Zimbabwe’s equestrian scene growing steadily

Lovemore Dube, Zimpapers Sports Hub

GAYLE Hanssen, Secretary General of the African Equestrian Association, says Zimbabwe’s equestrian sport is experiencing steady growth, thanks to an increasing number of young riders entering the scene.

Speaking at the Zimbabwe Horse of the Year Show, held at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair grounds in Bulawayo, Hanssen praised the high standard of the event and highlighted the junior entries as evidence of the sport’s expanding base.

“What is particularly encouraging for those involved in the sport is the number of junior riders taking part. We are working to improve the game across Africa. Our sport is unique in that it involves two athletes — the horse and the rider,” she said.

Zimbabwean riders have been gaining international exposure from an early age, with juniors competing in high-level events abroad. Recently, a local team narrowly missed out on a medal at the Africa Student Games in Algeria.

“As Zimbabwe, we have enjoyed success on the international stage. Just recently, Ashley Lupondo represented us at the World Championships held in Austria, competing in both junior and senior categories,” Hanssen said.

Lupondo competes in vaulting — a discipline that combines acrobatics with horsemanship. Hanssen revealed that she could already be ranked as high as 28th in the world, and her coach believes she could reach even greater heights if she trained in Europe, with Holland identified as the most suitable destination.

“Her discipline is called vaulting, which involves acrobatics performed on horseback. We’ve seen strong grassroots participation in South Africa, but we’ve yet to see involvement in Europe,” Hanssen explained.

Equestrian sport has a long-standing history in Zimbabwe, dating back 70 years. Bulawayo celebrated this milestone last week during the 70th edition of the Horse of the Year Show, which once again entertained spectators with traditional disciplines such as dressage and show jumping.

Hanssen believes that hosting more competitions across the continent is essential for the sport’s development, and she is already looking ahead to the 2026 Youth Olympics in Dakar, Senegal.

Another standout at the Africa Student Games was Terry Angelos, who impressed by winning three categories. He described his experience in Algeria as “very positive.”