Rolé Equestrian Centre

27/09/2024

FOR YOUR HORSES SAKE

When you walk into the stable
Don’t try to show who’s boss
Your horse won’t understand you
And he’ll be at a loss
Instead, just go and rub his head
Be kind, and furthermore
When you walk into the stable
Leave your ego at the door.

When you walk into the paddock
You must go to your horse
Don’t think that he should come to you
Don’t chase or yell or force
Just take some feed to catch him
In this there’s no debate
When you walk into the paddock
Leave your ego at the gate

Every time you ride your horse
Think before you ask
Make it easy, always question
If he’s ready for the task
And when you have a problem
Don’t throw your weight around
Every time you ride your horse
Leave your ego on the ground

Every time you’re with your horse
Show him kindness first
Be nice and friendly always
And never think the worst
It’s sometimes not that easy
To know what’s in his mind
But every time you’re with your horse
Leave your ego far behind

Author unknown

23/09/2024

Congratulations to all our riders, horses and horse owners on all the winnings at the Grootfontein Show!!

23/09/2024

Zikida Estralita with Lexi Williams became the champions in Grootfontein Landbouskou. What great embassadors they are for us breeders! Estralita was bred by Dr Stephan van der Westhuizen ! Congratulations to the pair and Zikida stud for breeding this special mare!

29/08/2024

I did not write this, but everyone needs to see it...

When we rush our horses in their training, we aren't expediting their fitness or building muscles faster - we are breaking them down and rushing to a place that will require more veterinary intervention, more alternative therapies, more time off, more risk of injury, more wear and tear on the fragile structures, and a quicker end to the riding career and soundness of our equine partners.

You cannot rush fitness, you cannot rush collection, suppleness, relaxation, it's impossible. Wherever you do rush and cut corners, you will end up with holes and issues in other areas of your riding and the overall health and welfare of your horse.

Don't want to take the time to teach your horse to collect, and instead just force him into a false frame? Well, you're going to be stuck with fixing the slew of problems that come with the tension that was just created.

Don't want to work your way up the scale to create true endurance and stamina? You now risk your horse pulling a muscle or injuring themselves from overexertion and being pushed too hard for too long when the body simply isn't ready for that workload.

Don't want to get a saddle fitted to your horse? Your horse will suffer the consequences of altering his posture and way of going to alleviate the pressure and pain caused by something that isn't suited to his build, even going so far as risking injury to yourself when he can't pick up his feet enough, causing a stumble which can be catastrophic.

Don't want to do boring small jumps to build up to the larger ones? You risk your horse not being able to find a good take-off spot, knocking rails, refusing and even crashing through the jump. You will also make the horse more nervous, anxious and again, tense and sometimes unwilling to jump again.

Don't want to waste time working up the scale of collection to achieve the proper head set without force? Let's just throw a harsher bit in his mouth, maybe tie the nose shut with both noseband and flash to get him into "frame". You've now lost all relaxation, the wrong muscles are activated and depending on how deep you yank the horses face in will determine if he's even able to swallow. Tension throughout the jaw and neck translate all the way to the hind legs, so zero collection is possible, even the slightest bit of engagement and lift of the back cannot be achieved.

Rushing will lead you nowhere except to more problems that could've been avoided had you taken the proper time for development.

📝 Unknown

📸 Sister

29/08/2024

28/08/2024

Letter from a Groom

Yesterday was a hard day. I loaded a horse onto a trailer. I kissed that horse's neck, just like the last million times, and told him to behave himself. Not that he was going someplace bad. I actually didn't know where he'd end up. I told him to behave because any decent horseman or woman will respect that quality and treat that horse well. I don't know if he will get that respect. But I know he will behave.

Yesterday, I touched a horse for the last time. He had only lived 28 days. I stayed with him during his very first 24 hours. I lifted him to his feet so that he could nurse. Every 20 minutes. His color changed from dark wet sleek to fluffy baby brown. And many days later, when he was much stronger on his spindly legs, in a big green field, another mare kicked him. So I kissed his neck and told him to go run and play.

