End-of-season gymkhana event

THE season has drawn to a close at Twin Palms Riding Centre. Did Anki Holmstrom, owner and principal instructor, decide to finish the season quietly? Hardly! That is not her style at all.

It ended with a gymkhana event, however, this was not for the kiddies, or the feint-hearted … it was full-on.

There were a mixture of riders from the Junior B category (13 years and older) and the Adults, and one young member of the team, Luna Dreyer, 10, who due to becoming such an accomplished rider over the season was also allowed to participate.

There were six teams of three and classes included the potato and spoon, stick and stirrup, polo-cross challenge and an obstacle race.

In game five the competition really heated up. The horses were on their toes and ready to go. Barrel racing was a very fast event. Horses and ponies galloped round as the team members took up the challenge to come home the quickest .

This event was timed and it was hysterical. Getting off and on proved a challenge for many, as did the walk of doom – two planks balanced on plant pots – but picking up water bottles from a bucket was the greatest challenge. I think the mounts thought those containers were out to get them, or there was a huge monster hidden in the bucket. 

To finish the afternoon, there was a subdued apple bobbing – well, that was the plan. But once again those scary buckets filled with strange objects caused a stir despite the end result being a happy one for the horses and ponies as they each received an apple!

The afternoon’s victors were Yvonne Addison riding The Chief, Luna Dreyer riding Red and Melinda Cranage riding Eid. Team Two won two of the six events.