La Foi Equestrian

04/12/2023

La Foi Equestrian sold the beautiful Image Control to Deon van Zyl in 2021. Fast forward two years and she has given birth to a beautiful c**t “Beneficent Von Calou” by Beneficent Van Balou.

Beneficent Van Balou was owned by La Foi Equestrian, Michaela and is a very flashy and correct stallion by Balou Peggio. Now owned by Savanna Valjalo !

We are super excited to see how this wonderful boy turns out.

04/12/2023

𝐋𝐀 𝐅𝐎𝐈 𝐑𝐔𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐀𝐍 𝐑𝐎𝐂𝐊

Ticks all the boxes !
Good mind, temperament and work ethic.
Looks and movement !

He is an absolute dream. 🤍

28/11/2023

𝐀𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐂𝐀 𝐋𝐂

Congratulations Rachel White on your incredible new boy. A very special birthday gift ! I wish you both so much success and happiness. ❤️

27/11/2023

A very special Langley and Kerman. Was a privilege to be able to work with some of these incredible horses and learn so much. 🧡

27/11/2023

No words 😍🤍

27/11/2023

𝐏𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐎𝐀 𝐗𝐏𝟑 𝐒𝐀𝐃𝐃𝐋𝐄 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐒𝐀𝐋𝐄

17inch, with Orange gullet in currently. Very good condition ! Adjustable

Contact 063 688 7988 for price if you are interested

26/11/2023

The two babies standing ever so patiently while getting their feet done today. Love a good minded ottb !
Dutchess has been here for two weeks and becoming so level headed. As for Mr Rock, he arrived today and behaves like he has been here forever !
Exciting times for these two !

26/11/2023

𝐋𝐚 𝐅𝐨𝐢 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐑𝐨𝐜𝐤

Welcoming this handsome fella to the team ! He has the looks, conformation and mind - excited to see how he schools up !🤍

26/11/2023

𝐅𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐇𝐘 𝐏𝐎𝐍𝐘 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐒𝐀𝐋𝐄

Are you looking for your next open pony prospect ?

Pony Gelding

𝐓𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: Devine temperament with ground manners. Loves and craves attention !

𝐑𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫: Would suit an experienced pony rider or a rider that won’t hang on his mouth or tense up as he is quite forward. Also suitable for a small adult looking for a pony project ! Is good on lead.

𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞: Has basic flatwork in place. Holds a frame once going. Has popped around a 60cm course at a training show and picked up a first place ribbon. This gelding is proving he has what it takes to take his little rider to the opens. Amazing movement with a great deal of scope potential -

He is still weak however, and needs some work.

No vices. Currently barefoot and living inside with paddock access daily.

Date of birth: 2015 ( Dental report on hand.)

Height: 13.3hh without shoes - height certificate.

Has a FEI passport

𝐎𝐍𝐋𝐘 𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐎𝐔𝐒 𝐄𝐍𝐐𝐔𝐈𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒

𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐞: POA

Location: Hartbeespoort

Contact: 063 688 7988⁩

22/11/2023

𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐕𝐚𝐧 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐮. Owned by Savanna Valjalo. 🧡

22/11/2023

𝐋𝐚 𝐅𝐨𝐢 𝐓𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐫𝐲, now known as 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝐖𝐒 found the most perfect forever home. Three weeks off the track and safe enough for her new and lucky owner, Nina. Had so many enquires about this mare and my plan was never to sell her but the right family definitely did come along and I couldn’t have wished for anything more for this special mare. My heart is overwhelmed with happiness knowing she will be loved forever and will be staying at the yard under schooling between Rachel and Myself. This is a very special girl and Nina’s set herself up for a successful junior career ! Keep your eyes on this team in the near future 🤍

20/11/2023

𝐋𝐀 𝐅𝐎𝐈 𝐄𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐍

La Foi has a few horses and ponies for sale that are currently not advertised. Prices ranging from 20k - 800k ! Not to be missed - contact us to avoid disappointment.

If you are looking for a horse or pony please WhatsApp me your name, budget and what you are looking for and I will send through what I have available !

Also looking for a few horses on behalf of clients. If you are selling your horse/pony please contact Michaela, on 063 688 7988. We are happy to produce your youngsters for you, or just market them if you don’t have the time. We assist with viewings, negotiations and payments to make things easier and make sure your babies find the most suitable homes. All horses are sold with a contract -

Contact: 𝟎𝟔𝟑 𝟔𝟖𝟖 𝟕𝟗𝟖𝟖

20/11/2023

𝐒𝐎𝐋𝐃

𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐌𝐁𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐃 𝐆𝐄𝐋𝐃𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐒𝐀𝐋𝐄

Did you miss out at the Capital Auction ? Look no further !

Warmblood Gelding

Sire: Eagles Lagos

Dam: Escada LC

𝐓𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭: Devine temperament and work ethic. He tries he’s very best for his rider and does not disappoint. Good ground manners.

