Why SIZA?
Sustainable agriculture in South Africa
When the agricultural sector coughs, the whole economy has a cold. Stakeholders and industry partners need to stand together to ensure a healthy, sustainable system that will anticipate transformation for many years to come.
The Sustainability Initiative of South Africa (SIZA) is a programme that works closely within these systems. SIZA was built to ensure compliance with minimum legislative requirements and to promote a better system for those living and working on farms and encompasses the values of South African agriculture as a whole.
Throughout history, various standards and code requirements have aimed to achieve one thing: compliance with accepted standards across the globe. A compliance programme should ensure a foundation of detection, reporting, and prevention methods to ensure an effective system. There are so many compliance requirements these days that can be overwhelming, which brings us to the question: why SIZA?
Firstly, SIZA is local. Informed businesses allow for a more action-driven industry. Apart from providing compliance and technical support on MySIZA, a world-class visibility platform, each profile is monitored and evaluated. Therefore, all 4 000+ SIZA participants and 492 898 agri workers of the farms subscribing to SIZA have the benefit of personal service and support programmes. Each SAQ is reviewed with attentive detail, and 94% of all corrective actions have been resolved successfully. Additional programmes are offered to boost the credibility of an audit: the Best Practice programme showcases practices that go beyond mere compliance, while the Voice For All Programme incorporates SIZA’s toll-free hotline, the WhatsApp line and the social media direct messages to provide a voice to all levels of stakeholders in the supply chain. SIZA feels strongly about generating awareness to markets abroad regarding the landscape of South African agriculture. Markets need to understand our cultures, challenges and everyday practices in South Africa to determine what compliance means for each supplier. We ensure SIZA-approved auditors maintain an understanding of the agricultural landscape, specifically in the local context.
Widely accepted, SIZA assures credibility across the UK, Europe, and USA. To date, SIZA is accepted and recognised by 340+ markets globally. SIZA is an Agri-wide multi-sector organisation representing more than 42 commodities within South Africa. This allows for further capacity building to take place, as SIZA provides training free of charge for all SIZA subscribers.
With continuous improvement being the foundation of the SIZA programme, implementing an environmental standard and a Digital Recordkeeping Programme was the natural next step to assist members with visualising their journey towards environmental sustainability. SIZA has developed this functionality which allows producers to track their performance across the four environmental cornerstones.
SIZA encourages innovation and viable ways of ensuring effective systems that govern best practices across the value chain. All sub-systems form part of the bigger picture, the ideal being continuously improving these systems to ensure a greater, more productive, and sustainable outcome.
Why SIZA? Choose SIZA to ensure your business can monitor and benchmark its ethical and sustainability systems and practices and manage risks to improve productivity within the workforce. It allows for future growth and improvement whilst accessing global markets.
Bring on the dancing horses
Meet South Africa’s amazing Lipizzaners
The Lipizzaner is one of the oldest domesticated breeds of horse still existing in the world today. They were purpose-bred for battle, making them the iconic war-horse of the Middle Ages. The Lipizzaner breed was established in 1562 when the Hapsburgs began breeding Spanish horses in Lipica, a village in what is now Slovenia. It was the need for military horses of unusual strength, loyalty and courage that inspired them to import Spanish, Italian and Arab-Oriental horses for their breeding programme. Out of this grew the famous white horse – the Lipizzan (or Lipizzaner) – as we know it today.
Noble bloodlines
Lipizzaners are almost always exclusively grey as adults despite being born black or dark brown. On the stud farm, the dark foals stand in stark contrast to the silvery-white sheen of their mothers. As a Lipizzaner ages they gradually lighten until, usually by around 8 to 9 years of age, they adopt their characteristic white coat. Interestingly, some Lipizzaners will remain a dark brown colour their entire life. The very rare colour is a throwback to their ancestry and considered an omen of good fortune. We are very lucky to have three at the South African Lipizzaner Centre. There are six classical stallion bloodlines (Conversano, Maestoso, Pluto, Siglavy, Neapolitano and Favory) and more than 22 mare families in the Lipizzaner breeding registry. It is imperative that one puts the best combinations of mares and stallions together to uphold the breed characteristics. At the South African Lipizzaner Centre we have representatives from all 6 classical stallion lines. At our stud farm we have mares from the Erczel, Czirka and Allegra bloodlines, the former two bloodlines being absent from breeding populations outside of South Africa.
