offered him a job and he started as a groom, later becoming assistant trainer while attending night classes at the University.
Martin gives a clinic in the United Kingdom, 1999
Martin working at Jan Lukens, 2000
In 1994, he graduated with a Bachelor of Education degree and started his horse training career in earnest, opening Misty Hills Stables in Bloemfontein. Some of the riders with whom he had the privilege of working during his time at Misty Hills were Chrisan Marais, Nadine Lourens, Alfie Cockrell, Elisabeth Pieterse and Lindy van Straaten and Marguerite and Germa Wessels. Some of his favorite horses were Mexicano (Guess Who), Miss Lande, Waltzing Maria, The Fire Fox and Flakes Of Fire. In 1996, Martin received a job offer from the Potgieter family in Upington and there started the new adventure Do-Try Stables. For the next eight years riders such as Bennie, Marietjie and Jodene Potgieter, Stephan Boshoff, Ansa van der Westhuizen and her family, Dewald Stander, Chane Swart, Nicola du Toit, Jacques Viviers, Heinrich en Wilma-re Human all showed under the Do-Try banner. It was during this time that he started the future South African Grand Champion Fine Harness horse, Valley-Venture Walking Tall. Other horses that became South African Champions under Martin’s direction were The Flight Captain, General Jackson, Johnny Bravo, Matter Of Honour, Miss Kokomo, SiSi Affirmative Action, Valley-Venture Sporting Sparkle, and Rolling Thunder. Martin stresses what a big influence his time working in America had on his training career. He was fortunate that the owners of Do-Try stables and his clients afforded him the opportunity to go to the United States every two years to further hone his skills. He worked under the tutelage of famous trainers like Jan Lukens, Anne Judd, Jo Cornell, Rob and Sarah Byers and Melissa Moore.
Stephen and his mom, Johanna Boshoff - World Cup, 2000
Martin also had the opportunity to go judge and teach at clinics in the United Kingdom. Friends Lynn Jarvis and Caroline Lockhart made the UK ventures possible. In 2004, Martin moved to Cape Town where he took the job as head trainer for Heyns Stables. Here Martin had the
Blouberg Strand
Martin, Johan & Barendeen Potgieter, Owners of Do-Tr y Stables
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