𝐑𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫: Would suit an experienced rider looking for a youngster to take up to the big grades. Sweet enough for an amateur to enjoy.

𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞: Beautiful flatwork in place. Has competed in a few 80cm training shows. This gelding is proving he has what it takes to take his rider to the big grades. Amazing movement and a lot of potential - Definitely a top open prospect !

No vices. Currently barefoot and living inside with paddock access daily.

Date of birth: 2016

Height: 16.1/2hh ( Will confirm )

𝐎𝐍𝐋𝐘 𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐎𝐔𝐒 𝐄𝐍𝐐𝐔𝐈𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒

𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐞: POA

Location: Hartbeespoort

Contact: 063 688 7988

11/11/2023

Westside Shed Equestrian 🤍

09/11/2023

Top photo was Tinder Drys first ride off the track (24 October)
Bottom photo was from today’s ride ! (9 November)
2 weeks, 3 days progress. 😍

09/11/2023

Not even three weeks off the track and this is how fast this mare is picking up ! Nothing beats a good TB ! Her flatwork is already in place - goes low and stretches on a loose rein, walk to canter transitions, carries herself well and stays in a frame even throughout a course. Been to her first training show and jumping tracks at home like they are nothing !
Completely in awe. 👀

09/11/2023

Beautiful Tinder Dry coming along so quickly. This mare is so effortless ! She picks up so quickly ! Really one to look out for in the bigger grades. 🤍

09/11/2023

Dutchess safe and sound ! What a beautiful girl. 🤩

02/11/2023

𝐒𝐎𝐋𝐃

Introducing La Foi Tinder Dry

Lovely straightforward mare destined for the bigger grades !
Nothing is too much to ask for this mare. Popping around 60cm training shows
(Might just stay on the string permanently)

Sire: Futura
Dam: Up In Smoke
Dam Sire: Noordhoek Flyer

02/11/2023

Introducing La Foi Elvis Blue (Aka Ken) A little blue eye Barbie Pony !

Definitely an open prospect and all rounder waiting on his special person.

23/10/2023

𝐋𝐀 𝐅𝐎𝐈 𝐄𝐐𝐔𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐍

Offering our services on all things equestrian !

Have a horse or anything equestrian related that you need to sell but dont have the time to do it yourself ?

- We handle the marketing of your horse
- We sell anything equestrian related on your behalf

We try and match the horse to the best possible home

To advertise please WhatsApp me all details and photos -

We also offer;

- Schooling and competing of your horses if you don’t have time.

- We bring on OTTB’s for their second careers and make sure they find suitable and forever homes.

- Work rider available for all sort of horses. References on request -

- We join your search and help you find the perfect horse within your budget. Start your search by sending us a message with what you are looking for !

Please take note;

SALES

❗️ Regrettably no first options.

❗️Viewings are welcome by appointment only.

❗️ No tryouts and riding in severe weather conditions.

❗️ Its the buyers responsibility to do a vet check and check the horse out before purchase - We take no responsibility on any sales, or horses.

❗️Prices possibly will increase over time with schooling and show experience.

❗️No payment plans and no trials unless stated otherwise.

SELLING UNSEEN ;

We don’t always sell unseen, but we also understand that’s it is hard for some clients to travel long distances for viewings.
However, we do not just sell to just anyone.
We ask for the clients riding history and videos of them riding, ideally on the flat and jumping to make sure their riding ability is fitted for the horse. We also sometimes ask for references ( mainly instructors ) to make sure the client does not over horse themselves as it’s not fair on the client or the horse. Not to mean any offence, but just to make sure it’s a good match and save the client and the horse any hassle.

We have a few horses currently on the market - 80% of which are sold privately to ensure best and most suitable homes !

WhatsApp only : 063 688 7988

09/06/2022

An update of a very special team ! One of my favourite horses still to this day. So glad Rebel is bringing you so much happiness. ❤️

24/05/2022

On behalf of La Foi Equestion, we’d like to congratulate Kirsten on the purchase of this wonderful mare, Whiteout ! I have high hopes for this team and can’t wait to see what they achieve in the ring together !🤩

23/05/2022

22/05/2022

It bears repeating...

Saddle length is a hugely important component when assessing saddle fit and a saddle that is too long can have so many detrimental effects that can manifest as lameness, bad behavior and more.

Some of the issues caused by a saddle that is too long are:
- Bucking
- Lateral walk
- 4 Beat canter
- Saddle slip
- Muscle Atrophy
- Inability to pick up canter/get certain leads
- Hollow back
- Kissing spine
- Broken spinous processes
- Broken transverse processes of the lumbar vertebrae

When a saddle is too long it sits on the lumbar vertebrae. The biggest difference between the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae is that the thoracic vertebrae are connected to the ribs and have an additional support structure whereas the lumbar do not. The transverse processes of the lumbar vertebrae come straight outwards and are extremely delicate - easily injured by the concussion of saddle and rider when the saddle is not fitted properly.