Yesterday, I held a horse in the Winner's Circle. I smiled as we became part of history. The world could see what that horse had done. And I had helped him. It was just one day, a few minutes really, but one of our best and I was proud. So I patted his neck and said "good boy".

Yesterday, I walked into the barn. I'm always the first person there. It's early but I don't mind because twenty pairs of eyes look at me eagerly and nicker to me with breathy voices. I kiss a few muzzles but not everyone tolerates the nonsense of a late breakfast so I quickly get the grain. Their voices are music to my ears.

Yesterday I waited, my whole heart hurting as you stood in the field with a broken leg. When the vet finally showed, he drove straight down to where you stood shaking and immediately started grabbing needles and pulling blue liquid. I was his only helper and he instructed me through the din of my uncontrollable sobs. I held your artery and told you that soon you wouldn't hurt anymore. I let go and then fell to my knees to lay across your neck.

There are pieces of my heart out there. And I don't know which goodbye is worse. When it's cold, I pray that you have enough hay to eat. I hope that someone cares enough to give you water and exercise and a pat on the neck. Are your feet trimmed? Did you get your spring shots? Does your leg bother you still? Do they rub liniment on it or ice it or is it completely healed? I still see you in the barn. I can still see you in a picture, but every day when I walk past your stall, there is another horse there.

I will give my best to him too.

There are pieces of my heart out there. And the best goodbyes come with the knowledge that my horse still has a job and a home with horsemen and women who respect him.

(Picture of amazing Mario)

04/08/2024

Make Them Carry Their Saddle

A father of a darling girl and I were talking last week and he said that he wanted his daughter to ride more and not have to do the work part of the catching, grooming, and saddling. I smiled as I explained.

Riding horses is a combination of strength, timing, and balance. Kids in this country are physically weak (unless they are actively involved with weight training and physical conditioning 4+ times a week.)

When you walk out to the field, you are clearing your stress from being under fluorescent lights all day; feeling the sun soak into your bones. As your body moves on uneven surfaces, it strengthens your legs and core.

When you groom your horse (especially currying), you are toning your arms and stabilizing your core.

When you carry your saddle, your arms, chest, and back are doing isolated strengthening work.

Being near horses, calms and makes you tune into the splendor of these empathetic animals.

When you ride at a posting trot, it’s equivalent to a slow jog calorie burn wise.

After a lesson, the riders are physically tired and mentally quiet and balanced.

Horses feel your heart beat and mirror your emotions back.

Riding large and somewhat unpredictable animals makes you resilient and pushes your expectations.

Working with horses is so much more than learning how to ride.

So parents, make your children carry their saddles. Don’t do the hard parts for them, as long term it actually hurts them. To advance with their riding, they must get stronger. You can help by doing the high parts.

I love having you all at the farm, and am so grateful to get to share these fascinating animals with you.

Hannah Campbell Zapletal

10/07/2024

Dear motorists -🚗🚙🏍🚐🚚🚛 and non-horse people,
please do not drive in front of a horse-trailer into the supposedly large gap to the foreman.

We have a long distance from the front man, not because we drive slowly Wir, but we need a long brake path. Unfortunately, we don't have it anymore, if you stop in front of us.

Our horses in the trailer need us to be careful and slow in curves and slow down so they have a chance to balance. Not only can they otherwise be seriously injured, it can even flip the entire trailer and cause serious accidents.

On the photo you can see how little space and opportunity the mare has to keep her balance. The foal is even right under her. She knows a misstep could seriously hurt her foal, so she tries to keep it from moving as possible. You can only do that if I can drive carefully. Please help me do this and consider! 🙏🙏🙏❤️

May be shared, because I know that most drivers do it not out of carelessness, but out of ignorance 😉