Ridgetop Equestrian

10/03/2024

Well done to our riders who took park in the ESP jumping show today. A great day of jumping👏🏼

24/10/2023

We have a livery spot available at our lovely yard in Summerveld. Horses out all day in stunning big, grass paddocks. Large stables at night with ad lib, good quality hay. Indoor and outdoor sand 60m x 20m arenas, and a sand lunge ring available. Close to Shongweni club and other training show venues, lovely safe outride available directly from the property. Owners live on site as well as knowledgeable and experienced grooms. For questions or to view please WhatsApp Amy - 0832303193 or Julie - 0836422583

27/09/2023

Our first ever obstacle course and market to celebrate our incredible neighbours and community was awesome! Enjoyed by young and old.
Thank you to Halfway Ford Waterfall for the jackets as lucky draw prizes for entrants and marshalls. These were won by: Richard Shacklock, Hannah Durr, Lyndsay Boyter and Jordan Hollins.

27/09/2023

We went to HeartEco Timbers in Shongweni to get wood for our obstacle course and saw some tyres which we thought would be useful. Thanks to HeartEco the great wood and the variety of tyres, our obstacles were awesome and really enjoyed from young and old. The tables were also made from their wood for a wedding and also became part of our lovely market.

24/09/2023

Fresh organic veg, hot coffee and cake, smoothies, hot food, many other stalls including top quality art from our neighbour's! Awesome obstacle course- send the adventurous people in your family. Child friendly options where needed so the whole family can join in.
Sam Kruger shares her story at 12.00 and Carmen's vocal students are entertaining us for the morning!

20/09/2023

You've read about her in the Highway Mail now come and hear her story and meet Sam in person. Have some fun on the obstacle course and then browse our stalls with beautiful art, home made goods while you enjoy a great cup of coffee and some delicious food!

16/09/2023

And if your answer to the obstacle course is no come and support young vocalists and a youth choir or a range of vendors!

08/09/2023

It's getting real! Walked the course route - such variety and terrain. Medals on their way! Pre - enter using this link
https://hs6umcr7rpc.typeform.com/to/Ta1XvsZF
If you are in a team each individual in the team needs to enter. Just add your team name.
Amazing stalls

29/08/2023

Come and join us for a fun-filled public holiday! Morning out for the whole family - obstacle course, food, market stalls and more. Book to enter to have priority entry. Entries on the day are limited. Look forward to seeing you all there 🥳 Great stalls booked already

18/07/2023

It’s been a long time since we’ve been on social media but we are back and have a few updates coming soon! 🥳🐴

24/03/2020

What an incredible team we have working here. All our guys have been amazing with washing hands, sanitizing, asking if they need to do buckets and halters etc since the beginning of the outbreak. They have practiced social distance at home and take precautions if they travel. Today they were all willing to move in or take annual leave to help take care of the horses and do their part for our country! Japhet and Sandile are missing from this photo but such vital team members too! We salute you all.

28/01/2020

‘Let your child have a bad ride.
I know you want to protect them from the hardships of this world.
I know you want to give them success and good experiences.
I know you don't want to see them get hurt. To see them fall. To see them fail.
But, hear me out, let your child have a bad ride.

Let them cry the tears of frustration.
Let them shake the sand out from the inside of their riding pants.
Let them face the fear building inside of them.
Let them step back on again.

Yes, let your child have a bad ride.
Let them hate the horse that challenges them.
Let them learn what fight and passion and ambition mean.
Let them realize that when they refuse to quit the horse will take the time to listen.

Grant them the joy of realizing that they are connecting with another living being.
Grant them the joy of realizing that they, although they are small, can be powerful.
Grant them the joy of seeing their hard work pay off, through the days of tears can come a love unspeakable.

Yes, let your child have a bad ride.
Afterall, life will grant us plenty of them.’
By Sarah Crouse

16/11/2017

Come and join us for our December Pony camp! All levels welcome, and no previous riding experience required, so please share with your friends and family!

16/11/2017

We are very excited to be hosting our first "mom's and kids" morning on 11th December 2017! Join us for a fun morning of pony rides, treasure hunts, arts and crafts (for both moms and kids), and many more activities!

