Working Horse riding
Take a
break in your Gap Year or have a Career Break and
Volunteer with Horses in
Work with horses in
Eat, sleep, breath & ride horses on a 1 to 12 week
Working Horse Riding Holiday
with Wild Coast Horse Trails at Sunray Farm.
An Equine Experience working with horses on the Eastern Cape Wild Coast
of South Africa.
Join us for a wonderful
horse riding eco adventure holiday.
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Wild Coast Horseback Adventures Home Page |
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1 to 12 week Working Horse Riding
Holiday & Volunteer Program |
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Anglo Arabs,
Percheron, Boerperd |
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Weather Forecast | Weather
Maps |
We are
We cater for all levels of
horse riders who want an extended horse riding experience.
We offer
unpretentious hospitality in a setting that allows guest to relax de-stress and
escape the clutter of everyday life. This is simple country living
and riding on a working horse and cattle farm, no frills - just great riding on
lovely horses, a comfortable bed, home cooked food and lots of conversation
revolving around the horses!!
Based at Sunray Farm we offer
different daily rides around the farm looking for game and from our beach
paddocks in Kei Mouth.
For a perfect riding holiday,
overnight trails can be enjoyed separately or combined to create an authentic
rural African experience.
Riding at the farm offers a
selection of out-rides through indigenous bush looking for naturally occurring
game, schooling in our outdoor arena, riding lessons, a mini cross country jumping course, barrel
racing and games on horseback, round pen work, and several different beach
rides in Kei Mouth and Morgan Bay.
Join us for 1 to 12 weeks and
volunteer by helping to look after the horses, this is a hands on riding holiday, work with horses in an
alternative environment using natural
horse care and horsemanship.
You
will be involved with the day to day care of the horses, do lots of riding,
exercising and schooling the horses, and have an option to do a Wild Coast Horse Trail.
This is an excellent
environment to get work experience for equine students, advanced
riders will enjoy
the relaxed atmosphere and great riding, intimidate
riders can
immerses themselves with the horses, and novice &
beginner riders’
riding will improve!
We
require that candidates be horse lovers, must love the great outdoors and have
a spirit of adventure to do new things. No other experience is necessary as we
will teach you as you go along.
Ranch Riding
1
to 11 weeks volunteer working riding
Join us for a 1 to
11 week riding holiday and add on an overnight trail!
Our 4 to 6 week
riding holiday is the most popular!
Priced per person per week (7 nights),
includes all meals, shared dormitory backpacker type accommodation and lots of
horse riding. This is a hands on horse riding holiday
at Sunray Farm.
Our riding holiday suits riders of all
levels & ages (including novice riders) who would like a month long horse
riding experience.
Single accommodation
available, subject to availability, single supplement payable.
We will show you how we do “join up”, you will get riding lessons & schooling sessions, out
rides on the farm and beach riding.
Riders need not have extensive experience,
but should have a spirit of adventure and a positive attitude to do new things.
This is an excellent option for those
wanting an introduction to join up and starting young horses.
This is an excellent option for
beginner/novice riders to come on an intensive learning experience.
Perfect for advanced riders wanting to just
relax and enjoy some really good riding!
Riders may join
one of our overnight trails, the monthly Wild Coast Horse Trail (you ride 4
nights 5 days) normally runs in the second or third week of the month. This is paid separately.
12 Weeks Work Experience Program – Work with horses
For advanced riders only
All meals and
accommodation at Sunray Farm and airport transfers are included.
Book for 12 weeks
and get a FREE overnight trail ~ ride as back up rider on a scheduled trail
along the
Riders must be able to school horses and
ride without supervision.
Riders must have
a sound knowledge of basic flatwork/dressage and be willing to ride and bring
on young horses.
Includes “join up”
session, riding lessons & schooling, out rides on the farm and beach
riding.
Riders will be taught how to “start” a
young horse with join up and other gentling techniques
Riders will take clients out on shorter beach
rides.
Riders must have
previous experience taking other people (beginners/novice) on out rides.
Riders will have an opportunity to teach
other adult riders in the working riding holiday program.
