreams for him in the sport, but more than that, he is extremely loved by all of us and plays a big part in our family. We often go to the beach and spend a lot of time together outside of his jumping career. It will be great to welcome him home.

The Breeder of the SA Bred Champion 6yo Sporthorse was awarded to breeders Kelly O’Connor and Celeste Lochoff

Did you know?

Kelly O’Connor not only bred Los Valientos, but she won the 6yo Potential Series on his sire, Branic Consuelos, in 2018.

Kelly had this to say:

HQ: How does it feel to have heard a horse you bred was the winner of not only the Potential 6yo Series but also the Showjumper Series?

Kelly: My mom (Celeste Lochoff) and I were excited and proud of Los Valientos winning under the talented Jason Phillips. We’ve been watching over the past couple of years as his owner, Carolyn, and now Jason have produced this young horse so beautifully. A huge congratulations for their patience and understanding!

HQ: Can you tell us about his sire, Branic Consuelos, and his dam and why you decided to pair the two?

HQ: Branic Consuelos (Cyril) was an exceptionally talented, sensitive, and careful stallion. He refined Aurora (the dam of Los Valientos). She has a lovely temperament and beautiful conformation but needed a bit more blood and elasticity for the bigger sport, which he seemed to pass on to his progeny.

HQ: Does Cyril have other progeny, and what are they like?

Kelly: Yes, we bred three different mares and got three very talented foals, all doing exceptionally well: Los Valientos, as we’ve seen here; Los Pepe (Camden Park damline), who is currently competing in the 1.20m with Jodi Ambrose; and 334 Cinderellos (Kashmir van Schuttershof) who is owned by my sister, Aisling Triggol, and currently competed by myself.

HQ: What other young horses have you bred that are busy growing up and waiting to come to you for production?

Kelly: I’ve just started with Los Valientos’ half-sister, Ceto D. She is by Cornet Damiro and will do the four-year-old YHPS next year. I have a two-year-old filly – Lilibeth (Legend x Spartacus x Larino), who looks exceptional. I also have two yearling colts out of my very special 1.40m SA Champion mare, Leila (Lord Pezi x Cornet Obolensky) by Emerald, and I’m hoping to put her in foal to Ermitage Kalone this season. I’m very excited about this little batch of youngsters.

HQ: What are your thoughts on the YHPS Series as a whole and its value?

Kelly: I’ve always been a huge believer in the YHPS; what Gail Foxcroft and Sue van der Merwe do for the education and production of young horses in the country is fantastic! It’s the only league in South Africa that recognises the importance of producing young horses. I look forward to building a string of youngsters to take to the YHPS league in 2025.

THE 7YO SERIES

 The final class of the day, the 7yo, was a clean sweep for one horse and rider combination. Despite going into the final in second place, Claire Martin and Martini Ebony Rose (Berghof Eragon x Larry de la Bryere x Last Step) produced two confident, flowing rounds in a tough class that saw many rails across the board. The pair with a single rail in the first round of the Final not only won the classes on the day but also claimed both Series titles and the two breed titles on offer! They took home the following trophies:

• ‘Callaho Stud’ Trophy – 7yo Champion Potential Showjumper
• ‘Capital Stud’ Trophy – 7yo Champion Sporthorse
• ‘Branic Stud’ Trophy – South African Bred Champion 7yo Sporthorse
• ‘Glenfox Stud’ Trophy- Breeder of the SA Bred Champion 7yo Sporthorse

HQ: You made a clean sweep of the prizes at the final, and you were in second place in both Showjumping and Potential going into the final.  Did you know what you needed to do and how many rails were in it before going into the final? If so, how did you manage the pressure? 

Claire: To be honest, going into the first round of the Finals, I didn’t actually look at the points difference, and being number one to go in the class, I had no idea how it was jumping, so I just tried to ride a forward-flowing round to give my mare the best chance. It was only going into the jump-off that I knew I needed a safe, clear round, so I didn’t take any crazy turns but didn’t ride too carefully either. Rosie had jumped fabulously at Post-Derby in the Bob Charter on a forward rhythm, so I knew I must try to have the same forward ride as the weekend before! Rosie is a mare who gives the rider a lot of confidence as she is always focused on the job and not spooky, so I didn’t feel too much pressure.

HQ: Can you talk us through the final leg of the YHPS?

Claire: The track was fair and straightforward, but it definitely had the biggest jumps the horses had seen in the Series. The planks were also angled on jumps three and four of the track, which is something we don’t see too much of! Rosie jumped a good forward, smooth round with just 7A down; perhaps I overrode a little coming towards the clubhouse. I was very pleased to ride a clear in the jump-off round without becoming too careful and cautious!

HQ: It’s very special that you have bred and produced Rosie. Can you tell us about the pairing of her parents?

