NietBegin Stables, Heidelburg (2026)

25/07/2026

✨SANESA PRIMARY SCHOOL FINALS 2026✨
TODAY'S THE DAY!

Well… we blinked and suddenly it's time for ANOTHER SANESA FINALS!😂🙈

After celebrating Cristi and her two horses at the High School Finals, it's now time for us to turn our attention to one very excited rider and her very special speedy pony!

Today, Dominique & Giggles are heading into the SANESA Primary School Finals, representing the B Team in the 70cm Pony classes!

These two have worked incredibly hard to get here and we couldn't be more proud of them!

Giggles may have a reputation for being our resident speed demon, but there is so much more to this partnership than just going fast. Watching Dominique and Giggles grow together, learn together and build their confidence as a team has been such a special journey to be a part of.

Today, it's time to put all that hard work to the test!

We know there will be nerves, excitement, probably a little bit of chaos… and if Giggles has anything to say about it, possibly a whole lot of SPEED. 😂💨🐴

But no matter what happens, we are already incredibly proud of these two for making it all the way to the Finals and for representing their team with such determination and heart.

So from everyone at NietBegin, we want to wish our amazing Dominique & Giggles the VERY BEST of luck for today! 🍀🏆

Go out there, trust each other, enjoy every moment and remember just how far you've come!

We'll be cheering from the sidelines, probably louder than necessary… because that's just how we do things at NietBegin. 😂📣

GO DOMINIQUE & GIGGLES!

Bring on the SANESA FINALS!🏆🎉

We are SO proud of you both! ❤️

24/07/2026

✨SANESA HIGH SCHOOL FINALS 2026✨
Saturday, 18th July - A day that celebrated the journey, the hard work and the dedication that got us here, filled with proud moments and one incredibly proud team!🐴✨

Okay… so we are slightly late with this post....👀😅 But we couldn't let Cristi's SANESA High School Finals weekend pass without giving this incredible girl and her two very special horses the celebration they deserve!

Cristi headed off to the SANESA High School Finals representing the A Team with both of her horses - Sugar in the 80cm Pony classes and Qayla in the 90cm Horse classes. As always, these three gave us a weekend full of excitement, nerves, proud moments and enough emotions to keep the entire NietBegin team on the edge of their seats!

✨Cristi & Sugar✨

What a weekend these two had!🏆

Cristi and Sugar came home with a beautiful 2nd and 4th place in their classes and we couldn't be more proud of them!🥈🏅

But the best news of all… THEY'RE GOING TO NATIONALS!🎉

We are SO incredibly excited to watch these two take on Nationals together! The amount of hard work, dedication and teamwork that goes into getting to this point is something that should never be overlooked and Cristi and Sugar have absolutely earned their place there.

We couldn't be prouder of this special partnership and we are already counting down the days until we get to cheer them on at Nationals!✨

✨Cristi & Qayla✨

Now, these two have definitely kept us on our toes this year.😅

After all the hiccups and challenges that we've had with Qayla, we were honestly just so incredibly proud and surprised that these two had made it through to the Finals in the first place. But once they qualified, there was no question about what came next…

Back to work!

Cristi and Qayla put in SO much hard work and preparation leading up to Finals and it really showed.✨

They may have had a few poles down in their classes, but what mattered most to us was seeing them finish both of their classes beautifully and more importantly, seeing just how far this partnership has come.

They finished 17th and 23rd out of 32 riders and while they unfortunately won't be heading through to Nationals together this year, we couldn't possibly be more proud of them.

Because sometimes, the biggest victories aren't always the ones that come with a rosette or a qualifying ticket. Sometimes they're the ones where you look back at where you started, look at everything you've overcome and realise just how far you've come.💛
And these two have come a VERY long way.

The hard work, the perseverance, the lessons learned, the good days, the not-so-good days and everything in between… it has all been worth it. And we are SO proud of the partnership Cristi and Qayla have and are building together.

So, from all of us at NietBegin, congratulations to our incredible Cristi and her two amazing horses!

Two horses. Two different journeys. One very proud rider. And one very proud team standing on the sidelines probably making far too much noise. 😂📣

We are beyond proud of you, Cristi! You have worked incredibly hard, you've stuck with it when things weren't always easy and you've given both of your horses your absolute best.

