Invitation
Nottingham Road, RSA
Nottingham Road is situated in the heart of the beautiful KwaZulu Natal Midlands, in a scenic landscape of rolling hills. It lies approximately 60km north of Pietermaritzburg.
Pietermaritzburg was founded in 1836 by the Voortrekkers and named after Gerrit Maritz and Piet Retief. The first white settlers in the Midlands were the Voortrekkers, who began leaving the area when Britain annexed the Boer Republic of Natalia in 1843. Nottingham Road itself was named after the Nottinghamshire Regiment stationed in the area in 1856 during the building of Fort Nottingham. The fort and some of the early buildings can be seen today at the Fort Nottingham Museum. In 1880, work on the Durban-Johannesburg railway began, but the station was over 30km from the original fort and the settlement moved more towards the station, which is Nottingham Road today. The station transformed the town and area, enabling farmers to transport goods to and from Pietermaritzburg.
Today there are quaint little taverns, historic landmarks, stud farms and sheep farms dating back to the pioneering days. So, there is much for visitors to do and see.
Nottingham Road, RSA
Content courtesy of Nottingham Road Tourism
Tucked away in the heart of the picturesque KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, Nottingham Road is more than just a charming village — it is a vibrant hub of equestrian excellence, from elite breeding to world-class equestrian sport and horse racing.
This region offers multiple disciplines, including Racing, Showjumping, Dressage, Eventing, Polo, Polocrosse, and Western Riding. Polo in particular, has deep roots here — dating back to 1886 with the founding of the Dargle Polo Club, South Africa’s first civilian polo club. The tradition continues through the esteemed Lions River and Karkloof Polo Clubs.
In horse racing, the most famous Midlands thoroughbred son is Jet Master — bred in Mooi River by Hugh Jonsson. With seventeen wins (including 7 Group 1 races), he became one of South Africa’s most influential thoroughbred sires, producing champions like Pocket Power.
The Midlands stands for equestrian excellence and continues to produce top horses across all major disciplines.
Equestrian Centres:
Newly launched in Fort Nottingham, Waterwoods is a state-of-the-art venue set to host top showjumping events. With its world-class facilities, it is poised to become a flagship destination on South Africa’s equestrian calendar, with the first major event taking place from the 1st to 5th of May.
Maxwells Equestrian Club is a superb show venue near Mooi River with world class indoor arenas, hosting equestrian disciplines like showjumping, showing and dressage
Stud Farms in the Area:
334 Sporthorse Stud
This stud breeds exceptional warmbloods with top industry bloodlines for athleticism and jumping, inspired by their founders' mare, Wolke 334. The stud focusses on the broodmare, utilizing mares that have competed at the top of the showjumping sport.
Capital/Summerhill Equestrian Stud
The cornerstones of Capital Stud’s breeding program have always been that the use of the world’s best bloodlines, in the right combinations, will produce the world’s best sport horses, and further, that the dam possesses the highest value in the breeding programme. Imported mares and dam lines are bred to top quality stallions, producing top quality offspring. Through the application of this philosophy, the stud has been wonderfully successful.
Rivervale Stud
A boutique family-run stud located on the banks of Spring Grove Dam, Rivervale is known for carefully bred Warmbloods with top lineage and impeccable temperaments for showjumping and eventing.
MacRath Farm (formerly Rathmor Stud)
Managed by the passionate McHardy family, MacRath has grown from humble beginnings to a major player, now home to over 150 horses. Their breeding spans top-performing racehorses to elite showjumping athletes.
Brandenburg Stud
Warmblood sport horse breeders, Brandenburg combine world-class genetics with a strong focus on temperament. Their stallions, including Clarinius and Colbert, consistently produce competitive, well-rounded horses.
Clifton Stud
With decades of excellence behind it, Clifton Stud has produced multiple Group-winning racehorses, including the Durban July winner Classic Flag. The stud maintains a reputation for consistency, professionalism, and passion for the Thoroughbred industry.
Bush Hill Stud
Based in Mooi River, Bush Hill is renowned for its outstanding racehorse breeding program and deep commitment to quality bloodlines. They have bred grade 1 winning champions including Zirconeum, Wolf Whistle and Stellite
Blue Sky Thoroughbreds
A modern operation with a forward-thinking approach, Blue Sky combines innovative practices with exceptional mares and stallions. Their foals are certainly making a mark on the South African racing scene. A new stallion, Double Superlative, has recently joined this stud, further enhancing what KZN breeding can now offer.
