It is with great excitement and anticipation that the SA Boerperd Breeder’s Association are looking forward to the possibilities that were created for saddleseat riders through the successful negotiations with SANEF. It only takes people with vision and passion to create opportunities, and in this case especially for our young riders to build an industry worth competing in on international level.
The SA Boerperd is particularly well suited for saddleseat equitation and performance riding as the traditional movers of the breed has high knee action with a ground covering stride and their temperament, size, conformation and work rate is ideal for children and juniors to compete within the newly created SANEF saddleseat classes. The typical SA Boerperd can easily step in underneath himself which enables him to carry his forehand and neck in a relaxed and elevated position, with the head on the vertical and softness in the mouth. Saddleseat equitation requires precision training where horse and rider must be in perfect balance; where the rider sits slightly back and encourages the horse to ride strongly from behind and free up its shoulders.
The SA Boerperd is straightforward, very trainable and accepts their work with ease. They have a sensible mind and willingness to please their rider comes naturally. All of this put together with athletic ability and balance; the ideal saddle seat horse.
After long negotiations and behind the scenes work, Saddleseat was approved as a School sport at the end of 2009. This is a major breakthrough for Saddleseat as a sport and will open many doors throughout the country in future. Saddleseat can through this channel be developed on a mass scale to produce larger talent pools that can in turn be leveraged by ESSASA (Equestrian Saddleseat Association of South Africa) to improve the quality and level of the sport. Saddleseat will be available as a school sport on both the Equitation and Performance riding levels through the formal provinces in the country. Initially only 3 gaited divisions will be made available, but the vision is to expand this into 5 gaited divisions as well.
SANEF Schools' Equestrian would like to hook onto the SASCOC (South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee) purpose statement "to transform sport and unleash the full sporting potential of all South Africans" with our own being that no child in South Africa with any access to a horse should be barred from equestrian sport, and thus the entry requirements should be as low as possible (in respect of skills, costs and quality of mount and in order to encourage grass roots mass participation WITHOUT compromising rider safety and horse welfare). On the other hand, the higher levels of the sport should be sufficiently challenging to reveal the talented riders who could be developed through the Federation into Team SA -- in short: To let our children ride.
These two objectives are achieved entirely through a schools-based team system, in which individual interests are subordinate to the school team requirements.
In pursuit of these objectives, the characteristics of the League are:
The structure allows for the development of equestrian sport at all levels; including judges and other officials, suitability of venues, grading of ponies/horses, consistency in the application of rules and rule changes, coordination of competitions, funding and fundraising, and safety critical matters.
Pupils can advance through SANEF Schools' Qualifying shows to inter-regional (called Finals), inter-provincial (Nationals) and international schools' competitions and ultimately strive for excellence and participation through
SANEF and SASCOC at the World Equestrian Games and the Olympic.
The basic levels and turnout rules that will be used in the Saddleseat Schools League competitions.
