To call the trip to South Africa an unforgettable experience is an understatement. Although some may find the flood of new culture to be jarring, I loved the fresh dose of interesting customs and most importantly: interesting and new horses. The South African Team from the SABAU was extremely hospitable and provided Team Morgan a thrilling experience while on the other side of the world. 

The week started with an exciting trip to Addo Elephant National Park in the Eastern Cape. Starting with the road to the park, on the opposite side of the road by the way, the animals already started to appear. Along the way we started to see Kudu, an exotic animal resembling an antelope with long twisted horns, as well as dozens of majestic ostrich. After taking a peek into the gift shop, we commenced our adventure down the winding road of the park. The first animals we saw were mostly kudu and ostrich, as well as a few warthogs napping lazily in the sun and discreet tortoises hiding in the shade of the underbrush. The highlight of the park came about after approximately an hour of watching kudu, when we came upon a family of elephants. There were a few adults and one calf. The calf was hidden among the brush but came out to inspect the bus from afar after a little while. We then continued to a watering hole, where more elephants were bathing and playing. They were enormous and played very roughly with each other despite their apparent ability to crush almost anything. While driving away from the watering hole, a larger elephant was crossing the road and felt it was fitting to stand in the center of the road, therefore blocking the way out of the reserve. We sat behind the elephant long enough to name him Paul, until Paul finally moved on from the road to continue about his day. The safari was an outstanding experience and gave all of the girls a look into the true majesty of the world outside of our everyday experiences in the United States.

Following our trip to the game park we continued on to our location just outside of Middelburg where we stayed in beautiful farm guesthouses. After an evening of settling in, we went to explore the new show grounds in the morning and tour some of Middelburg. Throughout the week we learned a lot about South african business and agriculture. First we visited Rolfe where we learned about manufacturing conditions and processes in South Africa. The factory made everything from aerosol to vapor rubs. Following the factory tour we visited a quaint South African Cafe where we had a choice of chicken pancakes or special quiche for lunch. The quiche was quite delicious with an interesting combo of spinach and onions. We then visited a leather company that makes saddles and toured the back room to see how the leather products were made. Later in the week we visited an agricultural college named Grootfontein. Grootfontein focuses mainly on sheep and sheep products but they have also been recently researching African Horse Sickness. The Team and guests were fortunate enough to be invited to a private lecture on the topic of African Horse Sickness to learn about Grootfontein and African Horse Sickness. The lecture was extremely interesting and elaborated in detail the causes and symptoms of African Horse Sickness. The tours in Middelburg were highly educational and interesting for the team as well as our host, the SABAU Team.

Also during the week was the main event, competition. On our first day at the show grounds we took a short tour of the grounds and later practiced on our mounts for competition. I rode one Boerperd and one Saddlebred for competition, Zorro and All Thunder. The horses were extremely diverse in both look, type, and difficulty. Our coaches however, Cindy Mugnier and Sarah Gove, were both highly efficient and skilled in perfectly pairing horses and riders. Following a short half-hour practice session on both pools of horses, the competition followed on the next morning. Despite sweltering heat, Team Morgan performed beautifully and proved to be a formidable opponent for the SABAU Team. On the first day of competition, the points remained extremely close, so it was still anyone’s game going into the second day of competition. On the second day Team Morgan performed in world-competitor style again and showed the South Africans how skilled and talented the American equitation riders truly are. When results came out, no one was sure who had won the competition. After the suspense of the ceremony, the SABAU Team came out victorious in the competition. Although the SABAU won in overall points, Team Morgan won the rail work by a landslide. Team Morgan was extremely happy with their efforts in the competition and wore our silver medals proudly about the show grounds for the rest of the day. 

After a week of learning and rigorous competition the Team was happy to get in some relaxing sun-bathing at the beach in Port Elizabeth. While at the beach for the afternoon, the Team had the opportunity to shop around the marketplace where carved statues, art and jewelry riddled the grass on the sides of the boardwalk. The beach however was the main attraction. The beach was extremely soft and although the water was cold, I can now say I have been in the Indian Ocean. 

The trip to South Africa was an ideal mix of learning experiences, beautiful scenery, and intense competition. It was any rider’s dream- beaches, sun, culture, and an array of beautiful new horses to ride. I would encourage every rider to apply for the next Team Morgan event. It was one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life.