Our Valuable Team Members
After a few years in the private sector, Grant re-joined the SADF’s Potchefstroom Equestrian Centre as a farrier and, later, officer-in-charge of the Military Veterinary Institute. While there he completed the Advanced Riding Course and was awarded provincial colours in Dressage and Polocrosse. He returned to the private sector as a farrier and riding instructor until the passing of his wife, Barbara, after which he took up his current position as Callaho’s Stud Manager.
Besides 34 years’ experience in farriery as a qualified Master Farrier and Instructor, Grant is also a Level Two Riding Instructor in Show Jumping, Eventing and Polocrosse and a Level Three Instructor in Dressage. He also carries an IGEQ (International Group for Equestrian Qualifications) Equestrian Passport at these levels. He is a National A Panel Dressage Judge, and has done courses in equine artificial insemination and equine dentistry. His interests include adventure motor cycling, archery, hunting and sport shooting especially wingshooting with his German Short Haired Pointers. Grant has two sons, Dwayne, who also practices farriery, and Kyle who is a software developer, both excellent horsemen – as well as a grandson, Mathew, who has also inherited his grandfather’s passion for horses and the outdoors.
Marike is an integral part of the Callaho team and she is a walking database of all the horses to be found at the stud and even those sold off over the years.
Marike has completed the Argus Cycling Tour and is an avid reader. In her spare time she does Warmblood genetic and pedigree research and loves riding her stud horse, Le Grand.
Shadrack has worked in all of the different sections at Callaho, thus making him the most versatile and experienced staff member. His favourite section is breeding, where he currently assists in addition to his management duties.
Ace is married with two children- a boy of 4 years and a girl of 7, and enjoys soccer and watching movies. Shadrack is one of the happiest, most positive members of the team, and although firm he is also very fair. He is well liked and respected by all of the Callaho staff members.
After school, Carrie worked as a rider at Saratoga Stud in the KZN midlands where she was able to develop not only her riding skills (backing and working with young warmbloods), but also grew her interest in the breeding aspect of a stud farm. Carrie worked close handed with coverings, foals and all sorts of injuries and illnesses and that’s how she figured out that this was more than just a job for her – it was her passion. She worked her way up to stable manager for Saratoga and was part of the team for four years, after which working for another breeder in the midlands in the Western discipline.
Carrie started as Team Callaho’s Stable Assistant Manager in March 2019 and is responsible for looking after all the external/veld horses, as well as overseeing the day to day handling of the foals, weanlings and young horses. In her spare time, Carrie is an avid reader, loves riding and also enjoys working with and training her young Belgian shepherd, Gibbs.
In May, 2019 Cherricka joined the Callaho family as Head of Administration, thrown into the deep end two months before the 11th Annual Auction. Cherricka however, is always up for the challenge bringing an element of fun and organisation to the team. Cherricka enjoys spending her free time with her close family and friends.
Johnny was born in the small town of Hoopstad, in the Free State. He was educated in the local school in Christiana and at Grey College, and was always passionate about caring for people and animals. During his 2006 school holiday Johnny worked part-time at Callaho as a member of the veld or field team, which oversees all horses outside of the training section and performs post-veterinary nursing care. A year later he was offered a full-time position as assistant stable manager, a position he held until 2012 when he was promoted to the position of medical manager.
Johnny enjoys the outdoors, meeting new people and making friends, as well as participating in novel activities. He also enjoys travel and spending time with his own animals, of which his Friesians are his pride and joy.
Bennie is married to Flora, who also works at Callaho, and together they have two beautiful children. In 2006 Bennie started his career at Callaho and has successfully worked his way up to Assistant Maintenance Manager. Bennie is responsible for maintaining safe fencing for all the horses as well as the daily upkeep of camps and arenas. He is the go-to guy for most things and is a valuable member of the team.
In his off time he likes to spend time with his family and is very passionate about playing soccer.
After matriculating at Hoërskool Overkruin in Pretoria she followed her equine love affair by completing the Equine Science National Diploma at Tshwane University of Technology. Tani had the fantastic opportunity to do part of her practical year at Burlington Stables under the watchful eyes of Anna-Marie Esslinger and David Wilken.
To complete the breeding aspect of her practical year another lifelong dream came true when she joined Callaho Warmblood Stud as a work rider!
In 2018 she became Assistant Training Manager at Callaho. Being at Callaho also triggered a keen passion in the breeding aspect on the farm and she was fortunate enough to learn under the guidance of Grant Store and Dr Nico Hendrikz. She is now assisting in all breeding aspects at the Stud.