Riders will be given an opportunity to go
to and possibly ride at an endurance ride (in season)
Riders may be asked to ride as back up
rider and groom on overnight trails. (this is not
guaranteed)
Riders must have a driver’s license valid
for use in
Your duties are
not limited to horse riding and may include general stable and yard work.
You will be given at least one long weekend
off during your stay, and other occasional days to enable you to do a bit of
sight seeing, go to the beach and visit a game reserve.
You will be given a letter of reference to
add to your resume on completion of your stay.
No
chances please. By applying for the 12
week program you declare that you are an active and advanced rider capable
of riding any horse in any situation.
You also declare that you are fit and healthy and able to carry out the
duties that will be required of you.
Please note that should a rider decide to
leave before the end of their stay, no refunds will be given.
Riders may participate
on any overnight trail at a reduced rate; this should be booked when making
your reservation.
Prices quoted include all meals, horse
riding and shared accommodation at
Sunray farm.
Riders will be encouraged to take a few days
off during their stay to go to “Buccaneers Back Packers”, visit a local game
reserve, go to the beach or go into town to see a movie and do some shopping!
The following is included in
your holiday package.
Daily horse riding including riding lessons, out rides
and trails on the farm and at the beach.
Meals at Sunray Farm
Laundry
Accommodation – you stay with us as part of our family
in “The Loft” next to the main homestead at Sunray Farm.
Transfers to and from
If everything is done and there are no rides booked,
there is lots of free time for the beach, game viewing, exploring our wonderful
country and generally having a good time!
The following in NOT included in your holiday package.
Drinks, and soft drinks, cigarettes, chips, sweets and
other tuck!
Toiletries
Extra diesel in the truck if you use it to
go out.
Cell phone, so that you can keep in contact with the
outside world!
Internet is available and charged per half hour.
Pocket money
Other items of a personal nature.
Overnight
Trails along the
Day excursions – A day trip to a local big 5 private game reserve can be arranged. Includes 4x4 safari, lunch and
elephant interaction!
Day excursions – Any day ride or other trip out does not
include lunches or meals – these have to be paid separately.
Day excursions – A trip up the
On overnight trail – does not include your bar accounts, cool
drinks, laundry and other extras.
Buccaneers Back packers – we encourage you to take a weekend off
during your stay. Go meet others traveling
We expect you to participate in the
following.
Grooming, bathing, and general care of the horses
Feeding when necessary
Cleaning tack and equipment
Working with the young foals &
yearlings at Sunray Farm.
Exercising & schooling horses at Sunray Farm
Exercising & care of the trail horses at Kei Mouth
Assisting with out rides and trails at Kei Mouth
(Our horses all live out, so there are no stables to
muck out!)
A normal working day is from
The point of you being with us is to do lots of
riding, learn, help out and have fun!
It is up to you to take advantage of the
opportunities that are presented to you.
The more you participate, the more you will learn
and the more you will take home with you.
An interview done by SABC 2 Agri Tv -
broadcast on
STUDENTS AT A RECOGNIZED
We especially welcome students studying at
a recognized equestrian college who need a period of work experience to assist
in their studies. We will make special
efforts to give them the opportunity to do practical work within the area of
which they are studying.
If candidates choose to participate in the 12 week work experience
program, we will ensure that riders get hands on experience and training in
all aspects of what we do. At the end of your stay we will give you a written
letter of reference to add to your resume. Participants on the 12 week work
experience program get to do a FREE overnight trail J
We have full time paid employees who look after the horses on a
daily basis.
Working Riding
The program is dependent on prevailing
weather and when an overnight trail has been booked!
This is just a guide as to what you can expect
during your stay.
Our morning starts at
Daily Routine
The mornings are spent at the farm and you
will assist with the morning grooming and care of the horses. This normally
takes about 2 hours before you do your morning riding.
Young horses need handling, teaching to
lead, stand for grooming & feet ect.
Horses need exercising and young up and
coming horses need basic schooling in dressage and jumping.
We have a dressage arena, some jumps, a
mini cross country course, a space for barrel racing, dams for swimming the
horses, lots of out rides on the farm where you can spot naturally occurring
wild game!
During the afternoon you will most probably
go down to the beach. We run a string of horses at our paddocks in Kei Mouth,
they need to be fed and groomed daily.
