Name: Lyandi van der Merwe
Age: 17
School: Hatfield online christian school
Grade 12
I have always loved animals since we stayed on a farm where I always looked after baby animals that were sick or lost their mom so the love for animals was always there. I love to do sports but I am not really a team sports player, but there is something about horseriding that makes me want to be in a team. Horses teach one patience and that’s exactly what a team is patience. It’s a partnership where you as the rider have to be able to understand and read your horse it’s a team effort to get over the jumps. A rider forms a bond with his/her horse and that bond will forever stay with you that is just amazing to me as a horse trusts his life with you as you are leading him over a scary jump and that’s just wow. Horses are just amazing creatures and that’s why I love them as they either give their all to you or they don’t😂I think it also has to do with the fact that I am a woman because when I was a young girl I believed in unicorns and that’s exactly what horses are magical unicorns
The first time I sat on a horse was when I was 4 years old, I had no family members who competed in the equestrian world I just instantly fell in love with the partnership one has with your horse. I started doing lessons when I was about 5. I then started to compete when I was 9 on a horse called Charlie he was not my own horse he was a riding school horse, and he was a very stubborn pony😂. I then went to my first nationals at the age of 9 on him jumping 50cm. After that, I got my own horse Lippie who was a boerperd he was the sweetest boy ever we won so many classes and he gave me the confidence I have today. He is now living his best life retired here on the farm. After a few years, I got Mainplayer a 6-year-old thoroughbred we had our ups and downs but after 5 years he is now my 130cm horse and just the sweetest. I have another young 4-year-old thoroughbred that I am training. I also have a warmblood Callaho Brando which I am jumping in the 120cm.