Chikara

18/08/2024

08/08/2024

2024/08/08. A good day to bring Johnny Cash home to Chikara.
DOB 12 Dec 2023
Dam Yaya. Buckskin Boerperd X
Sire Johnny Dollar. Appaloosa.
Johnny Dollar was a tall, elegant stallion owned by Gavin Tonks . Sadly John, as Gavin called him, passed away earlier this year. So Cash is the last son from this lovely stallion. He already stands as tall as his pony mom, so we expect he will grow to a good sized horse.

05/08/2024

What do we do while you get to watch the Olympic dressage? We get to introduce 3 riders to dressage at Soweto Equestrian Centre.

Much fun was had by all. Many questions were asked and answered. I hope to see these young riders venturing out there I to competition one day too.

02/08/2024

Chikara Stables welcomes the new kids on the block, Esclavation and Koki. Very exciting for old man Amor, but l doubt for long. He didn't know he was going to have to keep an eye on silly youngsters in his mature age🙄

17/07/2024

I love success, but l am usually quite content to quietly enjoy my victories alone and not share them.

I have a victory l want to share in a shout out to two deserving souls.

I decided on short notice to ride in the Gauteng Dressage Champs which took place last week. I needed two freestyles in a hurry. I rushed off to a friend who could help me with the music, but her system refused to function. I was in a jam.

Until l was sent a number for Olandi van Schalkwyk . I sent Olandi van Schalkwyk my selection of suggested music along with a video clip of two horses at 7am. By 7pm l had two lovely musical arrangements. I rode through them the next day and requested a few small changes. What was sent back to me was better than my suggestions with a few extra tweaks added.

Olandi van Schalkwyk you are a genius! I highly recommend this lady for any musical arrangements. She knows her music and clearly understands the difficulty of riding to music.

And then where would l be without the little war horse, Bon Esprit. This little guy came to Chikara as a small, grumpy dude with teeth and heels he knew how to use. He had a huge wither and reminded me of an orange wildebeest. On top of that he had an intermittent lameness - a tiny hoof abscess which took us years to find and resolve. How many vets, physio's, body workers, farriers, chiro's did we go through?

So Esprit stared real work quite late. He was not the easiest to win over. I recall stating that at best he was a mediocre junior horse, but l would never be able to sell such a nasty horse to a child. How wrong l was. He has been a constantly improving competitor, and has brought home many wins.

We have both had a few years of health issues since 2020, but now we are back in the arena and stronger than ever. Esprit is keen and happy. He will still nibble you if he can, but is so sweet that l have puts small kids on him occasionally.

Here is my little Orange in his Intermediate 1 freestyle, coming in tied 2nd place. And his scores are higher than ever. Turn up the volume to enjoy the music.

A great thank you to all the equine specialists, coaches, equestrians and friends who have helped in growing a small grumpy dude into a happy orange with good attitude.

Send a message to learn more

16/07/2024

A good coach can change a test score. Great coach will change a life.

26/06/2024

Chikara Stables offers a variety of superbly schooled horses for lessons or leases. Contact us for riding options to fit your budget. Love the ride!
063 692 1357

24/05/2024

Today was fun. A lesson on a super-hot fiery red mare set up the perfect topic. Ride a hot horse like it is lazy, and ride a lazy horse like it is hot.

Dilene then swapped from her red dragon to this big girl, Acey. As big and kind as what she is, she is often tense and tends to scurry along with choppy strides and a short, tight neck. She can go from zero to 100 sideways at the wave of an imaginary blade of grass. Watch how the strides slow down and the hindlegs reach under the body. The top line opens and she lifts the saddle, reaching down and lengthening the neck. The contact is soft, and she almost appears lazy.

Her mindset becomes confident and calm by changing how she uses her body.

All this just from finding how to secure the horse between lower leg, seat and rhythm.

17/05/2024

CHIKARA STABLES
Good coaching can change a game, but great coaching will change a lifetime.

**Coaching all ages of riders;
**Peaceful, safe environment for horses and riders, be they happy hackers or serious competitors;
** Schoolmasters (up to FEI levels) on which to learn the correct feel;
**Schooling of a vast variety of horses;
**Consistantly producing horses from scratch to advanced (FEI) levels;
**Retirement and broodmare facilities and rates.

More than just riding lessons - all round sports management.
Contact us to discuss a program to fit your budget.

Email [email protected]
Cell 0636921357

17/05/2024

Not bad for first jumping lessons! Go Jamie-Lee, go!

01/04/2024

𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐭 𝐨𝐟𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐞. 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝.

29/03/2024

They W-I-L-L N-O-T D-O I-T.

Will not do what? Use active walks for strength training as an. add-on to their regular training schedules. Eventers, show jumpers, dressage riders, whoever could gain benefit from having stronger equine athletes.

What are you talking about?

Well, this---In 1974 Jack LeGoff had a shallow bench of advanced 3-day horses to send to the World Championshipd to be held in September at Burghley. He had six riders and six horses, zero extras if one got hurt. He wanted to maximize their fitness, because cross country day, back then, would be over 17 miles long, and would require one hour and twenty minutes of trotting and galloping.

So he used vigorous long walks three days a week in addition to the normal schools. So say we did 45 minutes of flat work in the morning, which, with warmup and cool down might take an hour, give or take. Then, in the afternoon, say Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, he would have us saddle up again after lunch, and go hike around the open hills at Wylie. About one to one and a half hours, as I remember, each walk day.

