Nicky Hoseck

A Day in the Life of a Wild Coast Horse

As the sun rises over the ocean, I stretch my legs and shake off the last remnants of sleep. I didn’t sleep for long, but then again, horses don’t tend to. We grab a few minutes of sleep here and there but, for the most part, our nights are much the same as our days. We mooch around the paddock, breathing in the cool air that carries with it the scent of the ocean, and an earth just beginning to awaken.

Waking Up to Whinnies, Waves, and Windswept Beaches

As the first rays of the morning sun warm my back, my hooves sink into the soft, dewy grass as I stride across the field, eager to assert my position at the gate. This is how I begin every day — with purpose and anticipation. The sounds of the Wild Coast stir around me—the distant crash of waves, the rustle of the wind through the grass, and the soft whinny of my fellow horses.

Every day is a journey. The landscapes change with the seasons, from lush, green hills to wild, windswept beaches, but the rhythm remains the same: ride, roam, and rest. Come along with me as I take you through a typical day in my life, where the Wild Coast isn't just a destination—it's a way of life.

Breakfast Time on the Wild Coast

At 8 am every morning, the same group of dedicated humans arrive to begin their day of catering to our every need and whim. I and the other horses appreciate them and even feel some fondness towards them, especially when they take a moment out of their busy days to give us a carrot or a scratch behind the ear.

While we jostle for position at the gate, the humans mill around, adding water to our feed to stop the greedy ones from choking, and carefully measuring out the terrible-tasting supplements they insist are good for our health. We might not like them, but we trust our humans enough that we almost always eat them!

Once our meals have been carefully prepared and distributed, the humans trek over and we kindly let them put halters on us and take us to our designated stalls. Most of us feel this is completely unnecessary as we would reach our stalls eventually and only take one or two mouthfuls of our colleagues’ food along the way! Nevertheless, the humans insist and so we cooperate, calmly following as they lead us in.

The Morning Routine: Thermometers and Massages

While I munch my way through my generous breakfast, one of the humans will come round and take my temperature. You’d think having something shoved into my butt while I’m eating would irritate me, but it’s only a couple of the older mares that squeal and stamp their feet when their turn comes around. Even then, it’s all for show and they’re secretly grateful that the humans would know if we felt a little off-colour, even if they don’t always understand when we show them.

Before I’m finished eating, another human approaches with a set of brushes and gives me a delicious full-body massage. I love this part of the day and lean into the brushes as they come into contact with my skin. Once I’m considered clean, I’ll carefully pick my feet up for the little human, allowing them to clean out each hoof so I can walk comfortably and without throwing clods of mud at the riders behind me.

Gearing Up for a Wild Coast Adventure

If I’m scheduled for a morning ride, I’ll stand quietly while one of the humans tacks me up. While I’m not particularly keen on this part of the day, I tolerate it because I know it means I’m going out to see the sights and explore the smells and sounds of the surrounding area. On a good day, it also means I’ll be stretching my legs on the hard sand of the beach.

The morning rides vary and sometimes we only go out for an hour or so, while on other days we’ll venture up the coast, covering ground all morning before arriving at a hotel where the humans we brought with us give us water and lucerne before disappearing for a while. While they’re gone, we chew on lucerne and snooze in the sea breeze, saving our energy for the afternoon’s adventure.

Beach Canters: A Moment of Freedom

Now we’re headed for home, there’s a little more skip to our steps and we float across the ground like the Arabians we are. On the beaches, the wind blows through our manes as our hooves pound out a rhythmic tattoo and the waves crash onto the sand. This exhilaration is what we live for! To share this moment of freedom with my friends and colleagues is the highlight of my life… after food, that is! And the great thing about being homeward-bound is that it means food is just around the corner!

Before we reach home, we have to walk onto a floating mat that takes us across the Kei River. It’s a bit strange the first time you do it, but after that, it becomes pretty run-of-the-mill. I like to take the time to sample a human’s hair or give the decking a good sniff!

Once we’re back on dry land, it’s just a short ride back home. I like it best when we go along the beach, although some of the humans say we get too excited when we do that, and make us walk home through the village instead.

Back to the Stable: Relief and Refreshment

Regardless of the route we take, we’re home in less than half an hour and our humans quickly remove our tack, giving us a glorious moment of relief. Oh, the feeling of the cool breeze on my back where the saddle once sat! I can’t help but give a good shake, loosening any lingering stiffness from the ride.

Our humans continue bustling around, taking us one by one to the hosepipe where they wash away the day’s sweat, sand, and seawater, leaving me cool and refreshed. I know it’s their way of saying thank you for the ride, and I appreciate it—though truth be told, I’m already daydreaming about my evening feed. The sound of the feed buckets rattling is music to my ears, and I eagerly anticipate that first mouthful of sweet, crunchy bliss.

The Sun Sets on a Perfect Day

As the sun sets over the Wild Coast, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink, I know I’m exactly where I’m meant to be—surrounded by my herd, cared for by kind hands, and living the dream of every horse: adventure by day, comfort by night.

Come join me for a perfect day

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