The White House Stables Riding School

20/10/2026

⚠️ SAEF TO MAKE SUBMISSION REGARDING PROPOSED REGULATIONS ON THE IDENTIFICATION OF ANIMALS

We have been inundated with calls regarding the Government published Draft Regulations Relating to Identification of Animals under Animal Improvement Act 62 of 1998.

The Minister of Agriculture invited farmers, livestock owners, breeders, industry stakeholders and members of the public to submit written comments on the proposed Regulations Relating to the Identification of Animals.

The proposed regulations are intended to be made in terms of Section 28 of the Animal Improvement Act, 1998 (Act No. 62 of 1998).

*Key Elements of the Draft Regulations*

Legal Basis: Issued under the Animal Improvement Act of 1998 rather than the Animal Identification Act of 2002, creating debate over whether they apply broadly or to specific registered/stud breeds.

Covered Species: Cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, ostriches, horses, donkeys, rabbits, dogs, and bee colonies.
Identification Methods: A dual system requiring two forms of identification (such as one electronic RFID/microchip plus a visual ear tag, or species-specific brands/tattoos).

Color-Coded Tagging System:
Yellow tags: Animals born in South Africa.
Green tags: Imported animals.
Red tags: Animals in Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD)-sensitive areas.

Age Requirements for Tagging:
Cattle: At birth or before six months.
Sheep and goats: Within three weeks.
Piglets: Within one week.

Database & Reporting: Owners must register themselves, their property, and their animals on the INTERGIS national database. Changes (such as sales, deaths, or lost tags) must be reported within 7 days.

Penalties: Non-compliance or unauthorized removal/misuse of tags can lead to fines or up to 2 years in jail.

This was gazetted on 6 Oct 2026 and has a deadline for comment of 29 Dec 2026.

The SAEF will be making a submission proposing passports and microchips as the only forms of identification of horses and donkeys.

To read the notice, go to click,https://mcusercontent.com/e02bd22576817b3014b3c9f50/files/5df4bc59-f1a5-1e33-9d45-0fd99b085dab/Proposed_regulations_on_animal_identification.pdf

19/10/2026

IT’S SHOW WEEK!

Hope everyone’s been practising their tests and stocking up on carrots to keep those ponies on their best behaviour! 🥕🐴

19/10/2026

07/10/2026

We’re excited to have Equitots Equine Assisted Learning operating from The White House Stables! 🐴
With horses at the heart of the experience, sessions are designed to support cognitive, sensory, emotional, social and psychological development. 🌻

Sessions available for all ages!
📩 Contact Colleen to find out more.

30/09/2026

And just like that, two days of pony camp have flown by! 🐴 It’s been a hot but happy few days! ☀️

24/09/2026

🇿🇦 A Heritage Day well spent!

The White House Stables hosted a Horse Connection Workshop, giving our horses and riders the chance to shake things up, try something new and strengthen their partnerships along the way. 🐴

We’re already looking forward to the next one!

07/09/2026

What Does Your Monthly Board Actually Pay For?

I recently saw a comment in a local horse group suggesting that boarding rates are far higher than the actual cost of caring for a horse. From the outside looking in, it can be easy to assume that board simply covers hay, feed, bedding, and basic daily care. In reality, operating a safe, well-maintained equine facility involves many additional expenses.

Along with the direct care of each horse, monthly board helps cover:

• Property rent or mortgage
• Business and liability insurance
• Electricity and utilities
• Facility, arena, and equipment maintenance
• Fuel for the equipment used around the farm
• Manure removal
• Repairs and replacement of items damaged through normal wear and tear
• Water and feed buckets, hoses, pitchforks, cross-ties, and automatic-waterer parts
• Cleaning supplies and everyday necessities for shared areas
• Payroll for the dependable people who help provide daily care

The list is nearly endless—and many of these expenses continue to rise.

Board is not simply payment for a stall and a few bales of hay. It supports the people, equipment, facilities, and behind-the-scenes work required to provide consistent, professional care while maintaining the safe and comfortable amenities horse owners expect.

There is an enormous amount of time, responsibility, and expense involved in properly caring for horses and operating a quality facility. Boarding rates reflect the true cost of providing that level of care—not just the items that are easiest to see.

03/09/2026

It doesn't take fancy equipment to create a learning opportunity.

Plastic ponies for storytelling, sequencing, counting & language.
Pool noodles for balance, coordination & problem-solving.
Hula hoops for spatial awareness, movement & following instructions.
Beanbags for counting, sorting, memory & motor skills.
Cones for sequencing, colours, directions & planning.

At Equitots® , even a plastic pony and a few cones can become a maths lesson, a language activity, a memory challenge or a problem-solving exercise. The magic is in how we use them.

------------------
Equitots™️
Over 50 000 Equine Assisted Learning Sessions delivered since 2010.
Enrol your child | Become a facilitator
www.equitots.com
-------------------

31/08/2026

Mark your calendars 🗓️ our Prix Caprilli Show is happening on the 25th of October and entries are open! 🏆

We have classes for all levels of riders and outside horses and riders are welcome to enter! Entries close on the 20th of October 🐴

29/08/2026