Sun, Sea and Saddles: horse-riding holiday with Wild Coast Horse Riding Adventures

The Kei River Horse Trail is for those who want to leave the limits and restrictions of everyday life behind and embrace the freedom to be yourself and discover the beauty of the Wild Coast from the back of a well-loved, sure-footed equine friend.

Does the mere thought of a week-long horse trail leave you rubbing the insides of your thighs and walking like John Wayne? Well, the wonderful hosts at Wild Coast Horse Riding Adventures know that not everyone who loves horses wants to spend their entire day on them, so have conjured up some amazing packages to suit those who want a bit more flexibility in their holiday itinerary.

While you’ll still get to experience the magic of a fast canter along the beach and the adrenaline rush of riding along clifftop paths, you’ll also get the opportunity to soak up some sun on the nearby beach at Kei Mouth and sample some of the local food at one of the village’s pubs and cafes.

So, throw a sundress in with your jodhpurs and embrace a relaxing beach holiday that gives you the opportunity to ride as much or as little as you’d like. Although there’s no set itinerary for the Kei River Horse Trail, it does include an unforgettable 2-night, 3-day trip up the Wild Coast to the exquisitely situated Wavecrest Beach Hotel and Spa where you can be pampered while enjoying views one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.

Enjoy the casual comfort of a home from home at the Kei Mouth Guest Lodge and ride as many different horses as you feel comfortable with. If you fall in love with your steed on the first day, you can choose to stick with him, or challenge yourself by swapping from a sturdy Percheron cross to a lightening-paced Part or Anglo Arab as the week flies past.

Aside from the fun mini trail to Wavecrest and back, highlights of the week’s riding include the cliffs at Morgan Bay, a ride to Yellowwood Forest to sample their wood-fired pizza under the shade of indigenous trees, and the chance to let rip along the golden beaches of the Wild Coast. 

If you love horses and would like to learn more, ask one of the guides to reveal some of their insights into working with these incredible animals on the ground. Discover the benefits of T-Touch and why Wild Coast Horse Riding Adventures is committed to a regime of holistic horsemanship.

Wild Coast Horse Riding Adventures is a highly personalised experience, where you’ll really get to know the people as much as you do the horses. With limited places on each Kei River Horse Trail, you’ll never get lost in the crowd or left behind on the trail. Friendly, experienced guides will point out the vibrant colours of a passing Knysna turaco and explain the history of the Wild Coast and its notoriously numerous shipwrecks.

It doesn’t matter if you ride every day or haven’t been on a horse in years, the friendly team at Wild Coast Horses will adapt the rides to suit you and your ability. If you choose to, you can ride for up to four or five hours per day but, if you’d rather, you can always choose to skip an afternoon’s outride and instead indulge in a foot massage or sip a cocktail at The Deck of the local hotel. The more adventurous may opt for a spot of abseiling or pop across the road to the Kei Mouth Country Club for a game of golf complemented by breath-taking views of the Wild Coast.

Two itinerary options are available 

• 7 night 8 Day Kei River Horse Trail - includes accommodation, meals & riding
• Short stays on a select your own rides basis

The Kei Mouth Trail is an informal beach riding holiday, where you can embrace our wide open spaces, wild sea, warmhearted people and our wonderful horses. 

www.wildcoasthorsebackadventures.com 

Spring has sprung - literally with lots of rain!

by Nicky Hoseck (Trail guide at Wild Coast Horse Trails)

Well, the weather has done it’s best to curtail our work at Wild Coast Horse Trails but we have soldiered on in pouring rain with all the enthusiasm of those who love their vocation and have the privilege to work with amazing equine companions.

Our two clients from Johannesburg, Bronwyn and Simmy, endured three days’ of rain – determined not to miss a minute’s riding during their weekend farm stay. The whole experience was quite a challenge for two ladies who had rarely ridden outside of the arena before, but they coped admirably with the difficult conditions, helped along by our sympathetic and steady horses.

Another wet few days saw Klara Webb introducing the team to Ttouch and Ride with your mind techniques. The results were astonishing and we saw some incredible improvements in our horses after just one short session. Our minds have been opened to a whole new way of approaching our work with the horses and we are looking forward to sharing this new knowledge with our clients on the Natural Horsemanship Week programme we are developing.

We are also discovering the benefits of riding in a lighter seat and encouraging the horses’ backs to come up underneath us. Doing so much fast beach work inevitably leads to our horses tending towards the forehand. This new way of riding is helping to combat that and we saw some great results, especially from Roz and Geronimo. Geronimo was a stock horse before coming to us so has never been the easiest horse in the schooling arena. However, Roz’s riding, assisted by Klara and Ttouch bandaging, brought him into a beautiful outline and had him extending through the neck and rounding his back like a dressage horse!

September saw the launch of several new trails and holidays at Wild Coast Horse Trails. Our new seven- night beach trail is a fantastic 140km adventure along the Wild Coast which Nicky lead for the first time with clients Claudia and Volker Weber. Although Volker’s shirt suffered a few casualties after trying to bundu bash our way through a small section of forest, the rest of the trail went smoothly and painlessly. Our furthest destination is the Kob Inn, situated right on the rocks overlooking the sea; this is stunning spot and proved excellent for dolphin spotting. The riding is as exciting and varied as ever and our horses gobbled up the additional kilometres without batting an eyelid. Troy proved, once again, what a solid trail horse he is despite his youth. After a long morning’s ride through to Mazeppa Bay, he had a long drink and then promptly dozed off – truly nothing unsettles this loveable boy even at his tender age of six!

