South African Pony Club

IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO ALL MEMBERS - PASSPORT CHECKS AT SHOWS

Veterinarians and Welfare Officers will be scheduled on a regular basis to attend equestrian events and it is imperative for you to ensure that all horses competing at an event MUST have their SAEF FEI Group IX passports with them at all times (physical passport, NOT photograph) for a spot check by these Welfare Officers and Veterinarians.

The SAEF encourages National Discipline Associations to ensure that all riders' passports comply with the SAEF Veterinary Regulations https://www.saef.org.za/documents/rules-regulations/ # as well as the SA General Rules and Regulations https://www.saef.org.za/documents/rules-regulations/ # .
All Equine Flu and African Horse Sickness vaccinations must be up to date as per the latest SAEF Vaccine Directive.

Please ensure that your horse/s have valid AHS1 and AHS 2 Vaccinations plus the necessary Flu Vaccination (including the Primary Vaccination) in its SAEF FEI Group IX passport, before entering a competition. All vaccinations need to be administered by an official Veterinarian.

Please find the current SAEF Vaccine Directive below.https://saef.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=e02bd22576817b3014b3c9f50&id=fe4172f15e&e=695256502e

PLEASE NOTE THAT NATIONAL RACING AUTHORITY PASSPORTS ARE NOT VALID FOR SAEF COMPETITIONS.

Congratulations Holly Robinson on passing your A Test with Distinction. This is an impressive achievement. The A test is the highest award of the Pony Club training system and is a comprehensive assessment of horsemanship and the training of young horses. Passing the A requires extensive practical knowledge. The A test is recognised worldwide and a highly regarded credential in the equine industry.




Long Shadows Farm
South African Equestrian Federation

Well done to all our members who have been working as runners for Dressage at the Westown South African Youth Championships 2024

Welcome to our first newsletter, where you can read all the Pony Club news, see results, find information about testing topics and handy horsemanship tips to keep you updated with all the latest happenings in Pony Club South Africa!🐴💙💜💛

While we are tucked away in an air-conditioned truck with comfy seats, our horses are bouncing and swaying in the back.

Unlike many may think, horses don't actually sleep or rest in the trailer. Their body is constantly moving and making adjustments to stay upright - Just like we do when we are standing in the bus or train.

Researchers from Massey University in New Zealand sought to measure how much vertical and horizontal movement horses have when in a trailer. With two horses loaded up into a two-horse, they took a 58-minute trip and here is what they found:

📍In total, horse 1 moved over 228 ft and horse 2 moved over 320 ft vertically
📍Horizontally, Horse 1 moved 745 ft and Horse 2 moved 797 ft
📍Both horses swayed over 11 inches

Next time you load up for a show, clinic, lesson, etc., give your horse a break before jumping right on.
___________________

Learning Theory and Welfare Resources - with The Blue Cross!

Are you wanting to learn more about Learning Theory and Welfare?
Now attached to the resource hub is a comprehensive list of resources you can delve into to help enhance your coaching sessions and learning theory badge rallies.

You can find the resource list here:
https://shorturl.at/mnpu8

The Blue Cross have also produced some fantastic short videos that demonstrate how to apply some of the basic principles of Learning Theory to your ponies.

View the playlist on You Tube here:
https://shorturl.at/cpIPU

🎉 News in from our team manager Claire🎉
“We are very proud of our Pony Club SA team. Super ambassadors and fabulous riders, so many people said they were all lovely riders and sympathetic with their horses”. 🐎 Home time ✈️

🇿🇦Pony Club SA Team in Zambia 🇿🇦
Saturday update:
A full day's riding today with show jumping and arena eventing. Reports in of lovely show grounds, our riders still loving riding their superb horses and apparently really good food being served up - what more could a rider ask for?!
Some results:
🔆show jumping 2 phase 90cm
4th Isobella Fourie and Moccasin
5th Kingsley Mathews on Ulasaba
6th Kristen Haarhoff and Kingston Kiara Laicey
🔅show jumping 2 phase 80cm
Kristen Haarhof and Dianthos
🔅arena eventing 90cm
4th Kingsley Matthews and Ulasaba