Now it's time to get behind you and Sugar as you head off to NATIONALS!!🎉✨

CONGRATULATIONS CRISTI, SUGAR & QAYLA!

And tomorrow we head to Eaton Farm for the primary school's SANESA Finals with Dominique & Giggle's representing the B Team for the 70cm Pony classes!!✨

13/07/2026

✨Saturday's Show Results✨

What a day!

Saturday was one of those days that felt like it lasted about three days in one. We arrived at Penbritte Equestrian Centre just before 8:00am, our first classes only got underway closer to lunchtime and by the time we'd finished, packed up and headed home it was well after 4:00pm. It was a very looooooonnnnggggg day... but what a fun one it was! Full of laughs, nerves, proud moments and some fantastic riding from our girls.

Cristi & Luca:
Cristi had the honour (or rather very kindly volunteered as tribute 🤭) to be Luca's first rider in the ring, taking on the opening round of the POG/50cm Jump for Joy class before handing him over to his very excited little rider.

As this was Luca's very first show with us, we weren't quite sure what to expect. We thought he might be a little looky or fresh with all the excitement around him, but he completely blew us away!

Yes, he was feeling a little enthusiastic in the warm-up and had a look around during his first round, but from start to finish he behaved like an absolute superstar. He took everything in his stride, gave Cristi a lovely ride and left us all feeling incredibly excited for what the future holds for this special horse.

💛Suné & Luca:
It was then Suné's turn and although the nerves definitely kicked in before her first round (completely understandable!), she had her whole team right there beside her. Cristi stayed on the lead for the first round while I walked alongside from the middle of the arena, cheering her on every step of the way. Sometimes all you need is to know your people are right there with you.

By the time her second round came around, those nerves had settled down a bit. Suné was happily walking Luca around the warm-up all by herself amongst all the other horses and seeing that little boost in confidence made us so proud.

We went in with her again, but this time the lead rope came off. Watching her guide Luca around the course was such a special moment. Together they earned their very first rosettes and if you ask us, these are the first of many.

We are unbelievably proud of our little Suné. The partnership between these two is only just beginning and we genuinely can't wait to watch them grow together. These two are going to go far... just you wait!💛

🩷Dominique & Madonna:
With Giggles enjoying a well-deserved day off, Madonna stepped in for the day.

They were first into the ring for the 60cm A2 Speed class and gave it their all. A unfortunate single pole down in the first round wasn't enough to stop them. They came back for round two and produced a beautiful clear round to finish in 5th place!🏅

We are so incredibly proud of Dominique. The amount of work she has been putting into her riding is really beginning to shine through every time she steps into the ring.

We're also convinced there might be a little competition going on between Madonna and Giggles... who can go the fastest with Dom!🤣

🩵Stephanie & Cisco:
Cisco just has a way of making a person fall more and more madly in love with him each and every day.

In our 70cm A2 Speed class Cisco gave me an absolutely beautiful clear round. He was amazing from start to finish, and together we were thrilled to finish in 4th place! 🏅

We then stepped up for the 80cm 8 Jump Accumulator where, unfortunately, I tried to micromanage fences 1 and 8 a little too much, resulting in two rails. A perfect little reminder to practice what I preach... trust your pony!🤣

Even so, Cisco never stopped trying. He is honestly one of the most genuine, kind and willing horses I've ever had the privilege of riding and I count myself incredibly lucky every single time I get to climb into the saddle.

🧡Cristi & Qiara:
Cristi and Qiara produced a beautiful clear round in the 80cm class that had us all smiling from ear to ear and gave us literal chills watching them. The trust and partnership these two have built together is something really special.

They then went on to tackle the 90cm 8 Jump Accumulator. Although they finished on 8 penalties, they rode a fantastic round and continue to show just how much potential this partnership has.

