The high calibre of the annual Horse & Wine Festival presented by Land Rover Durban is evident by the number of top class retailers that will be in attendance at the Shongweni Club on 9 July from 10am to 10pm.
“Visitors are really in for a treat at this year’s premium country fair,” said Shelly Moore of the Shongweni Club. “Alongside the entertaining equestrian action performed by Shongweni’s top riders, there will be fabulous wines available for tasting, a host of family friendly pursuits as well as some of KwaZulu-Natal’s best retailers offering quality food, beverages and craft goods.”
Food and beverage vendors that will be participating in the festival include Nosh, Urban Bistro, Candy Pop, Coffee Guys, Heavenly Hamburgers, Shezy Craft Beer, Donut Hit, Distillery 031, Wilderkranz and the Olive Lady. Visitors will also be drawn to the variety of craft and accessories’ stalls including Glass Beads, Dog Beds, My Hands Free, Romaine Baker Leather Goods and Handmade with Luv. There will also be a number of great exhibitions by renowned country brands such as John Deere.
For the first time ever, the Horse & Wine Festival welcomes the internationally acclaimed South African Lipizzaners who will be performing at 6.30pm on Friday, 8 July, the night before the festival. This show – which everyone should get to see at least once in a lifetime – involves an elegant dressage performance by highly bred horses and their trainers. The South African extension is the only Lipizzaner show outside of Vienna that is affiliated to the Spanish Riding School. Gates open at 5.00pm. There will be a special combo ticket price for those wanting to attend the Lipizzaner show and the Horse & Wine Festival. The show is highly in demand with tickets selling out fast so make sure to book early as no tickets are sold on the day. Bookings through www.itickets.co.za
This year will also see some rhythmic entertainment with the Musical Kur Dressage which will be elegantly performed to accompaniment by the Crawford and North Coast philharmonic orchestra while high speed polocrosse display by Shongweni Polocrosse Club are also not to be missed.
In addition to the equestrian delights, there will be a number of fun competitions within the arena held throughout the day on 9 July with some fantastic prizes to be won. Entries for the Children and Pony Fancy Dress Competition are available via the Durban Shongweni Club website and the winner of this will be awarded with a family weekend to Rockwood Lodges as well as the use of a Land Rover Discovery 4 for the weekend, valued at R35 000. For those who don’t have a pony but would like to enter with any other pet – be it dog, sheep or pig – they are welcome to do so!
Other competitions include the Barrel Racing Competition being run by Natal Turn & Burn Club under the SAWMGA (South African Western Mounted Games Association) the with a R2 500 prize for winner and R1 000 for runner-up, as well as the Speed and 4 Bar Competition which offers a whopping R10 000 prize money.
Land Rover Durban will also be getting involved in the contests with the Land Rover Durban Ride and Drive. Here show jumpers and Land Rovers race across an intricate obstacle course for the prize of R5 000.
For the canine lovers out there, don’t miss out on the superb demonstrations performed by the K9 Police Dog Unit and well as a canine agility display by Australian Cattle Dog, China, one of the competitors gearing up to compete in the 2016 World Championships.
Children will also be kept occupied throughout the day in the Kiddies Play Zone as well with jumping castles, tractor and pony rides.
Any exhibitors or traders wanting to participate in the event can email Romaine Baker at rbaker433@gmail.com or contact Tamaryn Ward (0823643090) or at tamward1.pvt@gmail.com to book a stall.
Ticket prices:
For the Horse & Wine Festival presented by Land Rover Durban, the entrance fee is R50 for adults, R20 for children under 12 years and R125 for a family package (two adults and two children under 12 years).
For the SA Lipizzaner show, the ticket price is R160 for adults, R100 for pensioners and children under 12 years.
For the combo ticket (Horse &Wine Festival and Lipizzaner show), the ticket price is R200 for adults, R120 for pensioners and children under 12 years.
Tickets are available through www.itickets.co.za
Competition entries through the Shongweni Club shana@shongweniclub.co.za or 031 7681251
Arena programme:
Friday 8 July: South African Lipizzaners starts at 6.30pm (gates open at 5pm)
Saturday 9 July: Horse & Wine Festival presented by Land Rover Durban valued at R25 000. Gates open at 10am and there is plenty of free onsite parking.
11am: Children and Pony Fancy Dress competition. Contact shana@shongweniclub.co.za for entries on 031 768 1251.
12pm: Dressage Musical Kur accompanied by Crawford and North Coast Philharmonic Orchestra
1pm: Polocrosse Display by Shongweni Polocrosse Club
2pm: Western Riding/Barrel Racing Competition (Contact Candice on 084 668 3737 for entries)
3pm: K9 Police Dog Unit Display and Dog Agility
4pm: Team Land Rover Durban v Team Shongweni Club ride and drive event
5pm: Speed and 4 Bar competition