An epic journey from Hungary to South Africa
The South African Lipizzaners’ journey to South Africa began in Hungary, on the familial Lipizzaner breeding farm of Count Jankovic-Besan. During the Second World War, with the invasion of Hungary by advancing forces of the Red Army imminent, Count Jankovic-Besan made a life-changing decision. He could not, and would not, allow his beloved Lipizzaner horses to fall into enemy hands. He strapped them to carts and to carriages, and set out one night in the deadening cold of a winter snowfall taking his family with him. He faced seemingly insurmountable odds but his courage and determination drove him onwards covering a distance of hundreds of kilometers. In war-torn Europe, starving families were turning to any source to keep their children fed. To prevent them from being eaten, he painted the gleaming white coats of his Lipizzaners with oil and paraffin so that they appeared dreadful and inedible. The disguise worked and eventually their sorrowful party arrived in Bavaria, Germany with renewed hope. From Bavaria, Count Jankovic-Besan was able to arrange safe passage for his family and his herd to Dorset in England where they stayed for two years before securing a place aboard a ship headed for the shores of South Africa. Late in 1948 they disembarked at Durban Harbour and started anew in Mooi River, KwaZulu Natal.
Years later in 1956, at the Royal Agricultural Show in Pietermaritzburg, Count Jankovic-Besan met another refugee from Soviet rule, ex-Polish Cavalry Officer Major George Iwanowksi. Recognising a true horseman, they began a discussion in the only language common to them both, a stunted version of Yiddish. At the conclusion of this chance encounter Count Jankovic-Besan awarded Major George Iwanowski Maestoso Erdem to train. The Major bought a small piece of land in Kyalami Johannesburg and began developing an equestrian centre and riding academy. Gradually he built up a team of performance stallions and riders until he was able to travel country-wide giving small demonstrations and displays. At one such event, Colonel Hans Handler, Chief Rider of the Spanish Riding School in Vienna, Austria, recognised a Lipizzaner stallion in the most unlikely of places. And the circle was complete. With new training input from the SRS, a heap of passion and a fledgling of a performance team Major George Iwanowski put all the pieces in place. The indoor hall at 1 Dahlia Road, Kyalami was constructed through the efforts of a hard-working community and the very first Sunday performance was formally opened by Colonel Hans Handler himself in 1971. The indoor hall, the first of its kind in South Africa, still stands today and it is in this very building that we used to host the public for our performances. The Lipizzaners have now moved to their new home just outside Paarl, Western Cape. The legacy and incredible stories of Count Jankovic-Besan and Major George Iwanowksi live on in the South African Lipizzaners. We owe all the characters of our epic tale a huge debt of gratitude for their courage and determination without which we would not be where we are today. We live on as an NPO, and even though times are often hard, it is impossible for us not to keep writing the next chapter. Our work is dedicated to the preservation of the magnificent Lipizzaner horse in South Africa, and our training follows the strict principles and traditions of classical dressage and the haute ècole. Classical training is a historical, systematic approach passed down through generations of equestrian masters, with the goal of achieving absolute harmony with the horse. Our public performances exemplify the harmonious connection between a horse and their rider through carefully choreographed routines set to music; an unparalleled cultural experience. We are a Non-Profit Organisation; our tireless efforts are what keeps the now 76 -year legacy of the Lipizzaner horse in South Africa alive.
Battlefield training techniques
The South African Lipizzaners are trained in the art of high school riding and classical dressage also known as Haute école which in turn began as a method of improving manoeuvrability during mounted battle. For many centuries, wars were fought and won from the back of the horse. Having a highly schooled, talented and strong mount capable of moving swiftly and obediently sideways as well as forwards at speed certainly offered a unique advantage over an enemy. Furthermore, horses were trained in other movements, for example the Capriole, Courbette, Pesade and Levade, designed for the sole purpose of transforming the horse into a weapon of war. Though these movements are no longer used in open warfare, they are still trained at the South African Lipizzaner Centre for their pure aesthetic value and are a main feature of our performances. The Lipizzaners are all trained according classical dressage principles and each Lipizzaner is trained to the pace of the individual horse allowing them to learn at a pace they are most comfortable in. Watching them perform these movements is to experience history in motion, as the dancing stallions showcase a variety of movements such as the half-pass, flying change, piaffe, levade and the crowd favourite Capriole. To see them for yourself, visit us at NAMPO Kaap 2024.
Health and wellness
The health and well-being of the Lipizzaners are of utmost importance. The horses receive specialized care to ensure they remain in peak condition. This includes a diet tailored to their needs, regular check-ups from physios, vets, farriers and dentists, and a well-maintained living environment to ensure their welfare and happiness. The South African Lipizzaners are cared for by an extensive in-house team of staff as well as outside experts to treat them. Our incredible team of grooms take care of the horses on a daily basis, the grooms are all managed by our Barn Manager who ensures an individualised program for each horse ensuring their maximum welfare and happiness. The horses are trained by our carefully selected in-house riding and performance team, this team consists of our red riders, trainees and students. The Lipizzaners are also cared for by an expert team of physios, farriers, dentists and vets to ensure their welfare and comfort at all times. The entire team of caregivers work tirelessly to ensure the horse’s happiness and welfare, ensuring they are treated like the world class athletes they are.