You will do lots of beach riding and when holiday makers book a ride you
will be able to ride with them.
WEEK
1
We will collect you from the Airport or
Buss stop in
WEEK
2
Preparation for the overnight trails
includes cleaning and checking tack and equipment, transporting horses to the
paddocks at Kei Mouth and bathing and grooming the horses for the start of
trail.
If you are riding on an overnight trail,
the next 5 days will be filled with great riding along the
WEEK
3
Once the trail is completed, we will bring
horses back to the farm and all the tack will need stripping and cleaning to
get rid of all the sand and sea salt!! You will probably need a day in
WEEK
4
We may have another trail booked, and you
will help with the preparations ect. Otherwise you will have an opportunity to get
hands on experience doing some “round pen” work, “join up” and how to “start” a
young horse. A day ride along the beach
is planned with a pub lunch at Seagulls.
Go to home page to see more photos &
video!
Work
Rider Program Arrival dates
Riders will be collected from the
Please see our availability
page on the web site to see when we have place available.
We recommend 4 weeks stay for the average rider
wanting a riding experience
6 weeks is perfect for riders wanting a
more in-depth experience.
We will only take experience & advanced
riders who are passionate about horse on the 12 week program.
We recommend that
our work riders do the following to book their place.
Check availability and dates with us.
Complete the booking form and return it to
us.
A deposit is required within 7 days to
confirm your place.
Book your flights to
Get a internal
flight from
Try "1 time", or SAA We collect
you from the airport in
Send us your flight details.
The balance is due 30 days before your arrival.
Once payment has been made no refunds are
given should a rider decide to leave early.
At the end of your holiday, you then have
an option to stay on with us, or perhaps explore our beautiful country using
the very safe and cost effective back packing network that is available in SA, www.coastingafrica.com
& www.bazbus.com , www.cinta.com
(this is Buccaneers Backpackers a short drive away from us and is reputed
to be the best in the country!) This
works very well, as you get to have an idea of what options are available and
make your adventure plans once you are here. (Your entry & travel visa is
valid for 3 months stay!)
Ideally you should arrive a week before our
monthly trail; that way you have time to get to know the horses, and how we do
things before we go on trail. More often
than not we have a 6 night trail booked during the middle of the month
All confirmed bookings (with deposits paid)
will be honored at the quoted rate.
Wild Coast Horse Trails & Sunray Farm
reserves the right to increase or decrease the prices previously quoted for
holiday arrangements before a booking is confirmed. External factors beyond our
control may affect the holiday costs such as accommodation tariff increases,
taxes (e.g. VAT), exchange rate fluctuations etc. Please read our other terms and conditions as
published on our web site. No refunds on
any payments made.
WOULD
YOU LIKE TO CHAT TO SOMEONE WHO HAS ALREADY BEEN TO US?
Email
Julie-Anne and she will send you their contact details, or
find us on our Facebook page Wild Coast Horse Back
Adventures.
http://horses.suite101.com/article.cfm/checking-out-south-africas-wild-coast-on-horseback
To book your place, please complete the
booking form and return it to us.
We will invoice you for your holiday and
give you our banking details.
We require a deposit within 7 days of
receiving the booking form
Your holiday will be confirmed once we have
your deposit.
The balance is payable 30 days before
arrival.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sunray Farm is situated about 22 Km from the
sea side
Google GPS co-ordinates 32.37`41S and 28..09`48E
What is the average age of volunteers?
Volunteers will typically be around 18 – 25
years old, although the age can range anywhere from 17 upwards. The majority of
volunteers will also be gapers.
We occasionally have more mature riders
stay with us on a career break (30 to 40 something and
up!). If you are an older rider we encourage having a young heart and a spirit
of adventure. You must have a great love
of horses and want to learn & do without any pre-conceived ideas of what
this horse riding experience is about.
Why should I pay to volunteer?
Volunteering will bring a variety of
benefits to individuals. You will be making a positive contribution to
The payment for volunteering goes towards meals, accommodation, airport
transfers and transport around the placement. And of course horses cost a lot
of money to feed and look after!
Before Departure
Can I
speak to ex-volunteers about the placements?
Yes, please email us and we will send you
contact details. You can also find us on FACEBOOK!