| EQUITATION | ||||||
| Level | Class Format | Saddle | Tack | Dress Code | Head Covering | Horse |
| 0 | Lead Line | Suitable Saddle preferable a Cutback Saddle | Snaffle bridle and martingale (optional) | Riding Slacks or jodhpurs, Golf shirt or shirt with waistcoat and tie | 3 Point Hard Hat | Any suitable horse or pony |
| 1 | Walk Trot | Suitable Saddle preferable a Cutback Saddle | Snaffle bridle and martingale (optional) | Riding Slacks or jodhpurs, Golf shirt or shirt with waistcoat and tie | 3 Point Hard Hat | Any suitable horse or pony |
| 2 | Walk Trot + Dev Test | Suitable Saddle preferable a Cutback Saddle | Snaffle bridle and martingale (optional) | Kentucky Style riding pants with long sleeve shirt, tie and waistcoat | Derby | Any suitable horse or pony |
| 3 | 3 Gaited Test | Suitable Saddle preferable a Cutback Saddle | Full Bridle | Full Kentucky Riding Suit | Derby | Registered Horse |
| PERFORMANCE RIDING | ||||||
| Level | Class Format | Saddle | Tack | Dress Code | Head Covering | Horse |
| 0 | Lead Line | Suitable Saddle preferable a Cutback Saddle | Snaffle bridle and martingale (optional) | Riding Slacks or jodhpurs, Golf shirt or shirt with waistcoat and tie | 3 Point Hard Hat | Any suitable horse or pony |
| 1 | Walk Trot | Suitable Saddle preferable a Cutback Saddle | Snaffle bridle and martingale (optional) | Riding Slacks or jodhpurs, Golf shirt or shirt with waistcoat and tie | 3 Point Hard Hat | Any suitable horse or pony |
| 2 | 3 Gaited | Suitable Saddle preferable a Cutback Saddle | Snaffle bridle and martingale (optional) | Kentucky Style riding pants with long sleeve shirt, tie and waistcoat | Derby | Any suitable horse or pony |
| 3 | 3 Gaited | Cutback Saddle | Full Bridle | Full Kentucky Riding Suit | Derby | Registered Horse |
| EQUITATION | ||||||
| Level | Class Format | Saddle | Tack | Dress Code | Head Covering | Horse |
| 0 | Walk Trot | Suitable Saddle preferable a Cutback Saddle | Snaffle bridle and martingale (optional) | Riding Slacks or jodhpurs, Golf shirt or shirt with waistcoat and tie | 3 Point Hard Hat | Any suitable horse or pony |
| 1 | 3 Gaited Equitation | Suitable Saddle preferable a Cutback Saddle | Snaffle bridle and martingale (optional) | Riding Slacks or jodhpurs, Golf shirt or shirt with waistcoat and tie | 3 Point Hard Hat | Any suitable horse or pony |
| 2 | 3 Gaited + Dev Test | Suitable Saddle preferable a Cutback Saddle | Full Bridle | Kentucky Style riding pants with long sleeve shirt, tie and waistcoat | Derby | Any suitable horse or pony |
| 3 | 3 Gaited + Test | Cutback Saddle | Full Bridle | Full Kentucky Riding Suit | Derby | Registered Horse |
| PERFORMANCE RIDING | ||||||
| Level | Class Format | Saddle | Tack | Dress Code | Head Covering | Horse |
| 0 | Walk Trot | Suitable Saddle preferable a Cutback Saddle | Snaffle bridle and martingale (optional) | Riding Slacks or jodhpurs, Golf shirt or shirt with waistcoat and tie | 3 Point Hard Hat | Any suitable horse or pony |
| 1 | 3 Gaited | Suitable Saddle preferable a Cutback Saddle | Snaffle bridle and martingale (optional) | Riding Slacks or jodhpurs, Golf shirt or shirt with waistcoat and tie | 3 Point Hard Hat | Any suitable horse or pony |
| 2 | 3 Gaited | Suitable Saddle preferable a Cutback Saddle | Full Bridle | Kentucky Style riding pants with long sleeve shirt, tie and waistcoat | Derby | Any suitable horse or pony |
| 3 | 3 Gaited | Cutback Saddle | Full Bridle | Full Kentucky Riding Suit | Derby | Registered Horse |
Saddleseat are included in the Schools League program for 2011. There will be 4 levels and 2 divisions for both Primary and High school learners. The competition includes both Equitation and Performance riding but only make provision for the 3 Gaited division.
The implication for Saddleseat is that learners will be able to get Provincial Schools Colours in any of the levels except level 0 for both Equitation and Performance riding. As soon as there are 3 Provinces active in the discipline it would also be possible to have a National event and select a SA Schools team in all the levels for both Equitation and Performance riding. The long term goal would be to expand this to a 5-gaited division as well.
It is important to note that this open the door for Saddleseat at the SASCOC level on the Performance riding as well and would pave the way to have an International event on performance riding in the future.
