Pondarosa Venue – Information Guide

Eventing SA members have asked for more information of the Pondarosa Eventing facility. There has been a lot of development at the venue over the last 5 years, and these notes are designed to encourage new riders to the venue.

Following our recent event we received the following wonderful endorsement from Anita Haltman.

Pondarosa is a fabulous winter eventing venue, set in the rolling hillsides of Nelspruit. It offers the best going, warm winter weather (significantly warmer than Jhb.) and professional quality x-country set in our unparalleled African scenery. Since last year Sean has added two spacious showers at the show grounds, considerably extended the jump arena, which now has its own warm up area, found awesome sponsors and built show horse stalls out of really solid timber. The x-country has its own massive warm up area large enough for riders to choose to warm up on level or sloping ground. Courses from 60cm-1m were all very appropriate and rode well. Great water complex available with easy routes to encourage young horses and riders. Weather you want to trot around quietly over inviting fences or train more experienced horses over interesting up-and-down good going, Pondarosa offers genuine country training.

Paramedics were at the ready; catering was at arenas on Saturday but moved to x-country area on Sunday; braai packs were available for the Saturday evening braai (warm lowveld weather made this very pleasant) and fabulous prize money and gifts from generous sponsors. This is definitely going to be a favourite venue for me and I encourage riders at all levels to make this their getaway destination for winter

And from Beverly Schutte

Thank you MPE & to Pondarosa for another memorable event.

Thank you to Sean, the venue, Sandra for fabulous catering, all the helpers, organizers, fetcher’s & carriers. To all the other competitors making an awesome event, to Nelspruit hospitality,

Thank you for super facilities, we didn’t want for a thing, to a well organized & planned event, great tracks as usual, for putting up with us GP’ers.

Thank you to all our friends in Nelspruit, old & new ones. We had a great weekend, and will miss you all till the next one. Thank you for a fabulous evening on Saturday and to Helen for the yummy salads.

Thank you to all the awesome sponsors, so many to mention, for your kindness & your dedication to eventing & making it all worth while

Thank you once again… See you all soon!

And from Lizette Prinsloo

Hi Sean, Trudi, Rene and all the others who made this event possible. We had an awesome weekend with you guys. This event was well planned and we enjoyed every moment. The jumping, dressage and the country was lovely. My daughter loved the country jumps, it was inviting and well placed to make a nice going course the horses loved it. We will definately see you next year again. Just want to congratulate all of you for the most amazing event. Till we see you next year again.

Here are some photos of the different facilities

Dressage arena

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10154828659487565&set=p.10154828659487565&type=3&theater

Catering facilities at the top arenas

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10154828674332565&set=p.10154828674332565&type=3&theater

Ablution facilities

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10154828677407565&set=p.10154828677407565&type=3&theater

20 on site show stables, there are day camps available close to the show jumping and dressage arenas, catering and camping area, and there are more day camps down at the bottom of the property close to the cross country course. There are plans to increase the number of show stables available on site, and there are additional stables available a short walk down the road.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10154828680667565&set=p.10154828680667565&type=3&theater

80m * 45m show jumping arena, well covered with sand throughout. Drains well in a downpour.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10154828684522565&set=p.10154828684522565&type=3&theater

Showers with HOT running water

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10154828703772565&set=p.10154828703772565&type=3&theater

Thank you to all our friends in Nelspruit, old & new ones. We had a great weekend, and will miss you all till the next one. Thank you for a fabulous evening on Saturday, and to Helen for the yummy salads . . . Thank you to all the awesome sponsors, so many to mention, for your kindness & your dedication to eventing & making it all worth while.

Thank you once again. . . See you all soon!