AT five she could barely balance on the back of a horse, but after falling in love with this majestic animal when she was only three, this little girl sat wide-legged on Lisa’s back, determined to start lessons.
Today, it is no surprise that Chazelle Smith is one of the Eastern Cape – and Nelson Mandela Bay’s – top performing equestrians, and the youngest equestrian to be awarded her Junior Protea colours by South African Showjumping.
This 14-year-old became only the 64th equestrian to be awarded national colours – and also the youngest, at age 12.
Chazelle, a Grade 8 learner at St Dominic’s Priory, has been flying South Africa’s flag high since she first started competing professionally in 2018, when she was nine.
In her first national competition, hosted by the South African National Equestrian Schools Association (SANESA) where she represented the province for all disciplines, she was named Victrix Ludorum for the Top Overall Rider in her category, on her pony Eric.
In 2019, she was selected for the development programme of Eventing South Africa and trained at Kaapschehoop with trail horses, under the skilled hand of the legendary Patric Brown, who recently tragically passed away whilst training his horse.
The following year Smith also represented the country in the African Nations Cup in Zimbabwe, where she won the individual pony class with her fearless pony Scarface, and was awarded her South African Equestrian Federation national colours.
The young athlete continued to compete at open level and has claimed, among others, the following titles over the past few years: Eastern Cape Champion in Open Showjumping Ponies and Open Showing Ponies as well as Reserve Champion in Equitation Ponies.
She also received two nominations by different provincial sports federations for the Eastern Cape Sport and Recreation Awards for the Sports Star of the Year, no small achievement for the then 13-year-old.
Last month at the provincial championships, Smith won the Eastern Cape Open Pony Champion title on Highover, Maria and Reserve Champion on Rideaway, Topaz.
Chazelle’s proud mother, Charine, said her daughter first fell in love with horses during a beach ride at a family holiday in Mozambique when she was a toddler.
“She rode one of the horses which were abandoned by fleeing farmers when Rhodesia fell.
More than 100 horses were saved and ultimately ended on a beach in Vilanculos, Mozambique. Returning from the holiday, she begged for lessons with singular-minded persistence.
“Starting with school, and now on Bukkenburg, Thandi, she participated in Dressage, Showing, Equitation and Showjumping and over time grew in strength, skill and also a number of horses,” Smith explained.
Through all of this Chazelle is more concerned about the happiness and well-being of her horses than the accolades, and would much rather spend a day with them in a paddock than in a mall.
“Horses have been my best friends and kept my secrets. They taught me diligence and dedication, and through the many failures I have learnt to savour even the smallest successes. I have also learnt that everything is a process, with results coming only with regular hard work,” said Chazelle.
When asked about achievements, she is quick to point out that she fell off her horses far more than winning on them.
“One day you are on top of the world and the only guarantee that you have is that you will soon be humbled with your butt in the mud,” she added.
“This sport is a difficult one, as it requires both athletes, the rider and the horse, to be mentally, emotionally and physically trained,” added Smith.
“A connection between rider and horse is required without communication mishaps, in order to steer an independent-minded flight animal, at least 10 times the weight of its rider, across a course that he/she is hardwired to be suspicious of.
“It is therefore a marvel to see these beautiful animals take flight over a showjumping course.
“Winning requires all of that in both horse and rider to come together in an exact moment,” she added.
Chazelle is currently training for her next show at PE Riding Club on June 16 to June 18.