Flying the flag high for South Africa 🇿🇦

Let the games begin... our SA Team did us proud today. With beautifully turned out horses they had super dressage rounds and did fabulously in their first jumping class on their new steeds 🐎 All set and ready for their team jumping class tomorrow 😎

Yesterday saw the teams trying out horses. They were spoiled for choice with some lovely, well schooled horses to choose from. They also had fun time playing with some foals 🐴💕 Some social sports were played and a social braai enjoyed in the evening for the teams to get to know each other.
Today is show time 🐎

Our very smart SA Pony Club team boarding their plane ✈️ to Zambia 🇿🇲 for the Zambia International Show 🐎 thank you Terramanzi Group 🙌🏻🌟

Announcing the team representing The South African Pony Club 🇿🇦 all set to fly out to Zambia today to compete in an International Show from 3-5 May hosted by the Zambian Pony Club.
Accompanied by Team Manager Claire Wager of Kwazulu Natal, Kingsley Matthews (Shongweni) and Kristen Haarhoff, Jaedyn Cruickshank and Isobella Fourie (all from Noordhoek) will compete against teams from Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Riding on borrowed horses, they will compete in dressage, show jumping and arena eventing classes.
We wish them all the best of luck and know they will do us proud.
A big thank you once again to the Terramanzi Group for sponsoring our very smart team gear.

Making decisions about rugging is much easier when you realise just how different horses are from humans. The temperature range where we feel comfortable (our thermoneutral zone, or TNZ) is much higher and narrower than horses.

In general, horses are comfortable between 5-25℃, whilst humans are comfortable between 25-30℃. That means that we feel cold before horses do, but horses feel hot before we do.

Horses would feel the cold more if they are old, ill, injured and cannot move, or clipped.

The PCA Horse Welfare Policy advises owners to be aware of the horse’s ThermoNeutral Zone (5C – 25C) and use rugs appropriately to protect against cold but prevent overheating. Check rugs daily and horses weekly for signs of abrasions and rubbing.

If it is 3C when you leave home for school or work, but it will reach 20C, get the rugs off before you go.

Here’s a test for you:
If rugged, would the horse’s coat be dry (no sweat) underneath the rugs, if you checked under them during the warmest part of the day?

https://ponyclubaustralia.com.au/horse-welfare/

WOW 🤩 the response to our first Tri-Nations virtual dressage competition has been amazing.
172 entries in total.
104 from South Africa 🇿🇦
35 from Zimbabwe 🇿🇼
33 from Zambia. 🇿🇲
Thanks to everyone for encouraging your members to participate.
The video uploading period is open and available until 13 April.
Good luck to all participants 🎉

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vL1p9oT6QR4

Learning Center Teaser: Five Biosecurity Tips with Dr. Katie Flynn

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2mS_ZcVD5o

Wheezy Peasy's guide to Respiratory Health Meet Wheezy 👋 He will take you through all you need to know about the respiratory health of the horse and why it’s important to keep it healthy.Further info...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8T_9ImWmFrg

How do you choose the right energy source for your horse? Horses of different disciplines may require different nutritional approaches to optimise energy consumption. During exercise, the horse's muscles release ene...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VJqZhlRT4o

How to make your horse's skin look healthy Cavalor makes the best supplements & feed for your horse: http://cavalor.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdUNgzQI83c

How to prevent stomach ulcers? Cavalor makes the best supplements & feed for your horse: http://cavalor.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uG1GFF1oVhg

How to cool your horse down? Cavalor makes the best supplements & feed for your horse: http://cavalor.com

Well done Irene Midrand Pony Club !!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtf_3IgDGik

How to determine the Body Condition Score? Cavalor makes the best supplements & feed for your horse: http://cavalor.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7MzyWzeO1Y

Tips on How to Transport Your Horse and Prevent Shipping Fever You and your horse may have to travel, and transportation can have an affect on your horse's body and performance. Find out how to proactively avoid potentia...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rccNm5ozDhw

What Is Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) and How to Prevent It In this video we'll talk about the equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) and give you some tips how to prevent it from happing to your horse.Cavalor makes the best...