Additionally, a saddle that is too long also blocks the movement of the back which is why many horses will be unable to pick up certain canter leads, or the canter all together. They will also buck to try and relieve the pressure off the lumbar - where many think bucking is simply bad behavior, it is, more often than not, a reaction to pain.

With longer saddles, riders typically sit further back, especially if they are not in a gender appropriate saddle. This only exacerbates the issue as there is now excess pressure behind the last thoracic vertebrae, to which the horse will react by dropping and tensing their back. They can no longer move softly or utilize their body appropriately to carry the rider and thus causes additional stress on not just the back, but now also the legs and other parts of the body.

Unfortunately, a huge majority of the saddles we see are far too long for the horse and the consequences of the incorrect fit are obvious.

20/04/2022

09/04/2022

A recipe for the young horse

Start with a base of excitement. Look at this horse and get excited, you’re about to build a horse’s future - that’s something to get excited about, but it’s also a responsibility to take seriously, you could determine where this horse is in 15 years time, remember that.

Next, add a sprinkle of insanity. Yep, you’re going to need it. Whether it’s a 12hh pony or 17hh warmblood, you are going to need to be a little bit insane to embark on this journey.

Now you’re going to need a boat load of patience, as much as you can find. Young horses are great levellers (horses are at any age, but particular in their younger years). One minute you’ll be floating around the place thinking this is the next Valegro, and the next minute you’ll be trying to convince them that that tree has always been there and they’ve actually walked past it about fifty times. Take the good with the not-so-good and always, always keep your cool.

Add in a good cupful of determination because there are going to be days that you wonder what in the world you are doing. Whether it’s after tasting your arena surface for the second time that week, or spending ten minutes trying to get them into the far corner of the arena, you are going to need to dig deep sometimes, real deep…

Pour on a whole packed of resilience. You are going to be the bounce-back, come-back king/queen. You are going to need to use the not-so-good to spur you on to the really good stuff. You are going to want to call it day at some point, possibly at many points, so if in doubt, jadd a bit more and just keep going.

Now reach to the back of your cupboard and dust off that self-belief. There are going to be times when you’ll feel like you’re on your own, that nobody can see what you see. So you are going to need a good bit of confidence in the mix to keep yourself on track. Just remember why you started this, you saw something in this horse, so make sure you finish the job you started.

Even if you follow your recipe to the letter, there is no guarantees, there will be deviations, over cooking, under cooking, spilt milk and huge messes to clear up… but when you get it right… Well, there is nothing quite like homemade cake is there?

-Unknown

31/03/2022

26/03/2022

“It’s absolutely mind boggling if you think about it.

Your horse gets absolutely nothing out of being competitive for you. Not a darn thing. Of course horses are bred for specific jobs, or they’re bred to be athletic to a certain degree. However, horses don’t wake up thinking about chasing cans, or cows, or flying over jumps.

They have no idea how much money is added to the pot. They have no idea that this is a qualifier. They have no idea that this is the short go.

And DESPITE us... DESPITE our nerves, our flaws, our incorrect ques, our huge emotions, they get the job done to their very best ability. Even when we fail them by letting our emotions get in the way, they come back and they try again. For US. Whoa. Let that sink in. If only we could all be so understanding.

To think of an animal that is forgiving and flexible enough to put up with the repetition of practice, the intense nerves of the rider, the stress of hauling and still meet you at the gate for scratches is MIND. BLOWING.

If you haven’t done so lately. Thank your horse.

If you’re successful, thank the horses that put you there and made you. Thank the horses that gave everything they had for you simply because you ASKED them to.

If you’re still on the journey to success, thank the horses that made you fall in love with your sport and who have helped give you the confidence to want to learn more and be better.

We can never stop learning as horsemen and horsewomen, and by continuing our education every horse in our future will be better off.

Next time you head to the arena leave your ego at the door and thank your horse!”
~Samantha Roffers

26/03/2022

If they good enough, they are BIG enough. Callaho Fiesta over the Grand Prix wall clearing it by enough despite from a stand still. Only 15,3 h and I’m 1,68m tall . So the moral of the story , don’t be so focused on height when the horse ticks all your boxes but height .. my lesson learned

12/03/2022

“No thoroughbreds”

It’s all I see on wanted adverts looking for a horse to buy and, quite frankly, I’m fed up of reading it.

My first horse was a beautiful big warmblood. He was my dream horse on paper, and yet he almost put me in hospital more than once. I almost gave up riding because of that horse.

The horse that saved me? Yes, you guessed it. A big, lanky thoroughbred. A horse that was dismissed by so many simply because he had long legs and had, once upon a time, galloped round a track.

