Western Horse Show – 23 and 24 October 2020

AWESHA (African Western Stock Horse Association) and AHBSN (Appaloosa Horse Breeders Society Namibia) jointly hosted their annual show at the Rolé Equestrian Centre, Brakwater last weekend.
The Youth and Adult classes included Western Pleasure, Reining, Cowboy Dressage and Trail, which were divided into levels 1&2 (novice), level 3 (Intermediate) and level 4 (advanced).
For many of the 30 competitors this was their first Western show, including 8-year-old Janelle Schreuder, Lisa Hugo (9), Amy Hauptfleisch (10) and 11-year-olds Mira Meyer, Annette Fourie and Ida Marie Fourie.
Two other Young Riders that impressed the judges with their consistent riding and great results were Carmen Aston (winner of two of her classes) and Amia van der Merwe (three second places).
Several of the new adult riders, including Johan Kannemeyer, Johannes Kahunzo, Lukas Haingura and Albert Gomaxab performed very well and were in the placings within their classes.
Petra Liebenberg and her mare, What a Spring, achieved a “hat-trick” by winning the Adult level 3 classes of Western Pleasure, Reining and Cowboy Dressage.
Lizette Fourie proved that practice makes perfect when she won the Adult Trail class with a near perfect score.
Sakkie van der Merwe, riding his gelding Bronco Mars, performed an outstanding Level 4 Reining. His spins, roll-backs and sliding stops were some of the best we’ve seen in Namibian competition.
Organisers expressed thanks to all participants and helpers who made the show such a huge success and so much fun.
“Special thanks to our generous sponsors Agra, Auto Haus Mahindra, Animal Fedco, Voermeester, Toscani Appaloosa Study, Tobia Kruger, Pilot Pen SA. Also thanks to our judge, Erika Theron, and to Ronel Slippers of the Rolé Equestrian Centre for hosting us.”
The first place winners were as follows:

WESTERN PLEASURE
Youth level 1&2: Mira Meyer (Teddy)
Youth level 3&4: Carmen Aston (What a Spring)
Adult level 1&2: Petra Liebenberg (Maverick)
Adult level 3&4: Petra Liebenberg (What a Spring)

COWBOY DRESSAGE)
Youth level 1&2: Chane Doll (Kiara)
Adult level 1&2: Lizette Fourie (Inkie)
Adult leve1 3: Petra Liebenberg (What a Spring)
Adult level 4: Frankie Francis (Bronco Cuda Bar)

REINING)
Youth level 1&2: Mira Meyer (Teddy)
Youth level 3: Carmen Aston (What a Spring)
Adult level 1&2: Cielie Fourie (Bronco Docorina)
Adult level 3: Petra Liebenberg (What a Spring)
Adult level 4: Sakkie van der Merwe

TRAIL)
Lead Pony: Lisa Hugo (WOW! Capitan) and Janelle Schreuder (Charlie).
Youth level 1&2: Amy Hauptfleisch (Kondiba)
Youth level 3&4: Emma van Rensburg (Tres Jollie)
Adult level 1&2: Tracy Sternagel (Banjo)
Adult level 3&4: Lizette Fourie (Inkie)

If you would like to find out more about Western riding in Namibia, feel free to email [email protected]

PHOTOS

Riders line up for the Trail, a course of eight obstacles including a gate, water, pole chute, wobbly bridge, cowboy curtain, side poles, and lastly load the horse in the trailer, towed by a Mahindra tractor (one of the main sponsors).

From left: Thodo Garbade (Appaloosa Judge); Norbert Newman (Feedmaster, one of the main sponsors); Daleen Small, Pieter Hugo, the children and handler of the WOW Appaloosa Stud with their stunning horse, WOW Luking Cool.