A YOUNG horse rider, who excelled in equestrian events at the annual Bathurst Agricultural Show, has set his sights on riding for South Africa at the Olympic Games one day.
Eleven-year-old Luvo Dayimani is fast earning a reputation as a champion rider despite growing up with his grandmother on a farm – without horses – near Port Alfred.
Although Luvo was just one of many riders from across the province and beyond competing in prestigious equine events at the Bathurst Show this weekend, his journey to a life in the saddle is one of the more heartwarming.
“Riding horses has changed my life,” he explained.
Growing up on a farm across a dusty backroad from equine expert Helen Grapes’s Windsong Events Centre near Shaw Park, Dayimani’s life changed forever when his gran Florrie’s employer Adele Cutten decided to send the youngster for horse riding lessons six years ago.
“I love horses very much, they are my friends – I sometimes even talk to them,” he explained.
Grapes – who has worked with hundreds of horses and riders since she arrived in South Africa in 1956 – said she knew straightaway the youngster had a special talent.
“From the day he arrived, Luvo has had a special affinity with horses. He was just another farm kid when he first started riding ... now he is doing exceptionally well.”
According to Grapes, with proper guidance from a support group that give him mounts to ride in shows, Dayimani has the talent and potential to be a top national rider.
Besides flourishing in the saddle – competing and beating riders who have clocked up 23 Bathurst shows or more – the young rider is also learning valuable life and language skills interacting with people from more affluent backgrounds.
During this year’s show, he clocked up a first, second and several clear rounds riding horses that belong to other people and won the best local child rider trophy for his efforts..
Although the Bathurst Agricultural Show is now in its 106th year, show president Danny Wepener says its roots stretch back to 1850. He said while agricultural shows were dying in other rural Eastern Cape towns, the Bathurst Show was flourishing thanks to involvement from village residents and farming families.
“It is all about community. The last couple of years we have become involved in a lot of community development programmes and some of the funds raised are used to improve this”
He said the show also afforded farmers and the industry to keep abreast of technological changes in the industry.
A prestige auction of high-quality livestock bloodlines ensured top strains were spread out to other farms and breeders.
“It truly is an event where town and country meet.” — davidm@dispatch.co.za
Youngster on a hot trot in Bathurst
Eleven-year-old Luvo Dayimani is fast earning a reputation as a champion rider despite growing up with his grandmother on a farm – without horses – near Port Alfred.
Although Luvo was just one of many riders from across the province and beyond competing in prestigious equine events at the Bathurst Show this weekend, his journey to a life in the saddle is one of the more heartwarming.
“Riding horses has changed my life,” he explained.
Growing up on a farm across a dusty backroad from equine expert Helen Grapes’s Windsong Events Centre near Shaw Park, Dayimani’s life changed forever when his gran Florrie’s employer Adele Cutten decided to send the youngster for horse riding lessons six years ago.
“I love horses very much, they are my friends – I sometimes even talk to them,” he explained.
Grapes – who has worked with hundreds of horses and riders since she arrived in South Africa in 1956 – said she knew straightaway the youngster had a special talent.
“From the day he arrived, Luvo has had a special affinity with horses. He was just another farm kid when he first started riding ... now he is doing exceptionally well.”
According to Grapes, with proper guidance from a support group that give him mounts to ride in shows, Dayimani has the talent and potential to be a top national rider.
Besides flourishing in the saddle – competing and beating riders who have clocked up 23 Bathurst shows or more – the young rider is also learning valuable life and language skills interacting with people from more affluent backgrounds.
During this year’s show, he clocked up a first, second and several clear rounds riding horses that belong to other people and won the best local child rider trophy for his efforts..
Although the Bathurst Agricultural Show is now in its 106th year, show president Danny Wepener says its roots stretch back to 1850. He said while agricultural shows were dying in other rural Eastern Cape towns, the Bathurst Show was flourishing thanks to involvement from village residents and farming families.
“It is all about community. The last couple of years we have become involved in a lot of community development programmes and some of the funds raised are used to improve this”
He said the show also afforded farmers and the industry to keep abreast of technological changes in the industry.
A prestige auction of high-quality livestock bloodlines ensured top strains were spread out to other farms and breeders.
“It truly is an event where town and country meet.” — davidm@dispatch.co.za
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