We are so excited to watch these two continue competing together and cannot wait to see where this partnership takes them. The future is looking incredibly bright for these tall girls!💫

A huge thank you to Rulandi for spending the day with us, camera in hand, capturing so many special memories. From the smiles, the nerves, the happy dances, the proud moments and everything in between.📸

And finally, thank you to our wonderful ponies' mom, Sunette. Thank you for trusting us with your beautiful horses, for always believing in us, supporting us, encouraging us and giving both our riders and your horses every opportunity to grow. We appreciate you more than words can say.🌺🤍

We are so incredibly proud of every rider, every horse and every achievement from the weekend.

Now our focus shifts to the next two weekends as we head to the SANESA Finals!

The excitement is only just beginning, and we can't wait to take all of you along for the journey.💛🐴

📸More photo's to come!!

11/07/2026

✨It's show day!!✨

Team NietBegin is on the road to Penbritte Equestrian Centre and we're so excited to see our riders in the ring today!🐴

Our rider's today are:

Suné & her very handsome Luca will be taking on two rounds of the POG/50cm Jump For Joy class. As this is Luca's very first show with us, Cristi has very kindly offered herself as sacrifice to do his first round before handing him over to her sister. Think of it as a quick "show introduction" so Luca can have a good look around, realise the flower boxes aren't actually horse-eating monsters and then let Suné go and enjoy the rest of the day. 😂 We reckon that's what big sisters are for anyways!

Dominique & Miss Madonna will be taking on two rounds of the 60cm A2 Speed class. Madonna is stepping in for today's show and we're so excited to watch these two tackle the course together!

Stephanie & the amazing Mr Cisco will be tackling the 70cm A2 Speed class before taking on the 80cm 8 Jump Accumulator class.

Cristi & the fabulous Qiara will also be taking on the 80cm and then 90cm 8 Jump Accumulator class. We're so excited to watch these two do their thing!

Good luck to all our riders and our incredible horses today. Ride with confidence, have fun and enjoy every moment!! We'll be cheering, clapping, shouting and probably embarrassing ourselves just a little because we're so proud! ✨💛

We can't wait to see what today has in store, so keep an eye on our page for photos and results of the day!!!

05/07/2026

🐴✨Pony Camp - Day 2!✨🐴

Before every Pony Camp or holiday programme at NietBegin, we unofficially open 'Application' for one of the most important jobs at the yard...

✨Happy Helpers!✨

The job description includes arriving way before the start time because you're too excited to sleep, helping set up obstacle courses, taking horses in and out, jumping in to help wherever you can and most importantly, keeping us thoroughly entertained all day long. 🤣

We were so lucky to have so many of our campers lending a helping hand throughout the week and we loved every second of it. A special shout-out has to go to Suné, Dahlene, Bailey and Dominique, who were always ready to jump in wherever they could. Suné and Dahlene were with us bright and early every single morning (even when it was absolutely freezing 🥶), helping Cristi and I get everything ready before the rest of the campers arrived. Bailey also deserves a special mention for convincing her poor dad to bring her long before 9 o'clock because apparently waiting at home was simply not an option. 🤣

We'd also like to give a huge thank you to Carien, one of our rider's mom, who very kindly stepped into the role of NietBegin's Social Media Employee of the Day.📸😂 She spent the day with us capturing the most beautiful photos, cheering everyone on, giving plenty of love to the horses and somehow still finding time to hang out, chat and laugh with us all. We absolutely loved having you with us and we're so grateful for all the special moments you captured.💛

To everyone else who lent a helping hand throughout the week, whether it was carrying poles, opening gates, helping with the horses or simply asking, "What can I do?" - thank you. Every little bit of help was noticed and appreciated more than you know. ❤️

Now... onto Wednesday's adventures!

We loved welcoming back some familiar faces from Monday while also meeting a few brand-new campers. To help everyone get to know each other, we started the morning with a fun little icebreaker game that had everyone chatting, laughing and feeling right at home within minutes.

Then came what was probably one of the funniest activities of the day...

The kids paired up, grabbed a bridle, decided who would be the horse and who would be the rider... and then we blindfolded the horses. 🤣

Watching the "riders" guide their very trusting (and occasionally very confused) horses through the obstacle course had us absolutely crying with laughter. There were a few creative route choices, some unexpected detours, and plenty of moments where the "horses" seemed to have minds of their own. Once they swapped roles, the second round somehow had us laughing even harder than the first! 😂🐴

After a few more games, it was time to bring out the real horses.