The Fort – Stud & Stables
Tucked away in Fort Nottingham, The Fort has developed winners like Chocolicious and War Artist. Under Jill Fox’s guidance, the focus is on producing sound, athletic horses for all disciplines, with a solid mental foundation. Interestingly this stud stands an imported Trotter stallion, Main Kronos, helping to improve the quality of our local trotters
Nottingham Road, RSA
This is the first time that the Annual Meetings take place in South Africa, a diverse country that is known for its Rainbow Nation, hospitality and beautiful landscapes.
Herewith the President Jan Pedersen and the WBFSH board warmly invite all its members and associates to participate at this year's annual meetings. Generously hosted by the South African Warmblood Horse Society (SAWHS), we look forward to seeing you in South Africa.
The annual meetings kick off with a welcome reception Highveldt Farm, on the evening of Friday 10th October 2025.
The coming days we will be based at the newly established facilities of Stud 334. With a focus on both superior genetic material and training, the stud strives to create sport horses that embody the grace, power, and precision that define the sport of show jumping. The program will be filled with seminars and presentations covering a wide range of topics, such as horse welfare, modern technology and trends in equine reproduction, artificial intelligence and the presentation of the State of the Industry Report 2025.
A round table discussion in conjunction with the seminar on latest technology and trends in equine reproduction will take place to explore their potential impacts on breeding. We are securing an exciting panel of experts, that are leaders in their respective fields of the industry.
And of course, there will be opportunities to network during the various cultural activities, such as an exhibition focussing on South African sport horse breeding, and visits to the Nelson Mandela Capture Site, Ardmore Ceramics, Hartford House Hotel, situated on Summerhill and home of Capital Stud Warmblood Sport Horses.
Nottingham Road, RSA
Travel to South Africa by Plane:
All flights can be booked via Tourvest (click here). On this platform you will also be able to book add-on tours if you intend to spend some more time in South Africa. You will have to submit your desired travel dates and airport of origin. A consultant will contact you to help you book your trip.
It is recommended to fly into Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport, and to book a connecting flight to Pietermaritzburg. The flights to Pietermaritzburg are on smaller aircrafts with limited passenger capacities. It is recommended that you book your flights early. Ensure that you arrive in Johannesburg before 09h30, as you will have to be on the 12h35 flight from Johannesburg to Pietermaritzburg. This will give you enough time to get through customs, collect your luggage and check in for your connecting domestic flight. You will always have to go through customs at the first port of entry into South Africa.
Pietermaritzburg Airport:
A shuttle will collect delegates from the Pietermaritzburg Airport and take them to the venue in Nottingham Road (approx. 1 hour journey). Transport from Pietermaritzburg Airport to Nottingham Road is included in the registration fees.
Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport:
For delegates that do not manage to get a connecting flight to Pietermaritzburg, there will be a bus to take them to Nottingham Road. The bus transfer fee is 40 EUR. The bus will leave around12h00. The journey takes about 5.5 hours (one stop will be made). Please ensure that you inform the host SAWHS if you need to book yourself a space in the bus. You will also be able to indicate this during your online registration.
Nottingham Road, RSA
There are various options for accommodation, at a selection of guest houses in the vicinity of the conference venue. Regular shuttles will transfer delegates between their accommodation and the conference venue. Prices are for 4 nights including breakfast (10-14 October 2025). Additional nights can be booked at request. Please email Sinead Rice for enquiries. During the online registration process you will be able to select your accommodation. You can click here to access the registration link
NOTE: There is no other accommodation in the area, and accommodation capacity is limited therefore booking early is advised. Once capacity has been reached, no more registrations will be accepted, even if this is before the registration deadline.
Prices – for 4 nights (10-14 October) (including breakfast):
Nottingham Road, RSA
In this section you will find information on:
Entry into South Africa:
To determine which countries require visas for visiting South Africa, it's best to check the official South African Department of Home Affairs website or consult with the South African High Commission or IATA Travel Centre for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
Click this link to check for your countries Visa requirements
Weather:
The Natal Midlands is an exceptionally beautiful part of South Africa with lush green landscape. Visitors can expect warm days in October filled with sunshine, often accompanied by a gentle breeze. However, the region is also known for its mist in the mornings and evenings, which can give way to sudden shifts in temperature. It is not uncommon for the evenings and early mornings to be quite chilly, so we recommend that travellers pack accordingly, bringing layers to ensure comfort throughout the day. Whether you are enjoying the warmth of midday or the crispness of dawn, being prepared for the Midlands' dynamic weather will ensure you are comfortable throughout your visit.
