GEORGE NEWS - Young riders from across the Western Cape gathered over the weekend of 7 to 9 August for the Sanesa Western Cape District Finals at the George Riding Club, where they put their riding skills and horsemanship to the test across a range of equestrian disciplines.
The competition brought together school riders and their horses as they competed for top honours and the opportunity to progress to the next level of Sanesa competition.
Eden Sanesa's chairperson, Lientjie Grobler, described the event as a huge success. "It was just amazing and heartwarming to see the learners smiling and the horses happy. The course designer did a wonderful job and the judges were encouraging," she said.
Sunday, however, brought challenging weather conditions, with rain, strong winds and cold temperatures adding another dimension to the competition. "Sunday was a day of its own. We had rain, we had wind, we had cold. Luckily, we didn't have snow!" Grobler said.
Sharla Swanepoel of Glenwood House Prep rides Crunchie. Photo: Erin Ponder
She said she felt particularly sorry for the younger riders who had to compete in these difficult conditions. "Some of them were crying and the ponies were naughty, but the judges were encouraging. At the end, when they were done with their tests, they walked out with a smile."
For Grobler, seeing the young riders persevere despite the weather was one of the highlights of the weekend. "It was just amazing to see that when the little riders commit to something, it does not matter what the conditions were. They did their thing."
Jua Hoogendyk of Outeniqua Primary on My Girl Mia. Photo: Erin Ponder
Grobler also praised the organisers and those involved in making the event a success. "The food was great, everything was just super and something to remember," she said.
The Eden 2026 team. Photo: Erin Ponder
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