With a lifelong passion for equestrian care and coaching, Jessica Kamffer has dedicated 27 years to the equestrian world. “I have an incredible passion for their well-being as well as coaching riders,” she shares.
Her riding journey began early, earning her Mpumalanga colors seven years in a row during her junior years for disciplines like showjumping, dressage, showing, and equitation. After high school, she shifted focus to her studies, earning a BA in Human Movement Science & Psychology, a Post Graduate Certificate in Education, and a B.Ed. Honors in Learner Support from North-West University. Following her studies, Kamffer spent six years as a school teacher, coaching riders part-time in the afternoons. “I slowly began to build up enough clientele to open up a riding school in Vanderbijlpark,” she recalls.
In 2023, Kamffer made the pivotal move to Kyalami to advance her riding career, joining the RH Equestrian team with Ronnie Healy as her coach. “It’s been a great privilege to be working with Ronnie Healy at Blair Atholl Equestrian Center,” she says, noting the importance of her lessons there. Currently, she competes with her two exceptional mares: White Waters On Clouds Of Time in the Open grades and White Waters Omelia’s Silver Lining in the 1.20m’s.
Kamffer’s connection to equine products Vermate and Thermal Mud is deeply rooted. She’s known about them since her junior riding days, as her mother trained with Vermate’s owner, Marjolein, back in White River. “I can remember us using it on the farm,” Kamffer says. She discovered the brand’s Facebook page in 2019, sharing their products and seeing the “incredible transformations and results” firsthand. Later, she was thrilled to become an agent and ambassador. “I’ve always loved the products and have used them on every single one of my horses,” she states.
From Warmbloods to Friesians, Kamffer finds Vermate and Thermal Mud to be “game changers” for all her horses. “Vermate and Thermal Mud will always be in my tack room or horse box when going to a show – I don’t go anywhere without it!”
Since bringing Mia from the warm climate of White River to the Vaal in 2020, I was concerned about how she’d handle the icy winters and worried she’d grow a thick winter coat. But thanks to Vermate, her coat has never gotten too long and always has an incredible shine! After four winters in the Highveld, she’s never needed clipping. Thank you, Vermate!
