The 15/16 / 17 August saw the holding of this province's annual showing championships held at the Harties Riding Club in Stilfontein. What made this show unique was that apart from the provincial championships which also incorporated the Complete horses championships, Welsh championships, and Inter area team championships, another class was included which is believed to be a first namely the Free State and Northern Cape Warmblood Championships.

All entries had to have been birth notified and or registered with the Society. There were two specific classes for the Warmbloods namely a Show Riding Horse class and the Champion and Reserve Champion class. The show riding class was only for Warmbloods so as to see what the province has as far as these horses are concerned and to provide a less specific test so as all types could enter. To win the championship class, competitors accumulated points for being placed throughout the show in their usual showing classes and then met in the championship for a decided overall winner. Therefore a horse could not just expect to walk off as a champion based on one class but rather an overall view was achieved.

The winner of the closed Warmblood Show Riding Horse Class was Davetsaub Lateran (Dolerit out of Davetsaub Lorett) owned and ridden by Marisa Goudrian an adult from Welkom. In second place was Alzu Walkabout (WachmannIII out of Anet) owned and ridden by a junior, Nicole Harding from Kimberley. Other horses in the class were Zaharia Rebel (ISH) {Etherow Impasse (RID), Enola Gay (Thb)} Sebena (Brandenburg) Mill Hollow Penny Lane (RID) {UIBH FHAILI out of OH CAROL both Irish Draughts} Rebel Assault (ISH) {Glenagyle Rebel (RID) Fire Cat (¾ ISH)}and Blue Chip {Mossandi Damascus, out of a cross bred Frisian/Percheron mare called Salique Jane ex SANDF} Rebel Assault also won the in hand class for young stock. (See photos on Webb site)

The Free State and Northern Cape Champion for 2003 was also awarded to Davetsaub Lateran with Zaharia Rebel as Reserve.

Although I know that there were many regional Warmbloods missing from this show, we are hoping that in the years to come this event will entice the owner/rider/breeders of the region to attend and thereby not only strengthen an already prominent show but also create public awareness as to the Warmblood in general. Many many thanks to Land Rover for sponsoring the event. Below I have a short history of each horse that entered the specific class. If anyone can correct (if need be) or add to a horse please let me know and I will pass it on to the owners.

It would be a rather exciting occurrence if the other regions followed this example and also held shows of this nature which in turn could produce the countries leading Warmblood regional champions to be pitted against each other at possibly the Horse Of The Year Show for a National Champion.

Editors note: photos will follow so please make sure you come back and check in for the photos from this event.

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