True Confessions From A
Pioneering Riding Holiday Addict

Nicky Hoseck

I’ve been working with Wild Coast Horses (on and off) for over 20 years. Some of our clients weren’t even born when I started, and many hadn’t yet experienced their first taste of life in the saddle, which is why I want to share the story of Judith Turner. 

A third-time return client, Judith has (wait for it)... been going on horse riding holidays since before I was born! Back in 1973, at the tender age of 19, she spotted a small advert buried in the depths of a weekend newspaper—and set off on her first solo adventure.

The First Fix: How It All Began

While she didn’t travel far in terms of miles—only as far as Wales—the distance she travelled in sheer nerve, naïveté, and aching muscles was truly epic.

Not only did she get her first taste of what she now freely admits is an addiction, but she also met someone who would remain a close friend until she died a couple of years ago. 

Strangely enough, they never went another riding holiday together—but they’d already shared the start of something truly special, both in terms of their friendship and Judith’s lifelong love affair with horse riding holidays.

Despite her love of horses and eagerness to travel solo, university got in the way of Judith’s riding adventures. It wasn’t until after she graduated that she returned to the saddle—this time in Portugal. There, she met the first of many “very fierce horsey ladies that you come across,” she smiles.

True to form, the fierce horsey lady remained stubbornly fierce throughout Judith’s visit—and was just as unyielding when she took them round some rather scary jumps on her final day. 

Nevertheless, Judith recalls, “I remember thinking, ‘This is my one riding holiday,’ then I realised I was hooked.”

“It’s my only addiction. It’s quite expensive but reasonably healthy.”

From Colorado to the Kei: One Rider’s Global Gallop

Since then, Judith has been returning to the same ranch in the US for 25 years, clocking up around 35 or so riding holidays there alone. In addition to that somewhat epic achievement, she’s also squeezed in two or three other adventures every year. To say she’s the most experienced horse riding holiday maker I’ve ever met would be no understatement! Yes, Tony Marshall, you’ve still got a ways to go yet!

At present, Judith still returns to her favourite ranch in the US every year catching up with old friends and, until a year or two ago, riding her all-time favourite trail horse, Ironman. As far as Judith is concerned, Lost Valley Ranch is still “the best thing since sliced bread,” although her visits may be coming to an end as distance and cost become increasingly restrictive.

Although Judith has a special place in her heart for another riding holiday closer to home in Spain, that hasn’t stopped her from making the long-haul journey to South Africa for another stint on the Wild Coast. Why?

Partly, she says, it’s the people—and partly, it’s the unparalleled beauty of Wavecrest Hotel.

What Matters More Than Horses on a Riding Holiday?

For Judith, it’s the people who really make or break a riding holiday.  

“The people are the most important thing. You can have great food and great horses, but if the people are horrible, you’re not going to have a good time.”

In this age of digital communication, she says, it’s even harder to know what to expect before you arrive.

“If you speak to them on the phone and they’re not friendly, they’re not going to be any better in reality,” she asserts.

Riding Holiday Advice for Beginners—from Someone Who Knows

With so much experience under her belt, Judith’s the perfect person to advise newcomers on choosing their first riding holiday. When I ask her for her hard-earned wisdom, the first thing she says is, “Start simple.”

Don’t go on a trail ride for your first experience, she advises. If you’re not up to the pace or things get too much, you won’t have the option to sit out a ride or take a breather. A centre-based ride is far more flexible—it’s easier to swap horses if you’re not coping, or take a break if those pesky saddle sores start bringing tears to your eyes!

She also recommends booking through a reputable agent—like the ones Wild Coast Horses works with—who can match you to the right destination, riding level, and style of trip. Judith herself has been booking her holidays through In The Saddle since 2001 and says their knowledge and support have been invaluable.

Going through an agent also gives you peace of mind and pretty much guarantees a high standard of horse care and condition. 

Long Canters and Easy Access: The Wild Coast’s Perfect Ride

Of course, what makes a good experience for one person isn’t necessarily the same for the next—but for many, Judith included, a little speed goes a long way. ide. 

"I like a bit of speed,” she admits. “My friends think I’m crazy and always going too fast, but I just enjoy a nice, long canter—it doesn’t have to be that fast.”

If there’s one thing the Wild Coast has in spades, its opportunities for nice, long canters—which, alongside Judith’s love of Wavecrest Hotel and the staff at Wild Coast Horses, is what keeps her coming back for more. On the subject of Wavecrest, she says, “This setting for me is just perfect. I just think it’s wonderful.”

To my surprise, she also says one of the reasons she keeps coming back is because it’s so “handy”! “I can get here easily from Johannesburg,” she says—even though she’s flying in from the north of England. Just goes to show—it’s all about perspective.

And clearly, cantering down an empty beach is a reward worth crossing time zones for—especially when you live in the middle of England, far from the sea and the wide-open feeling it brings: “I like riding at the beach. It’s quite a nice freedom, really.”

Conclusion

Judith may have started her riding holiday journey with a yellowing newspaper clipping and a leap of faith, but decades later, she’s still chasing hoofprints across continents—with the same sense of adventure and love for the ride. 

Whether it’s a dusty ranch in Colorado, a mountain pass in Spain, or a windswept beach on the Wild Coast, she reminds us that it’s not just about the horses (though they help); it’s about the people, the place, and that unbeatable feeling of freedom in the saddle. 

And if Judith can still hop a flight and canter down a South African beach after 50 years of riding holidays, what’s stopping you?