I had a little Irish horse that managed to rack up vet bills in excess of £10k in 18 months. The thoroughbred? He only saw the vet for vaccinations, but he was the one considered “too fine” and a liability when it came to vet bills.

I had a Welsh mare that lit up like a Christmas tree anytime you got on her. She spent most of her time bouncing on the spot, couldn’t stand still and took any opportunity to throw a buck or stand on her back legs. The thoroughbred? Hacked him on the buckle end and would have been labelled more ‘lazy’ than anything.

I went to my first national championships on a thoroughbred. I walked through the show stabling past sport horse after sport horse, warmblood after warmblood until I found our stable. That night, a horse jumped out of its box, every single horse in that aisle was understandably rattled. My thoroughbred? Flat out asleep, snoring.

When I decided to try my hand at eventing for the first time, guess what type of horse dutifully and carefully took me round my first one day event and subsequently went double clear at every single event we entered? You guessed it. A fabulous little thoroughbred.

A horse is what you make it, how you ride it and how you look after it. It’s nothing to do with the breed. You’ll meet lively warmbloods, just like you’ll meet lively thoroughbreds, it doesn’t mean that every one you meet is the same.

So really, I can see no good reason to dismiss a thoroughbred. Any horse can be a handful, any horse can rack up a vet bill, any horse can get stressed. Stop dismissing thoroughbreds because of the preconceived, stereotypical ideas you have in your head.

Stop dismissing diamonds to go pick up stones.

27/02/2022

MAKE TIME - TO READ THE SIGNS

We help our horses relax when we are observant and waiting for signs of acceptance and learning. When we notice the little things - the horse’s breathing, the soft blinking eyes, relaxed interested ears, relaxed head carriage.

Have you noticed when your horse has just done something new to overcome a problem, and been rewarded and praised for it - that they go into a deep thinking state? Their eyes half close, their head lowers a little, they stand fairly motionless, it's like they 'look into themselves’ as if processing and absorbing what just happened. Then after half a minute or so, they come back into the world and look up and around a little to check back into their environment.

I find that it is important to enable the horse to have peace in these moments, and not to interrupt them, or to ask any more of them while they are in this state. It only lasts a few minutes at most, and its telling to watch a horse come out of it and back again to an attentive and interested state.

In ground work or work in hand, its important to pay attention to your horse’s facial expressions of tension and relaxation, notice the little things, the softness or tightness in the mouth, the softness and relaxation of the ears and eyes, the position and posture of the head and neck. The way the horse is standing - relaxed and balanced or learning forward ready to go. The breathing patterns.

When someone tells me how they want to connect better with their horse and to build a more harmonious relationship, I watch how they are around their horse. I notice what they don’t notice, or how much they miss the important little signs their horse gives, I try to help them see how their horse is trying to talk to them.

This is really evident with young green horses or any horse around unfamiliar obstacles - introducing horses to strange and novel things in hand. We might know the bridge will hold the horse’s weight, but the horse has not idea, and needs time to assess, smell, hear, feel, try a little step, see and hear us or another horse walk over it. The horse will tell you if it needs time, but you have to ask. You have to check in and make sure its ok, and give the horse confidence that it IS ok. IF we become nervous because the horse is nervous, this then becomes a bigger problem for both. And at that stage you need help from someone who can give both the horse and yourself the confidence to proceed.

Sometimes horses just need a bit longer time to work something out. Yet often we are demanding and urging and forcing a horse to do it now, on our time frame , or because we want it 'now' - timing that makes no sense to a horse. Hurrying makes no sense to a horse when there is nothing to run away from.

Hurrying often actually upsets a horse more, as they can feel from our urgency that there must be something they need to run from. Where is the predator? Where’s my herd? And once in flight mode you can throw learning something new out the window - the horse will resist the obstacle or the challenge you present, as his instinct to get out of there will physically take over his feet.
Susie 😊

24/01/2022

08/01/2022

SOLD

TOP CLASS PONY FOR SALE

Name: Firefly
Breed: X Breed
DOB: Roughly 6 years old
Height: Estimate 14.1/14.2
Gender: Gelding
Colour: Bay

05/01/2022

🤩 NEW ARRIVAL 🤩

New arrival on the team with Katelyn Whittington.
This pretty pony is for sale ! More details to follow -

04/01/2022

ESPIOR ROUGE

We’d like to congratulate the Luyt family on the purchase of this very special boy !

Red has been such a privilege to work with and has stolen my heart ! I couldn’t be happier with his new home and wish Hannah and Rachel many happy rides and cuddles. Hannah, we hope Red restores your confidence and gives you wings ! Looking forward to watching your partnership grow with him !
Two very lucky girls and a very lucky horse !🤩🤩

02/01/2022

Whinslouw Warmblood Stud - Bred To Perform