Wild Coast Horse Back Adventures on Facebook
How far should I book in advance?
Due to high demand, it is best to book in
advance to avoid disappointment. This will also allow plenty of time to do fundraising
or raid the piggybank! Always contact
us to check availability, as some places may become available at short
notice.
You can email us and we can send you an
application form.
Are flights included in the project fees?
No, your local travel agent will be able to
assist you.
Volunteers will need to ensure they have
full comprehensive insurance before traveling.
We also recommend that you travel with a
valid Master or Visa Credit card to cover any other unforeseen emergencies.
Volunteers are required to hold a passport
valid for at least 6 months longer than your date of return. Volunteers should
also ensure your passport is in good condition.
South African Visas
Volunteers from the
Exempt:
All volunteers should seek medical advice from
their doctor at least two months before departure. They will provide you with
any necessary injections and prescribe malaria tablets if needed.
Please note: The
PACKING LIST
Jodhpurs
or riding pants.
Riding chaps or
long boots
Own
hard hat.
Shorts
for walking and hiking.
Walking
shoes or boots to ride in.
Slip slops or
sandals.
A
couple of light long sleeved shirts with collars to protect you from the sun
while riding.
T
shirts and tops.
Light long
trousers. Jeans will do.
Smart
outfit to change for dinner at the hotels.
Also bring :
Warm clothing 1 X
jersey (jumper/fleece).to ride in and a nice one for the evenings!
A
good warm rain proof coat.
Light
weight rain jacket/wind breaker that will be tied to your saddle.
Sun hat (that
stays on) and sun block.
Swimming costume
and swimming towel.
A
torch (Flashlight) each.
A
camera, film and binoculars. (battery charger)
& adaptor!
Other
items of a personal nature.
Bring some DVD
movies to watch in the evenings.
Enough
pocket money for day trips & outings. (R2000.00 to R3000.00 will cover day
trips and other bits a pieces)
Please
note
that is customary to leave a tip to house maids and other staff that help look
after you.
NB! A valid credit card to
cover any unforeseen emergency.
This would be used to cover the unlikely event of you having to go to
hospital if you have a bad fall from a horse.
The hospitals in our area demand a deposit to be paid up front. You
would be able to reclaim this amount from your travel insurance.
We have the following branded
items for sale
Peak caps
Collard riding
shirts
Fleece with long
sleeves
Rain proof riding
jackets
Postcards
Coffee Mugs
In The Field
Yes, you will be met by one of our
representative when you arrive. If you are traveling overland, we will provide
directions to a designated meeting point.
Do I need to speak the local language?
No you don’t, as the people at your placement
will speak English.
We have renovated the original old farm
house and created a comfortable flat with upstairs loft for our volunteers to
sleep in. The “loft” area sleeps four comfortably at the top, and 2 down
stairs, there is one small private bedroom and any over flow is accommodated in
the main homestead. The loft has its own
sitting room with TV, Hifi and DVD player and a small
kitchenette to make tea and coffee and where you can keep snacks and drinks ect.
Do the placements cater for vegetarians?
Of course! Please just let us know if you
have any particular eating problems ect. We will do our best to feed you J
Can I travel after the placement?
Yes, it is fairly common for volunteers to travel
around once they have completed their stay with us. We are happy to help any
volunteer with flight arrangements and will give helpful advice on future
destinations. The back packing net work
in this country is particularly good, cheap and safe. And there is a hop on hop off buss service
that goes to all the most popular places!
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Sunray Farm, Telephone +27-(0)43-8311087 Fax 086 6089578 Mobile 082-5670972 GPS co ordinates Sunray Farm South 32.37’41” – East 28.09’48” Kei Mouth South 32.41’45” – East 28.21’43” Please email
us for more details and prices
Credit Cards Accepted. |
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Hunting, Fishing
& Horse Trails Join us for a
lifestyle experience Contact us to
find out about our hunting and fishing eco adventures and working holidays
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Content on this web site is original and
written by Julie-Anne Gower. Phrases and concepts are often copied, but the
implementation thereof never perfected. Other photos on this web site were taken
on trail by our team and our many happy clients. Thank you for sharing your
memories with us.
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