SIMMENAU RAHIDA – 2012 WAHO Trophy Winner – Namibia

SIMMENAU RAHIDA, grey mare, *2002 (Sidi Jellaby/Simmenau Razna) Breeder: Mrs. S. Lambrechts. Owners: Rinus and Reni Van Der Merwe. Strain: Keheilet Ajuz (Nejdme, 1887)

Simmenau Rahida was entered for the WAHO Trophy and chosen by the Board of the Namibian Arabian Horse Breeders’ Society as the ultimate winner for the year 2012. Rahida is a grey 10-year old mare, bred from the following blood-lines: On her father’s side – Morafic, Ibn Morafic, Ahir and Tuwaisan. On her mother’s side – Laddin, Darius, Robdon Zingari and Vlinkfontein lines. Her proud owners are Rinus and Reni van der Merwe of Atashi Arabians.

Owner Reni van der Merwe takes up the story of Rahida: “Rahida is the horse that made my dreams come true. She has a will of her own. She gives everything because of companionship and definitely not because she has to. She is very temperamental and nervous and needs careful and understanding handling. She has very sound and strong legs and a strong heart with very good pulses. For me she is the example of the perfect endurance horse that I have always dreamed of. If I manage to stay on her back early in the morning with the start of a ride, which luckily I normally do, I know she will finish the ride for me.”Rahida started her endurance career in August 2009, and now has 1,576 competitive endurance kilometers on her book. She represented the Namibian National Senior standard weight team in Walvis Bay 2011, where she was placed 4th, winning the Best Conditioned Horse award, the Best of the Best Conditioned Horse Award and the Spirit of Endurance trophy. In May 2012 she represented the Namibian Senior Standard weight team in Aldam, South Africa, where she finished in 7th place with a good time. In Walvis Bay 2012 she represented the Namibian Senior Standard weight team, finishing in 5th place, winning once more the Best Conditioned Horse award, the Horsemanship award, and the award for the First Registered Arabian Horse with the fastest time.”I am extremely proud of her, the example of horse that perfectly fits into the breeding aims of Atashi Arabians. I am thankful for having the opportunity to posess and ride a horse like her and hope that she will be spared to still be with us for a long time.”

Simmenau Rahida competing at Aldam in 2012
Simmenau Rahida competing at Aldam in 2012

Simmenau Rahida competing at Walvis Bay in 2011
Simmenau Rahida competing at Walvis Bay in 2011