South African Equestrian Federation

Sad news about the passing of the legendary Monty Roberts.

Dr Andreas Jacobs Pays Tribute To Memory of Monty Roberts Read more on Dr Andreas Jacobs Pays Tribute To Memory of Monty Roberts on Sporting Post, bringing you the latest in Horse Racing News, Previews and Reviews.

What an exceptional week for the SAEF with 47 Veterinarians, Show Organisers, Stewards and Officials attending the FEI Biosecurity Education Programme made possible by FEI Solidarity and presented by the phenomonal Camille Vercken from France.

We are so grateful to all of you taking two days out of your hectic schedules to attend this extremely important programme. Thank you!

The last of our FEI Biosecurity Education programmes is in full swing at Sweet Valley Farm in Constantia, Cape Town. Camille Vercken taking our Veterinarians, Stewards and other Officials through the various processes.

Thank you FEI Solidarity for making this possible. And thank you to Candice Noakes for your fabulous venue and Catherine Moore and Patricia for the catering.

The FEI Biosecurity Programme stopped over in Hillcrest, KZN and at the helm was the FEI's expert on the topic, Camille Vercken.

We had a good turnout of attendees who were also given the task to demonstrate how they would handle Biosecurity in times of infectuous outbreaks. An example was the outbreak in Valencia where 17 horses died in 2021.

FEI BIOSECURITY EDUCATION PROGRAMME GAUTENG - 20 & 21 JULY 2026

The SAEF hosted the first of 3 FEI Biosecurity Education Programmes in South Africa, the past 2 days. The course was presented by the FEI's Biosecurity Specialist, Camille Vercken from France.

The FEI Biosecurity Education Programme trains individuals on FEI biosecurity rules, standards, and disease outbreak prevention. Key components include learning how to use the FEI Horse App, assisting veterinarians at events, and managing emergency isolation protocols.

It was a full house on the two days with a variety of attendees including Veterinarians, Show Organisers, Stewards, Judges, etc.

Thank you to FEI Solidarity who have made this possible! And thank you Camille for sharing your knowledge!

Congratulations to the following Showing riders selected for the Showing International against England later this year! This is the first of its kind for South Africa!

Shannah Mayne
Kim McFarlane
Nicola Syndercombe
Bobby Archer
Sharon Barclay (Reserve)

The Chef d'Equipe is Gregory Goss

🐴 Horse Welfare: Is My Horse Comfortable Carrying My Weight?

One of the questions often asked by riders is:

"Can my horse comfortably carry me?"

The answer isn't as simple as a single number. There is no universal rule that determines whether a horse can or cannot carry a rider based on weight alone.

A horse's ability to carry a rider depends on many factors, including:
* The horse's size and build
* Muscle development and overall fitness
* Age and soundness
* Saddle fit and tack
* The rider's balance and skill
* The type and duration of work being performed

As responsible equestrians, our priority should always be the health, comfort and welfare of our horses. While no online calculator can replace the opinion of an experienced professional, it can provide a useful starting point to help riders assess whether they may be within a comfortable carrying range for their horse.

If you would like to estimate your horse's carrying capacity, you can use the calculator below:
https://good-horse.com/tools/calculator-horses-can-carry-comfortably/

Remember:
✔️ This is a guideline—not a rule.
✔️ Every horse is an individual.
✔️ If you are unsure, speak to your veterinarian, coach, saddle fitter or an experienced equine professional for advice specific to your horse.

At the South African Equestrian Federation, we encourage all riders to make informed, welfare-focused decisions that place the wellbeing of our equine partners first.

Calculator: Which horses can carry me comfortably? - Good Horse Use this calculator to work out what size horse is suitable for different sized riders. User friendly, easy to understand and backed up by the latest research.