Kelly Searle

Kelly started riding at the age of three when she got her first pony, a 20 something Shetland called Mary. At nine years old, Kelly's riding success started when she got her four year old thoroughbred pony The Jazz Man. Kelly produced The Jazz Man up to CA Show jumping, children's intermediate eventing, open equitation, open showing as well as elementary dressage. They represented Eastern Cape in all 5 disciplines, won the Eastern Cape Championships in all five disciplines as well as the Western Province Children's Eventing Championships in 2001.

Junior Career

In 2002 Kelly's partnership with Equi-Feeds started when she acquired the ride on Equi-Feeds Eastern Eagle where she won the Western Province Junior Eventing Championships and made the Eastern Cape Eventing team.

In 2003 her success with a four year old thoroughbred Equi-Feeds Strictly Cash, fresh off the track, started and prospered. Kelly and Cash won numerous junior provincial eventing championships followed by adult provincial eventing championships, as well as representing Eastern Cape in Junior show jumping, eventing and equitation teams. Kelly also made the Eastern Cape showing team on her mom's horse Equi-Feeds North Wind where they achieved Reserve Working Showing Horse at the South African Junior Champs in 2005.

A big highlight in Kelly's career was representing South Africa in their young riders eventing team in 2005. The event was held in Karkloof, Natal against a British and an Out of Africa Team. Team South Africa won the team event with Kelly and her horse Equi-Feeds Strictly Cash achieving a fifth in the individual.

In 2009 Kelly and Cash were selected for the South African Eventing Training squad for the 2010 World Equestrian Games. They were successfully competing at three star level in eventing and show jumping 1.30m.

A New Partnership 

Kelly bought Equi-Feeds Ultra Montani Ganesh in 2007; an unbacked, newly gelded, five year old Namibian Warmblood. Together they have had a very successful career up to date, with them competing up to three star eventing level and being selected for the South African Eventing Training Squad for 2012 London Olympics.

In 2014 Kelly decided to stop eventing Ganesh and to concentrate more on his show jumping. This decision proved to be a huge success when they won the 2014 South African Galencia Micro Derby out of 73 competitors.

Kelly is currently in the UK for four months and is riding part-time with renowned British show jumper Tim Stockdale. When she returns to South Africa in August 2015, Kelly plans to take Ganesh and her new young thoroughbred Just Al to Johannesburg to compete, with her goal of riding Ganesh in the 1.40m SA Derby in October 2015.

Equi-Feeds Strictly Cash competing at the Western Province 2014 Eventing Championships

Equi-Feeds Strictly Cash in the dressage phase of the CIC** Natal Champs in 2012

Vital Stats

Birthday: 3 November 1987

Based: Cape Town, RSA

No. Horses on Yard: 6 currently at my parents farm in George

Kelly's Top Tips

1. Always be professional

2. Remember you are riding an animal with its own mind and feelings - horses are not machines!

3. Always enjoy your horses and your riding. It's supposed to be fun!