Madonna, Sugar, Tessa and little Rigby all joined us and the campers split into two groups. Group A, made up mostly of our new faces, headed off with Cristi and Madonna to learn all about loading into a horsebox, while Group B stayed with Sugar, Tessa and myself to work through our obstacle course in-hand. Once Group A had finished, they joined us in the arena so everyone had the opportunity to work through the obstacle course with the horses.

Now we'd like to introduce you to someone very special... Tessa.🥹❤️

Tessa is one of the newer additions to our riding school. When she first arrived, she was still very green, quite nervous and needed plenty of time, patience and confidence-building before she was ready to begin her career as a lesson horse.

Wednesday was one of our little tests.

How would she cope with a busy Pony Camp? Lots of children, plenty of movement, excitement everywhere...

And wow... she completely blew us away.

She was calm, patient, gentle and genuinely seemed to enjoy every minute she spent with the kids. She quietly stood while little hands brushed her, happily worked her way through the obstacle course and took everything in her stride like she'd been doing it for years.

Watching how far she's come filled us with so much pride. Moments like these remind us why taking the time to build a horse's confidence is always worth it. We honestly couldn't have asked for a better first Pony Camp experience for her.❤️

Of course, Rigby had absolutely no interest in following our lesson plan. 🤣 He was brought in with everyone else but quickly decided he'd much rather open his own station called "The Cuddle Zone." Instead of worrying about obstacles, he happily spent his morning collecting scratches, hugs and as much love as he could possibly convince the kids to give him. Safe to say, business at "The Cuddle Zone" was booming!

After a well-earned break, we squeezed in a few more games before finishing the afternoon with everyone's favourite fluffy gentlemen, Archy and Cisco, for the riding session.

By the end of the day, we had another group of very happy (and definitely very tired!) little riders who had once again thrown themselves into every game, every activity and every opportunity to learn.

Thank you to all of our wonderful campers for another day filled with laughter, teamwork and so many special memories. Seeing new friendships form, confidence grow and so many smiling faces made every minute of the day worthwhile.💛

Day 3 recap and photos to come.😉

01/07/2026

✨Pony Camp - Day 1✨

Pony Camp started exactly how you'd expect...

We hadn't even officially begun before the kids had claimed the lunge ring as their paddock and appointed themselves horses. Cristi, in what can only be described as a moment of blind optimism, decided she was going to lunge them. Thirty seconds later she'd accepted defeat and the tiny herd remained completely untrainable. If those kids were actual horses.... We'd all need helmets, body protectors and probably therapy. 🤣

Once the "herd" had finished their morning zoomies, we split everyone into teams and kicked off the day with our first competition before diving into a whole bunch of games that can only be described as beautifully organised chaos. There was plenty of running, laughing, cheering, and just enough competitiveness to keep everyone on their toes. We trainers probably got a little too invested on the sidelines, and I'm fairly sure we were louder than the kids! 🤣

The younger kiddos absolutely refused to be underestimated and gave the older kids a serious run for their money in quite a few of the games. Let's just say age definitely wasn't an advantage today!

We then introduced everyone to horsebox loading with our gorgeous Sugar. She was an absolute superstar and loaded beautifully for every single child. The trainers, however, received the classic Sugar side-eye that basically screamed, "You people are exhausting." We chose to ignore the judgement and bribed her with extra scratches instead. 💅🐴

After a well-earned break and some yummy snacks, everyone spent some time grooming our two resident teddy bears, Archy and Cisco. Between all the brushing and enough winter fluff to knit a small village of ponies, the kids ended up wearing more hair than the horses. By the end of it they looked like they'd officially joined the herd. 🤣

We finished the afternoon with some riding, and by then the excitement had finally caught up with everyone. The chatter had slowed down, the energy levels had dropped, and you could tell we'd successfully worn out a group of very happy little horse lovers.