21/10/2017

11/10/2017

Your Horse Is Not Naughty

Your Horse Is Not Naughty

Problem ​ Recently I have become quite distressed at the amount of posts I have seen online asking for public suggestions of what to do with their ‘horse from hell’. You will know the kind when...

09/10/2017

At least our paddocks are green! 😊

27/09/2017

J and R Equestrian

But horse riding isn't a sport 🤔
We just sit there and let the horse do all the work !? 💁🏼🏇🏽💪🏽

02/09/2017

Considering the Horse, Mark Rashid

25/08/2017

Equine Sport Management

How do you know if your horse is happy?

Here equine behaviour expert Dr Debbie Marsden explains the 13 signs you can look out for to check how your horse is feeling.

1. His nostrils
Your horse’s nostrils should be relaxed, soft and round. If he’s unhappy, they’ll become tight, thin and drawn.

2. His lip line
Your horse’s lip line should curl down slightly in a relaxed, soft manner. If he’s feeling tense, he’ll be tight and drawn in this area.

3. His lower jaw
Your horse’s lower jaw should be loose when he’s feeling happy. His lower mouth may hang down and you might also see him dribbling.

4. His tail
Your horse’s tail will be fairly loose and swinging freely and evenly when he moves. In the absence of any injuries that affect where his tail hangs, it should be straight.

5. His ears
Your horse’s ears are generally not something you should determine happiness from as he’ll normally point them in the direction of where he’s feeling tense. If they’re pointing forward or back, he’s probably concentrating on something in that direction

How to read your horse’s behaviour in his field...

6. Rearing and pawing
It may look as though your horse is fighting, but rearing up with his front legs at another horse or pawing the ground are often signs he’s enjoying himself. Horses generally won’t play with each other unless they’re happy. If he’s galloping along the fence line, this may well be an indication he’s stressed and unhappy.

7. Looking relaxed
Your horse should look physically relaxed while grazing and alert to his environment.

8. Mutual grooming
Mutual grooming in the field is also a sign your horse is relaxed, healthy and bonding with another horse.

How to read your horse’s behaviour in his stable...

9. Regular droppings
Your horse’s droppings should be regular and of a normal amount. When horses are stressed, they may not defecate, which is an indication he’s not happy.

10. Sharing a haynet
If your horse shares a haynet with a stable mate while they’re tied up in the yard, it’s a sign he’s happy.

11. A smooth bed
Your horse’s bedding should remain largely in place, as happy horses aren’t restless in their stable. A stressed horse may pace around.

12. Stable vices
Stable vices, such as crib-biting and box walking, are not something your horse will do only if he’s stressed – they also release endorphins that make him feel happy, so vice-like behaviour could be a sign he’s feeling excited.

How to read your horse’s behaviour when you ride...

13. Breathing out
When your horse breathes out through his nostrils and makes a soft snorting sound, it’s a sign that your horse is relaxed in his diaphragm while he’s being ridden and feeling happy in himself.

01/08/2017

SARDA Durban

SARDA Durban

What a difference our ponies, volunteers and instructors make at SARDA Durban. Feedback from yesterday which came via an email from his Mom (name excluded to respect his privacy):

My son **** is in GrR at Browns and started riding yesterday. The change in my child last night was phenomenal - from an angry, aggressive and frustrated little boy to being so much calmer! . 😍

30/07/2017

How Much Exercise for a Senior Horse?

How Much Exercise for a Senior Horse?

A rider wonders how much exercise her senior horse should be getting.

22/07/2017

Movement in Balance

"...we must never forget, every time we sit on a horse, what an extraordinary privilege it is: to be able to unite one's body with that of another sentient being, one that is stronger, faster and more agile by far than we are, and at the same time, brave, generous, and uncommonly forgiving."
William Steinkraus, Olympic Equestrian

I feel this way about doing bodywork or groundwork with them too. More often than not, they are willing to connect with us heart to heart. What is better than that?

16/07/2017

Thought it was time to share a video of the 3 amazing days we all shared at our July 2017 Pony Camp. A fun-filled time of riding, learning and caring for our ponies. 🐴 Ridgetop Rocks!