Claire: At the time I bred Rosie, I was actively eventing, so I wanted to breed a light-framed athletic horse with good paces who was brave and hardy. I was very much attracted to what I saw in the German ‘E-line’ and set out to find a stallion standing in SA with these bloodlines. Berghof Eragon (Edward/Metternich) was a very young stallion then, and I think my mare was the first one he covered. When we viewed him, we were impressed by his fabulous temperament and strong, hard hooves. He was raised on the rocky mountain conditions in Hennopsrivier, and his barefoot feet looked incredible despite the harsh conditions! Eragon had already been inspected by the Hanoverian Horse Society and given a license to breed. His dam Mai Girl had already produced many successful foals, including a carriage-driving horse in Germany. For me, versatility and success in the progeny indicate vital trainability and soundness. At the time Ebony Rose was born, the pedigree was somewhat ‘unfashionable’ as a jumper, but fast forward a couple of years to the success of Kind Edward and Henrick von Eckermann, and all of a sudden, the pedigree is respected! Her dam was a very careful horse with a bit of a stubborn temperament and short striding, so I am very pleased these characteristics were improved on in Rosie.

HQ: You produce your horses in an extraordinarily well-rounded way, as evidenced by you having just won the Derby Compleat Horse on Rosie earlier this year. What aspects of their production are important to you, and is there a magic formula? 

Claire: Training starts when a foal is born, as at a very young age, they learn from their interactions with humans. All foals at Martini Stud are halter trained personally by me and trained to stand tied up to a fence from two months of age. They will learn to box with their dams by their side before weaning age. Natural horsemanship techniques with positive re-enforcement are used. Groundwork is done for at least two months before backing commences. Gradual trickle training ensures the horses are never overwhelmed. Hacking and jumping natural cross-country-type jumps is a focus during their first year under saddle. Because we are a small stud, each horse is treated as an individual, and training is structured to best suit their needs.

HQ: What are your plans with Rosie going forward? 

Claire: I plan to do the 1.30m Derby with Rosie next year and gain more experience in the Open showjumping ranks. I’d also like to get to Medium-level dressage by the end of next year.

 HQ: You also have a foal of hers on the ground via embryo transfer. Can you tell us about him? 

Claire: We have a super month-old colt by Pegase van’t Ruyershof (Comme Il Faut x Cartani) who is very confident, just like his genetic mother. He has been named Martini Pinot Noir. Of course, we will try to get a filly from Rosie in the future. Our stud focuses on the mare lines, and we don’t keep colts; we rather use top international stallions whose frozen semen is available in South Africa; this means buyers can obtain a very well-bred colt from the stud.

HQ: What do you love about the YHPS, and why would you recommend others participate?

Claire: The YHPS is designed to educate young horses, and every opportunity is given to them to come away from the show with a positive learning experience. The arena is open for familiarisation at the start of the day, and all horses are allowed to jump in the second round! The Series caters to all types and breeds of horses, with both the Potential judged on style and technique as well as the normal Sporthorse competition, with a jump-off category and prizes for both! Our grooms love these shows, and extra attention is given to the turn-out of their horses for the hotly contested grooms’ prizes!

Groom of the Best Turned-out Horse of the Series

Champion Groom – Fredy Ncube – Groom to Callaho Foreign Affair (7yo Category)

HQ: How long have you been working as a groom?

Fredy: I have been a groom since 2004, so 20 years this year.

HQ: How long have you been working with the horse you had in the YHPS?

Fredy: I have been working with Foreign Affair, since May 2021, when he was purchased off the Callaho Auction.

HQ: Where/how did you learn to turn out and plait like you do?

Fredy: I am self-taught. I looked at how the top grooms were plaiting and just practised, practised and practised. I always look for new ideas and new techniques to improve myself.

HQ: What are your top tips for turnout?

Fredy: Keep practising. The more you practice, the better you get. Always take your time and take pride in what you do. Keep updating your skills with new ideas.

HQ: What are your favourite turn-out (plaiting/bathing) products?

Fredy: My favourites are the Canter Mane and Tail Spray and the Canter Coat Shine Spray, and we always use the Smart Showtime Lavender Shampoo. These are all available at Tack n’ Togs.

Reserve Champion Groom – Anotidaishe Maregere – Groom to Charisbrooke and Branic C’est Si Bon (5yo Category)

HQ: How long have you been working as a groom?

Ano: I have been working as a groom for 14 years.

HQ: How long have you been working with the horse you had in the YHPS?

Ano: I have been working with Lani (Charisbrooke) for one year and 7 months and Bon Bon (Branic C’est Si Bon) for one month.

HQ: Where/how did you learn to turn out and plait like you do?

Ano: l leaned to turn out and to plait like I do at Lapaside Stables by practising.

HQ: What are your top tips for turnout?

Ano: Keep the plaits tight! I mostly use gel to make the hair stickier and easier to plait. I ensure the horse’s tail and mane are tidied and cut to the correct length with a nice straight finish.

HQ: What are your favourite turn-out (plaiting/bathing) products?

Ano: My favourite plaiting and bathing products are the ‘Smart Equine’ products from Midfeeds.