Tani is a qualified Provincial Level 2 course designer under the mentorship of Anna-Marie Esslinger. She is an enthusiastic showjumper and applied her skills up to 1.2m level.
Lucas speaks English, Afrikaans, and of course his native tongue Setswana, fluently and has two sons (three and seven years of age).
He enjoys reading and listening to the radio, especially with regards to news and current affairs. He is also an avid soccer fan.
Riaan joined the Callaho Team in January 2019. His interest include Fishing – Salt and Fresh Water as well as Golfing. He also loves spending time with his family. Riaan is married to Sue Ann for 24 years now and they have 2 sons Matthew the oldest – 4th year Medicine Student at the University of Cape Town and Kyle who is in Matric and planning to do a BSC Degree at Stellenbosch University from 2020.
Ivana learned to ride under the careful tuition of top South African Showjumper, Grant Langley, where she represented Kwa Zulu Natal as a junior on both her horses. After school, Ivana completed her degree in Interior Design from Greenside Design Centre with distinction and later graduated from the Gordon Institute of Business Science with her PDBA where her she learned to combine her skills of marketing and love of horses.
Today Ivana is part of Team Callaho as the Marketing and Communications Manager. Throughout her studies, Ivana and Callaho’s Carnaval La Silla placed successfully up to the open level until his recent retirement. Ivana is now producing her young horses and enjoying the journey with them.
After high school, Annette began to focus her skills in schooling and backing young horses and joined the Callaho Team in 2017 in pursuit of higher levels of training and horsemanship. Now Team Callaho’s Training Manager, Annette is responsible for the daily progress of our young horses and is integral to the preparation of our horses for the Annual Callaho Auction from the backing stage.
Rainer has been involved with Callaho since 2004 and has competed and trained many wonderful Callaho horses in this time. Some favourites are definitely the stud’s stallion, Con Coriano (Contender/Coriano), who jumped up to Grand Prix level and Lansink (Lissabon/Pilot) that has won more than ten major titles in his career to date. Lansink was ranked as the top 1.35m horse in 2019 and our highlight was winning the 1.40m Burlington Cup Championships. He is also producing the very exciting young stallion, Cartier (Casall/Corrado I), for Callaho stud.
Rainer’s achievements include winning the Burlington Cup in 2009 & 2012, winning the SA Riders Championships in 2013, winning the 2018 Midrand World Cup Qualifier and the 2019 South African Derby. Rainer has consistently been in the top 10 SA Rider rankings the last couple of years.
Carl has been riding for Callaho for 13 years and currently competes on Callaho stallions Corinth and Casparon. His greatest achievements have been to win the Burlington Cup in 2012, the 1* event at ICB, Northern Farms and Shongweni, and being placed 3rd at the 2* event at Oaksprings. He competed in his first Derby on Cardoso WH in 2014 and was 3rd on the Podium with Callaho’s Casparon at their Derby debut in 2019.
Show jumping is a passion and an ambition for Govett and he has been riding most of his life, having competed at international level (1m50) for 14 years. Most recently on Wolke 334, Callaho’s Kadice van de Pitsemburg and Callaho’s Crabat 9. Making his way up the grades and now having debuted in the open classes with Govett is Callaho’s up and coming young stallion, Larison.
Govett’s major recent show jumping achievements include: Winning both the 2020 Riders’ Grand Prix Gold Tours at Stokkiesdraai Cup and the Reonet Riders’ Gand Prix. Represented South Africa on the Nations Cup Team in Denmark 2018 and has won and placed in multiple World cup Qualifiers in South Africa including Stokkiesdraai WCQ and KPC WCQ.
Lara competed and represented Western Province Equitation and Show-jumping as a child and junior rider and Gauteng open show-jumping as an adult with a myriad of Championship and Grand Prix victories in the open divisions. In 2005 she spent time riding with Swiss Showjumper, Beat Mandli, where she gained valuable experience. Lara has been riding for Callaho for 3 years and currently competes on Callaho mare Consuri (Con Coriano /Simply/Ussuri) and Callaho Stallion Equinox (Numero Uno/ Vigo D’Arsouilles/Jalisco B). Her other horses include Ultimo WC and Tallulah D.
In 2011, Günther joined the Callaho Team and was appointed as Manager of Zuchthof Hollen, Callaho’s breeding nucleus in Bremen, North Germany. Together with his wife, Bettina and a small team, there are around 20 mares in breeding each year with a collection of 60 to 80 horses growing in the pastures, training or in sport at Zuchthof Hollen.