THE “NEW” MATIES EQUESTRIAN CLUB
The Maties Equestrian Club was established in the early eighties, originally as part of the Faculty of AgriScience. Since 1986, the Club has opened up its membership to the entire student body and expanded quite considerably.
Located in the forest just behind the Coetzenburg sports grounds, this Club has undergone a complete transformation, hence the emphasis on “new” Maties Equestrian. Since 2010, this downtrodden student riding club has been completely rebuilt and renovated.
The facility now has twentyfive brand new safe and cosy wooden stables. Added to this, the Club now has an enclosed show jumping arena, a new lunging arena and a large modern dressage arena. The paddocks are nestled among the trees, which provide ample shade for the horses in the hot summer months. Horses also have access to a three hectare grass camp on a rotational basis on the beautiful Welgevallen Farm, among the University’s vineyards and orchards [see Photo Gallery].
With the greatest number of new members signed up in its 35 year history, the Club is growing from strength to strength both in the number of social and competitive riders. This has been facilitated by the purchase of several reliable school horses for lessons and social outrides. Students who are unable to bring their own horses to university, or who want to lease a horse, now have the opportunity to do so. A number of Club and private horses are often available for lease and this provides riders with greater freedom in terms of when and where they want to ride.
The Club competes in a wide range of equestrian disciplines, from dressage, show jumping, showing, eventing to polocrosse [see Photo Gallery]. In 2011 no less than six members were in the Western Province Polocrosse teams and Celicia Jacobs was representing South Africa in the Polocrosse World Cup held in the United Kingdom in July 2011.
As members of a registered Club, riders may compete in Maties Colours at shows and events. Riders who compete at provincial level may qualify for bursaries from Maties Sport providing they compete under the banner of Maties Equestrian. The club horsebox can be hired to transport horses and riders to shows.
A number of qualified instructors teach at the Club and children, students and adults on different skills levels are accommodated.
A large proportion of the club members are social riders. Access to endless riding routes through the fynbos and forests makes this a popular yard for both social and competitive riders. Few equestrian facilities can match the serenity and beauty of this facility, and its central location is impossible to beat for convenience. Members enjoy not only riding along the Bergpad and through the forests, but in summer swimming in the dam is a great attraction.
Although this is a professionally run yard, the ultimate objective is for it to be a place where horsey people hang out and enjoy themselves, or for a well-deserved break from Academia.