Last week Nicky and Roz headed out into the rain once again with clients from Sweden, Germany and the UK. The rain did nothing to dampen spirits and the four-day beach trail proved to be an enjoyable adventure for all. The rivers were surprisingly shallow and calm which made for easy crossings for both horses and riders. Roz, however, was on Time Warp who is not always sure how many legs he has or where they are at any given time. As a result, they ended up swimming the Kobanqaba River while the smaller horses all managed to wade through quite comfortably. The dips and undulations in the river bed are not always easy to read and Time, sadly, misjudged it and ended up in a deep section, casually soaking Roz along the way! Our Swedish and German clients then headed off to Dinaka where, hopefully, the weather cleared enough to give them a wonderful game riding experience.

Torstone Tasara

Torstone Tommy

Torstone Astro

The past couple of months have been busy with the births of this years’ first crop of foals. Astro is the first foal out of Tic Tac and our first pinto baby. He’s already looking tall and strong so shows potential to follow in his grandmother’s (Tenna Sea) hoof steps as a great a trail horse. Tommy is the progeny of our Percheron stallion Bobby and has the same mischievous personality as his brother Trevor. Our filly (Tasara) is the first foal from our Anglo Arab stallion, Tashbah, and one of the few chestnuts we have produced. In her first couple of weeks, she had all the flightiness and action of her Arab bloodline but now, as she fills out, her mother’s Percheron genes are starting to show themselves. And, last but not least, is our Thoroughbred/Percheron cross colt. Born jet black with a white star, his grey hairs are already starting to come through.

Back on the farm, there has been lots of activity, as The Loft accommodation for clients on our working riding holiday programme has enjoyed something of a revamp. A deep clean and a fresh coat of paint has given it a new look, although the rain has forced us to delay repainting the exterior so we are hoping for some dry days in order to complete the project.

Ida and Phillippa, from Sweden, have just headed south to experience some of the adrenaline adventure highlights of the Eastern Cape. First stop is a skydive in Grahamstown and then they are headed down to Stormsriver to throw themselves off the Bloukrans Bridge. Crazy or adventurous – what do you think?

Over the month ahead, we are looking forward to furthering our Ttouch work and also to starting two youngster, Twain and Taitum. Both Anglo Arabs, we are really looking forward to seeing how these youngsters shape up under saddle with the intention of them joining our trail team in the years to come.

Till next time.....

http://www.wildcoasthorsebackadventures.com

Horse Riding weekends for the family

Quality family time on a horse-riding weekend

Published: May 31, 2012  by Nicky Hoseck

Most reputable companies have mounts to suit all ages and abilities

Source: Wild Coast Horse Trails

Horse-riding weekends for the family

Horse-riding weekends have much to offer – not only is a great way to enjoy a rural retreat, it also gives families the opportunity to spend some quality time together while sharing a love of the outdoors and discovering the joys of horse-back riding.

In current times of financial pressures, many families struggle to find ways to enjoy time together in a relaxed and healthy environment without breaking the bank. Horse-riding weekends offer a cost-effective way to escape the pressures of a busy life and hectic home and enjoy a rural retreat.

Many companies offering riding lessons or trails will also offer short-term breaks for adults and families alike. Some companies have accommodation available on their farm, meaning you can live and breathe horses and absorb the rural life for a few days – returning home refreshed and rejuvenated.

The accommodation is usually provided as part of the horse-riding weekend package and is generally affordable and comfortable. Some will provide rooms within the farm house so guests really get to feel like a part of the family for the duration of their stay. Some meals are usually included in the package, reducing the cost of extras, and giving guests the chance to enjoy simple, home-cooked meals on the farm.

With a range of different horses and ponies available, these professional companies will ensure the safety of even the most nervous of riders. The amount of riding you do is usually up to you, giving you the scope to customise your trip to suit the needs of all your family. After a morning in the saddle, you may decide to unwind at the beach in the afternoon or take a hike into the countryside. Of course, you may get hooked and find you want to spend every available moment with your new equine companion.

The health benefits of a horse-riding weekend are self-explanatory – lots of fresh air and exercise will ensure even the most active of people will also benefit from a good night’s sleep. The experience of bonding with a horse and exploring the countryside will also help relieve stress and give your mind a break from the strains of work and home.

When choosing the perfect destination for a horse-riding weekend, make sure you opt for a professional organisation that specifically caters for riders of all ages and abilities. Be honest about your expectations and your fitness so as to ensure you don’t return home feeling exhausted rather than refreshed.

As with any holiday, location is vital. Choose a riding facility that has lots of scope in terms of where and when you can ride. A few lesson a with a qualified and experienced instructor will be useful in terms of getting you started, while the opportunity to ride with non-dangerous game or to canter along a golden beach will make your stay truly unforgettable.

South Africa has many choice destinations for families and individuals seeking a horse-riding weekend so it’s worth exploring all the options before setting off on your trip.

Wild Coast Horse Trails, Safaris and Riding Holidays

Cantering about on the Wild Coast

Well this seems to be the way to go as far as keeping our friends and fellow riders up to date with whats happening at Sunray Farm.
We have had an incredible year, hetically busy with trails, work riders and just to keep me really busy, we have been building!!!
Ok so this is a short note to get things going, i will be posting more over the next week or so as i build this blog, and i have crated an on line photo album - more details later.
I am off now to go and fetch horses from the beach and bring them back to the farm for thier holiday.
Julie-Anne