Nicky Hoseck

Meet The Horses Exclusive Part 2:
Newcomers and Future Stars

A few weeks ago, we introduced you to some of our top trail horses. From the fleet-footed Tzarina to the rather quirky Percy, we explored the personalities of our A-team string —the horses that consistently delight and impress, especially on our signature Wild Coast Horse Trail, which sees them cover nearly 200km in just seven days.

It takes a lot of time and effort to get a horse to this stage in its trail career, and in this installment of our Meet the Horses blog, we're going to focus on some of the newcomers — those bright-eyed prospects who are just finding their hooves on our shorter trails and taking their first steps toward becoming seasoned trail companions.

These promising youngsters are learning the ropes while building confidence and conditioning and showing us glimpses of the dependable trail partners they're destined to become.

Storm — The Playboy

Bred for endurance, Storm is a stocky little Anglo Arab who's proving himself to be a strong, brave, and reliable trail horse. A playful character, Storm is always in the middle of the herd when the fun and games break out, rearing and cavorting with anyone willing to play rough.

Despite his mischievous nature back at the yard, he transforms into the consummate professional on trail, carrying his riders with a confident stride and a keen eye for the path ahead.

Not only is Storm proving to be a comfortable ride for guests, but he’s also showing promise as a lead horse, and responding well to schooling. Just five years old when he arrived, Storm is maturing into a well-balanced, responsive horse.

Because of his age, we’ve been restricting Storm to the shorter trails and day rides, but as he turns six, we’ll start dialling things up and expect to see him embarking on his first Wild Coast Horse Trail in the near future.

Aragorn — The Rescue Star

Aragorn came to us from Cintsa Horses Rescue and Rehab Centre, a local horse rescue centre that rescues horses and also offers short beach rides and volunteer opportunities. Sadly, when Aragorn arrived in Cintsa, the team was already at capacity with rehabilitation projects, so they reached out to Wild Coast Horses, knowing Aragorn would find a good, knowledgeable home there.

Although Julie-Anne was initially reluctant to take on an unproven Thoroughbred cross of unknown origins, it didn't take long for Aragorn to worm his way into her heart, and into the A-team. A hard-working horse, Aragorn performs just as well in the school as he does on trail. He's big enough and athletic enough to carry experienced male riders who want a lighter, more responsive mount, and his natural balance and agility make him a pleasure to ride across varied terrain.

Hassan — The Speed Merchant

A 15.2hh Anglo Arab, Hassan is an impressive horse both in the field and under saddle. Before coming to Wild Coast Horses, he was a competitive endurance horse, completing over 1,000km in competition, which tells you a lot about his speed, stamina, and work ethic. While not the easiest of horses, Hassan has tremendous potential as a trail horse for experienced riders who understand his athletic mindset.

His endurance background shines through in his efficient movement and seemingly endless energy reserves, though we're teaching him that not every ride needs to be a race!

Under patient guidance, he's learning to channel his competitive spirit and become a reliable trail partner. He’s a smart horse who learns quickly and responds well to training, so we’re confident he’ll soon become a permanent member of our A-team string! When he does, he’ll give experienced riders the time of their lives, tackling every challenge with enthusiasm.

JFK — The Gentle Giant

Standing over 16hh, JFK, or Just For Kicks, is one of the biggest horses at Wild Coast Horse Trails. He arrived with us nearly two years ago and has undergone a long rehabilitation to help him transition from his career as a racehorse.

It's taken a while to get him to overcome his lack of confidence and we were delighted to see him complete his first mini-trail, ably guided by our Swiss volunteer, Anja, who quickly developed a soft spot for this gentle giant.

Not only does JFK's natural athleticism make for exhilarating beach canters, but his love of water means he's not just confident in water, but eager to lead the way through rivers and into the waves.

He also enjoys a good splash — soaking his rider and anyone else within striking distance with an enthusiastic pawing! This more playful side of his personality is a joy to witness, especially considering how subdued he seemed when he first arrived.

Although JFK’s journey has been slow, he’s made considerable progress and we’re eager to see more of his personality emerge as he starts to fulfill his potential as a trail horse.

Conclusion

Seeing new horses join the team and grow into seasoned trail horses is one of the most rewarding aspects of our work here at Wild Coast Horse Trails. Each success story represents months, sometimes years, of patient training, trust-building, and careful exposure to new experiences.

Watching a formerly nervous horse lead confidently through river crossings or seeing an ex-racehorse learn to enjoy a leisurely beach walk reminds us why we give all types of horses the chance to excel on trail.

It's not just about creating reliable trail partners — it's about helping each of these horses discover their own personalities and strengths — both physically and mentally. In time, each one will contribute something special to the team, making our string as diverse as our riders, and ensuring we can always find a perfect match for you, whatever your experience or preferences.

Meet the Future Stars of the Wild Coast

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