ELISHA MOKHOANZI
Extract from the Showing South Africa 2016 EDTS (Education Development and Transformation Scheme), report. Of all the disciplines Showing has offered the most help.
Elisha is our biggest success story. Elisha is a work rider/assistant instructor in the employ of Harties Riding Club. He first represented the FSNC at the S A Championships 2009. Since then (chosen on merit only) he has been in every Open Team that either FSNC or NW has sent to a S A Championships. He has also represented his Province in Challenge Teams on various horses. Incidentally, Elisha also represented South Africa in the 2014 Inter Africa Dressage Competition.
He rode and schooled a very ordinary horse, called Shiloh, to be one of the top Working Riding Horses in South Africa. In 2015 Shiloh and Elisha were Reserve S A Champion Working Riding Horse. Elisha is a very competent work rider and backs and schools many types of horses. He is often seen in the show ring with the very green novice horses (or big ponies) at their first outing.
Elisha is on the NW SASA Provincial Committee and the National SASA Council as the Transformation Officer. Elisha is a knowledgeable contributor to SASA meetings.
Elisha worked on a farm (belonging to the Goldberg’s) in Viljoenskroon. The farm supplied Eragrostis, Teff and lucern to many of the horse owners in the surrounding areas. It also had a Welsh Sec A and Sec D stud. When the Goldberg’s immigrated to America, Elisha followed his uncle (John Mokhoanzi – head groom of Harties Riding Club) into the employ of Harties Riding Club as a groom.
In 2006 Elisha persuaded the assistant instructor (Aisnley Bailey) at Harties to give him some riding lessons. And so it just snowballed from there! Within six months Elisha had moved to lessons with me and was riding any pony or horse that he could. He did all his riding in his spare time. If Harties offered any extra courses or lessons with outside instructors or me, Elisha would be there. He came with a horse, if possible or just as an observer.
At this stage Kathy Coetzee offered Elisha the ride on her very ordinary, not very well schooled partbred Freisian, Shiloh. Harties Riding Club started to sponsor Elisha lessons with outside instructors and of course Elisha began to compete at the shows held at Harties. In time Elisha developed into a competent competitor in many disciplines – Showing (Open level), Showjumping (1,00 meter), Dressage (EM), Adult Equitation (Intermediate) and Eventing (Welcome). Always competing on other people’s horses.
Elisha is employed by Harties Riding Club as a Work Rider and Assistant Instructor. Elisha rides Work for several other Studs and individuals. Elisha can often be seen at shows knowledgeably riding horses and big ponies at their first events.
Elisha has been helping Bev Williamson as an assistant instructor. He has a lovely calm manner and a very good eye. Also helps that he is competent in 6 languages!