PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Long distance horse riding received a boost in Plettenberg Bay recently when the newly formed Distance Riders Garden Route (DRGR) Club hosted its first official Distance Riding Association of South Africa (Drasa) training meet.
The inaugural event, which took place at the Cairnbrogie Farm on 18 September, attracted riders from across the Garden Route to Plettenberg Bay.
"While only a few entries were expected, the property hardly noticed the 44 entrants and 29 riders who participated on the day with Andrew Hill and his Cairnbrogie livery team erecting temporary paddocks and adjusting their existing cycling routes to handle the half-ton equestrians exploring their forest and sea-front farmlands," organisers said.
Drasa judges travelled from Gauteng for the weekend to teach the local club members all about this discipline. Equi-Feeds sponsored prizes and the Kranshoek Red Cross emergency medical team was on standby.
The DRGR Club was excited to see the level of engagement.
People travelled to Plettenberg Bay from Mossel Bay and George to attend. "While this first event was a great success, it was shorter than normal Drasa events - being a one-day clinic. Drasa events are normally held over a weekend and include judging on all aspects of horsemanship, including quality of temporary paddocks and care for basics of the horse's needs, such as access to water and appropriate fitness for the rides undertaken."
Drasa facilitates competitive trail riding events through affiliated clubs throughout South Africa and focuses on paced distance riding and horsemanship.
Their goal is to promote a long-lasting relationship between horses and their riders with the interests of the horses receiving far more weight than in traditional equine sports.
Anyone interested in joining or learning more about the local club are invited to contact the DRGR club chair, Robin Thesen-Smith, on 082 4583 583, or e-mail to distanceridinggr@gmail.co.za.
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