Walks do not stress horses much. They are highly unlikely to cause injury. They build base strength and create muscular development. They are a win-win.

But virtually NOBODY does this, Most human sports teams now employ strength coaches because when technique starts to fail, raw strength can create that winning edge. Why would human horse trainers not want stronger horses?

But does ANYONE grasp this in 2024? Or, if they do, do they make the effort to actually do it?

There’s a hidden gorilla in the room, actually more of a train than a gorilla, It is called the Excuse Train. Nobody wants to admit being lazy, so they dig up reasons to deflect.

“I don’t have time.” That’s a big one.
“I don’t have a place to do it.”
I don’t have enough help.”

But the real reason is usually more basic, six words. “I don’t want to do it.”

Everyone wants an edge. Strength is an edge. There’s a reasonably safe and straightforward method to add strength, Take Jack’s advice or deny it----.

-

12/03/2024

It's been a couple of very long years with no riding shows for me... .

Last month l entered two horses in the Champagne Tour at Eaton Farm. Three classes - 1st, 2nd and 3rd placings.

Last week l rode three horses in the Hollard Pre- Easter Show at KPC. Five classes - 1st, two 2nd's, 3rd, and 4th placings.

I think I have my horses in a row again!!!

The highlight for me was Bon Esprit winning the PSG with 68.971%.

Thank you so much Kevin Clarke for not letting me lose hope, and all your support and faith.
Thank you to all of my clients and friends who have kept encouraging me and believing in me (too many to mention each by name).
Thank you to Lisa Agbenafa and Rebecca Tait Da Silva for helping me get my horses into the right shape again after such a long layoff.
Thank you Bon Esprit, Herbach's Lunox and Might Star for being my hairy horsey dance partners.

It's so good to be back in the ring again!!!

25/02/2024

Livery, lessons and schooling in Jhb.
We cater for all levels and all ages.
We teach general riding skills, jumping, eventing, showing, and specialise in dressage.

Contact Lynn for more info
063 692 1357

15/12/2023

Did it again! Got my dogs in a row again. This time our little boarder Lucy is joining in with Chloe for roll-over-in-a-row time ;)

06/12/2023

This sweet little girl is all grown up....well, 3 years grown up today. Pink pony party day!

01/12/2023

Did it again! Have all my dogs in a row

15/10/2023

We have a happy secret to share. This patient and gentlemanly gelding is available to beginner/novice level riders for lessons or part lease at Chikara Stables.

09/10/2023

Going on that much needed holiday, but stressing about leaving your precious pets alone? Bored dogs barking all day and need day care? Emigrating and your pets still have vaccines and documentation to be completed before they can join you?
We have a solution. We will take care of your pets, be they furry, feathered or otherwise. Dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, mice, hamsters, ferrets, or whatever else you have. Play days, boarding and travel assistance locally and internationally. Stabling for horses, riding lessons and horses to lease.
CHIKARA STABLES AND PET RESORT
Country Gardens rd
Nooitgedacht
063 692 1357
083 805 6227

26/09/2023

Livery, lessons and schooling in Jhb.
We cater for all levels and all ages.
We teach general riding skills, jumping, eventing, showing, and specialise in dressage.

Contact Lynn for more info
063 692 1357

17/08/2023

CHIKARA STABLES
is open for a limited number of new liveries as well as riding programs.

WHY
would you want to stable or ride with us?
Simple.
We have a track record of;

**Consistantly producing horses from scratch to winning advanced (FEI) levels of competition;

**Coaching all ages of riders to successfully competing in dressage, jumping, eventing and showing, up to provincial levels;

**Maintaining a peaceful and safe environment for horses and riders who do not want the pressure of competition;

**We keep a variety of horses ranging from preliminary to FEI levels, on which we coach a limited number of riders. These horses are professionally schooled, some are in competition, and give riders in training the correct feel at their level of schooling.

**Breeding, raising, backing and schooling of a vast variety of horses.

Good coaching can change a game, but great coaching will change a lifetime.
More than just riding lessons - all round sports management.

Contact us to discuss a program to fit your budget.

Email [email protected]
Cell 0636921357

15/08/2023

Being a rider takes more than just getting on a horse. It takes commitment, dedication and lots of work. However the joy of riding and the fun of being with horses should never be compromised. We at Chikara Stables strive toward excellence, and love the daily journey. If you are just starting out or already a dedicated rider this is the place where we see you as family.
We help you to become the best you can be!

09/08/2023

My chicken Strips comes for a daily walk about in the house, pecks at a dog or two, and sometimes we get to have a little cuddle.

31/07/2023

Does your child, or you, get to have the opportunity of being trained on an advanced level competition horse? At Chikara all riders learn on well schooled and educated horses before they are taught how to train a young horse and educate its mind and body. Jamie-Lee with Bon Esprit who is a Prix St George's level horse. Watch this young lady progress to the top.


Lynn Bremner

03/05/2023

The newbies went for walkabouts today, to spy out the land of the happy herd. All introductions have even made with each of the herd members and now it is freedom time! These guys have come here to retire gracefully. An enormous space to romp in, a small dam to get muddy in, lunch at noon each day and back to a snuggly bed with a rub down and a blanket each night. And, of course, loads of insect repellant at breakfast, lunch, and dinner time. And we will throw in some things to ease old joints and creaky bones too.

Our faithful dance partners deserve to be loved and cared for as well as ever when they get too long in the tooth to keep up with our desire to keep on dancing. Thank you to every horse owner who respects their aged horse and the life that has been shared.