South Africa - Equestrian Rehabilitation Programme

This programme provides volunteers with a unique experience helping to rehabilitate horse that come to the centre. Additionally, you will take part in beach and bush safaris with visitors to help raise additional funds and also exercise the horses.

The rehabilitation centre is a small family run busy with a huge heart and heaps of passion. Whether you are an enthusiastic equine student or a fun loving volunteer, this project offers lots of hard work and fun. The centre is set on 100 hectares of land and has 20plus resident horses. There are facilities to try a little bit of carting on the farm; they have a Frisian and Percheron who are very experienced. If you are a Percheron fan, they have a stallion, mare and their three progeny, the eldest is a colt/stallion named Bobby a three year old, then a filly Billy who is two years old and another filly Bubbles who is raising one, their parents are Buss and Bertie. 

Besides the 20plus horses on the farm, they also have rescued donkeys and a mule called July. Additionally there are 20plus horses at the bush trail centre that also need care and attention.

Your Role

If you have experience with horses there is always a youngster to work on or an oldie that needs a refresher course. For the absolute beginner, they will teach you basic horse care management and even though you perhaps have never ridden a horse before the horses are brilliant. One of the joys of 'bringing a horse back' he knows he is no longer at risk and seems to enjoy pleasing.

There is a daily routine at the centre but work can vary and change quickly. As a volunteer you will be involved:

• Every day running of the rehab and beach trail centre
• Assist with feeding
• Dipping and grooming
• Exercise and training.
• Yard maintenance
• Joining bush and beach trails with visitor
• Assist with vet work
  
  

Typical day

Pick up is at 7am therefore an early breakfast is essential. The work then starts with the mixing of feed and feeding and watering of rehab horses, followed by physical checks of each horse being fed. Volunteers will then be able to choose whether to ride on morning trail or work at the rehab centre with allocated horses.

Allocation of horses to each individual volunteer at the rehab centre can be worked with once daily routine of feeding; watering and visual checking has been done. Volunteers will be given as much information on the horse he or she is working with and its background. Priority will be given to individual preferences on discussion and the volunteers experience taken into account.

After lunch, at 2pm volunteers swap and either do the trails or work in the rehab centre until 3.30pm when all horses are to be fed, watered and checked.

Accommodation

Accommodation is a stunning two bedroom cottage, cottage adjacent to the main house overlooking the fields of horses. The two bedrooms can easily sleep four in each room, however unless it is a big group, the rooms are kept to two’s. The kitchen, lounge and dining room is open plan.

The cottage is fully equipped with TV, washing machine, stove and fridge. All bedding is provided, your laundry is organised also undies will be washed by the volunteers themselves. There are also braai facilities for those warmer evenings.

As it is a rehabilitation centre there are not only horses on the farm but many other animals. Dogs, cats, donkeys, peacocks, chickens, geese and a parrot that loves to talk. Lots to keep you company and busy.

Requirements

• Volunteers must be 18 years of age

• Have a reasonable level of fitness
• English being the first or second language
• Passion for horses
• Comprehensive travel insurance
• Have compassion, understanding and patience
• If hiring a car in South Africa you must be 21 or over, have a full driver’s license and credit card with you.

 

Additional Information

Included:

• Accommodation
• Three meals per day
• Airport transfers
• Training
• Bush and beach trails

 Excludes:

• Other drinks and alcohol
• Meals at other venues
• All other local activities
• International or domestic flights
• Travel Insurance
• Personal items

Arrivals and Travel Information: Volunteers must fly to East London airport in South Africa, where they will be met by on the team. At the end of the stay, volunteers will be dropped off at the same airport.