Language:
South Africa has 11 official languages, with English, Afrikaans, and isiZulu being widely spoken. English is the language that will be used in all airports and interactions with people in South Africa. Some individuals will be able to understand you if you speak German or Dutch as they are close to Afrikaans
Currency:
The South African Rand (ZAR) is the official currency. Credit cards are widely accepted. South Africa does accept GooglePay and ApplePay but not all places are guaranteed to accept it so please ensure it is not your only form of payment. The VAT rate in South Africa is 15%
Budgeting:
South Africa can be affordable compared to other countries, you should budget to have approximately EUR50.00 – 100.00 spending money per day for cash bar at venue and any shopping. There are often many luxury items available at stores, which would require greater budgeting.
Social Etiquette & Tipping:
South African people are very friendly and social. Please enjoy our spectacular hospitality. It is customary to tip service staff at restaurants 10% as major part of their income is made on tips unlike some other countries.
General Safety:
The KZN Midlands is a safe area, but it is always advised to be vigilant in public spaces, and to not overly display one’s valuables. All venues for the WBFSH GA25 have 24-hour security throughout the properties. When travelling elsewhere in South Africa, be cautious in urban areas, especially at night. Use hotel safes for valuables.
Safety Tips:
When travelling through the airport and on buses, do not entertain or talk to any person(s), who is not an official and/or that you do not know, unnecessarily – particularly if they are being overly friendly to you, do not display your valuables and only ask for assistance from trusted officials. The South African Airports are well-signed and reasonably easy to navigate.
Medical & Emergency Assistance:
Vaccinations:
While there are no mandatory vaccinations for entry to South Africa, travellers should always endeavour to ensure they are up to date on routine vaccinations
Malaria Precautions:
The KZN Midlands is a malaria-free area, and there are no malaria-carrying mosquitoes in this area. However, if you are extending your stay and traveling to other areas of South Africa, please make sure you find out if it is a malaria free area or not.
Water:
The tap water in the KZN Midlands is safe for consumption. However, if you would prefer to be extra cautious, the organizers have made sure that bottled water is regularly available. Most accommodation will have kettles, if you wish to boil the tap water prior to its consumption.
Public Transport:
There will be dedicated Buses and Shuttles available for this event. Do not request or get into a taxi at any of the airports. If you are flying in a day before, please email us and we can assist with transport. If you are booking a holiday before or after the General Assembly through Tourvest, they will ensure that your transportation is arranged.
If you require anything from town or need to visit a doctor etc., the organisers will have dedicated vehicles available to drive you there and back.
Rental Vehicles:
Should you be renting a vehicle, please ensure that you have the correct license and/or that your license is valid to drive in South Africa. Ensure that you do your homework and use a reputable car rental service. Please note South Africa has highways with speed limits (120km/hr).
Electricity:
The standard voltage in South Africa is 220v (volts). Loadshedding may occur, i.e. electricity in certain areas is turned off during certain times. However, the KZN Midlands (Fort Nottingham) does not have a lot of this. If during the event, the electricity does go off, all venues and accommodation have alternate electricity sources thus the event and your accommodation will not be affected.
Conservation Awareness:
Be mindful of wildlife and natural resources, please ensure you throw your waste materials in the correct trashcans and do not litter.
Nottingham Road, RSA
When booking your flights through Tourvest, you have the option to build your trip to South Africa, by choosing from a range of add-on tours. You will be able to submit your travel dates, and airport of origin, and then a Tourvest consultant will contact you to plan your holiday.
Add-on tours offered:
Nottingham Road, RSA
Online registration opens on Tuesday 29th April 2025. Registration closes on 29th August 2025. No registrations are possible after this date.
There is a limited capacity for the annual meetings and the accommodation. Once the maximum number of registrations has been reached, no other registrations will be possible, even if this is before the registration closing date.
The online registration portal includes the accommodation booking process.
All registrations are made online. Multiple delegates can be signed up, and it is possible for delegate guests to sign up for additional activities (including the Gala Dinner).
Only one invoice per registration submission will be issued. Payment is due within 5 days of the issue of the invoice. If payment is not made within this period, the registration will be cancelled, and a new registration will have to be made.
Participation & Additional Activities:
Participation costs for delegates are 260 EUR for the entire event. Guests of delegates can participate in the programme for 190 EUR (excludes the Gala Dinner). It is possible for delegate guests to sign up for additional activities (including the Gala Dinner), to keep them busy during the seminar sessions. These activities can be selected during the online registration process.
Nottingham Road, RSA
Find all relevant documents for the annual meetings here. Please check in regularly for updates.
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