All jokes aside, today was such a wonderful way to kick off Pony Camp. Thank you to every one of our amazing little riders for bringing the laughs, the teamwork, the enthusiasm, and just the right amount of adorable chaos. Thank you for making us laugh until it hurts and for simply being the most genuinely hilarious, top-tier little humans. ❤️

✨Day 2 - Loading✨

Today is day 2 of our Pony Camp and we are all excited for what it brings!!🐎✨

24/06/2026

❄️Winter Pony Camp❄️

Looking for the perfect winter holiday activity? Join us at NietBegin Stables for an immersive and unforgettable Winter Pony Camp!!

Whether your child is looking to build confidence or improve their skills, we’ve got a fantastic schedule lined up. It’s all about building a beautiful partnership with the horses in a safe, hands-on environment.

Camp Activities Include:
•Daily Riding
•Groundwork & Horsemanship
•Fun Games (Both in and out of the saddle!)
•Hands-on Stable Management & Horse Care

R100 per person, per day.
Snacks will be provided.

🗓️Dates:
• Monday 29th June
• Wednesday 1st July
• Friday 3rd July

📍Location: NietBegin Stables (Pin location to be given after contact)

Spaces are limited to ensure everyone gets dedicated instruction. Send us a message to book your spot and let's make some magic this winter!

📱Contact:

Sunette +27 83 782 8761

Or

Stephanie +27 79 354 5930

20/06/2026

✨ The Final Qualifier - What A Way to Finish! ✨

We had an early start at KPC this morning for Dominique and Giggles' final SANESA qualifier, and what a lovely day it turned out to be! 🐴🌟

The girls started off in the 70cm Pony Two Phase, where they rode a beautiful round and earned themselves a very well-deserved 🥉 3rd place!

Then it was time for the 70cm Pony Speed class, where the pocket rocket duo put in another fantastic round to finish in an impressive 🏅 8th place.

Dominique, you rode beautifully today. Watching you and Giggles grow together this season has been so special. Your confidence, determination and partnership continue to improve with every outing, and it really shows every time you step into the ring.

We are so beyond proud of you and our speedy little Giggles. You two make such a wonderful team, and we cannot wait to see what the future has in store for you both.

And now... we wait patiently for team selections and finals announcements! 🤞🌟

15/06/2026

Dominique & Giggles, our F1 pony - 🏎️ Putting the "Race" in Showjumping!

14/06/2026

✨ The Final Qualifier - A Thousand Reasons to Be Proud ✨

What a way to finish off a SANESA weekend at Eaton Farm! 🐴

Cristi and Sugar kicked off our day as the very first combination into the 80cm pony class. After saluting the judges, the girls were off! They flew around their course with confidence, determination and some impressive turns. Looking like they had somewhere important to be, they tackled every fence beautifully, finishing on a fantastic clear round and an excellent time to earn themselves 🥇 1st place!

The smiles leaving the arena said it all and of course Sugar received plenty of well-deserved love and attention for being the superstar pony that she is. 💛

Then we waited...
And waited some more. 😅

With the next arena only opening later in the morning, Sugar happily enjoyed her grass and a few snacks (while also trying her very best to convince us that sharing our food wasn't a choice, but rather the correct and logical thing to do 😌🍟), while the rest of us refueled, chatted and soaked up the sunshine before it was time to get ready again.

When it was finally time for their second round, the girls headed back into the arena ready to give it their all once again. Unfortunately, they had two unlucky rails at jumps #6 and #10, but that certainly didn't take away from what was still a lovely round to watch.

One of the things we love most about Cristi is that no matter what happens in the ring, she always puts her horses first. Despite the rails, she left the arena smiling, gave Sugar a big pat and thanked her pony for trying her heart out. And honestly, that's what makes a true horsewoman.🤍

Watching these two over the past year has been something truly special. Their partnership, confidence and understanding of one another have grown so much, and every show they continue to prove just how far they have come.

Cristi, we are so incredibly proud of you and your little unicorn. Your hard work, dedication and love for your horses shines through every time you ride, and you continue to impress us more and more every day.

Watching you grow as a rider has been such a privilege and we cannot wait to see where this journey takes you next. You were born to ride and we hope you never stop chasing your dreams.🐴✨

Now we wait for team selections as we look ahead to finals!!

NietBegin Stables

25/07/2026

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