Lipizzaner youth development program
One of the most inspiring aspects of the South African Lipizzaners is their commitment in educating the youth to ensure the future. This has been made possible by the FirstRand Youth Development Student Program, which aims to nurture young talent and provide opportunities for underprivileged youth to engage with the world of classical dressage and horsemanship. Through the program, participants receive comprehensive training and mentorship from experienced riders and trainers. The goal is to foster not only equestrian skills but also life skills such as discipline, responsibility, and teamwork. The program has already made a significant impact, opening doors for many young South Africans and igniting a passion for horses that might otherwise have remained undiscovered.
Where to see the show
The South African Lipizzaners perform regularly at Mistico Equestrian Centre located just outside of Paarl in the Western Cape, with shows typically held on weekends and special occasions. Located just a short drive from Cape Town, Mistico Equestrian Centre offers a perfect setting for the South African Lipizzaners. This premier equestrian facility is renowned for its state-of-the-art amenities and stunning natural surroundings, making it an ideal destination for both equestrian events and leisure visits. Mistico Equestrian Centre boasts beautifully maintained arenas, top-notch stabling facilities, and scenic restaurant that allow visitors to fully immerse themselves in the equestrian world. The venues picturesque landscape, complete with safe parking, indoor arenas, an on-site restaurant and generator ensures the continuity of performances no matter the weather. Tickets can be purchased online at www.lipizzaners.co.za or at the venue, with options for group bookings and special events. Be sure to check the schedule on the South African Lipizzaners website for the latest performance dates and times. The Lipizzaner performance team also regularly travels country-wide to perform for crowds in every province, and in various events such as weddings, expos, product launches and year-end functions to name but a few. The South African Lipizzaners are excited to once again be adding NAMPO Kaap to our exciting list of events for 2024, the Dancing White Stallions can be seen Wednesday to Friday at 10:00 and 14:00 and on Saturday at 10:00.
Ride a Lipizzaner
The South African Lipizzaners offer seat-improving lunge lessons, learning position on the lunge being a major part of our student program curriculum. We pride ourselves on our lunging technique and riders are specifically trained to detect and correct faults in a rider’s position from the ground. From happy-hackers to serious dressage riders, all are welcome. Lessons are personally tailored to suit your and develop your current ability while focusing on your desired outcome. The best thing, of course, is that lungeing lessons offer you the chance to ride a Lipizzaner stallion!
How to support SA Lippizaners
During the seventy plus years that the Lipizzaners have been in South Africa, they have, and still do, experience difficult times. The team is without a major sponsor and has set up various patrons programs, both corporate and private, in an attempt to raise money and preserve the future of the Lipizzaners here in South Africa.
- • If you are interested in supporting us, do come and talk to us or reach out to us via phone, email or social media and we can give you information on:
- • How to become a volunteer at the South African Lipizzaners, we are always on the lookout for people who can volunteer their time and expertise from announcing to painting and simply helping us spread the word.
- • How to become one of our very valued HORSE SPONSORS by sponsoring one of our performance horses here at the Centre or our mares and foals on our Stud Farm. It costs upwards of R3, 000 to keep a horse for a month and for our sponsorship Programme We ask a minimum of R1, 000 per month for a year or longer.
- • How to become a major corporate sponsor, aiding in the preservation of the Lipizzaner here in South Africa and helping us to continue ensuring the future through education.
To support us in a very simple way, fill in a My School Card Application Form at no cost to you. When you shop at participating stores, a percentage of the proceeds is allocated to the Lipizzaners.
In conclusion, a visit to see the South African Lipizzaners at Mistico Equestrian Centre or NAMPO Kaap 2024 is more than just a show – it is an immersive experience that combines history, art, and nature. Whether you are an equestrian aficionado or simply looking for a unique and enchanting outing, this is an opportunity not to be missed. Come and be part of the magic, and let the elegance of the Lipizzaners leave you spellbound. By attending a performance, you are supporting the preservation of the Lipizzaner tradition in South Africa. Your visit helps ensure that this beautiful art form continues to thrive for future generations to enjoy.
Jhan-Mari van den Berg, Rider & SA Lipizzaners Public Relations Manager
Contact Information
Website: www.lipizzaners.co.za
Email: stallion@lipizzaners.co.za
Phone: 079 716 4792
Book tickets via Quicket: https://www.quicket.co.za/
