Wild Coast Horses
Horses in Africa

Working Riding Holiday

Escape to Africa for 1 to 12 weeks of horse riding and living on the Wild Coast South Africa.

Are you wondering what to do with yourself and have been thinking of escaping on an adventure?

Does the thought of living like a local while riding and looking after top-class trail horses tick all your boxes?

Are you an independent horse-mad person who loves new experiences?

Are you a fun-loving rider who wants to work with and ride horses everyday?

Are you happy to help our team with the day-to-day care of the horses, schooling, fitness training &
taking local holiday makers on beach rides, as well as helping out with hosting our trail and riding guests?

Did you say yes to all of the above?  Then this is the perfect working riding holiday for you!
We have a long history of doing Working Riding Holidays on the Wild Coast.
Julie-Anne has shared her home, horses and lifestyle with riders from all over the world for nearly 3 decades. 

In fact, many have stayed on to work with us and there have been a few who fell in love with a local and are still here! Then there are the many, many riders who have become friends and love our way of life in this tiny, friendly village on the edge of Africa. Some have returned to volunteer again, others have came back to visit with family and friends. One thing is certain - the Wild Coast is a magical place of wild seas, sandy beaches, spectacular views, warm-hearted people and wonderful horses.

We need your help to look after our amazing team of trail horses, are you keen? 

If you are not so keen to do a working holiday, but still keen to ride with us,
please have a look at our other riding holiday options and stay for a week or two.
1 to 7 night Kei River Stay & Ride Riding Holidays

How it works

  • You come to South Africa on a 90-day holiday visa and stay for 1 to 12 weeks. 

  • You cover your own travelling expenses to and from Kei Mouth, and East London, South Africa.

  • A non-refundable deposit is payable to confirm your place. (25% deposit and balance payable 30 days before you arrive) 

  • You will get to ride as a back-up rider/groom on at least one confirmed multi-day trail along the Wild Coast.

  • Your stay is on a self-catering basis and includes all riding and equine interaction.

  • Your accommodation with Wi-Fi & laundry is provided in a lovely fully self-contained holiday home called Nguni House - you can see more here -  www.keimouthguestlodge.co.za  

  • Meals are  provided  if you are helping to host other riding guests at the guest house or on overnight trails.  Julie-Anne does a weekly roast dinner for everyone when ever she can and the team eats out at least once a week.  

  • There is a small supermarket close by for groceries, snacks and lunch items and local coffee shops for other treats and amazing heat and eat meals. (Meals/food/snacks at local restaurants, pubs & shops are not included) (You can eat really well for about €9/ £7.50/$10 a day, including groceries, snacks and drinks).

  • You have your own private bedroom in a shared house and access to free Wi-Fi.

  • You will need your own money for groceries/spending/lunch/snacks/drinks/weekends/dinners out etc.

  • You will be helping our team to look after other riding guests who are staying with us.

  • You will be assisting the team with the day-to-day care of the horses (grooming & feeding), schooling, fitness training & taking local holiday makers on beach rides.
I am interested in riding with you in 2025  I can't commit to 1 to 12 weeks working holiday but am still interested in 
staying and riding with you on the Wild Coast.
Got questions? Check out our FAQs  and Packing List
EAT, SLEEP, RIDE, REPEAT and LIVE LIKE A LOCAL!

A HORSE-RIDING EXPERIENCE IN SOUTH AFRICA, WHERE HORSES ARE A WAY OF LIFE...

Bring along your spirit of adventure and a love of great outdoors and escape to our horse-filled life in South Africa. Our horses are much loved; they are a mixture of Arab, Boerperd, Thoroughbred and Percheron crosses that are perfect for trail riding. You will be delighted by how gentle, well-trained and friendly they are! The trail team is kept endurance fit to be able to complete our adventure trails along the coast, while our younger horses are brought on carefully with ground work and schooling.

What you will experience.

Understanding and practicing the principles of holistic horse care of horses that live out year-round in the African bush.

• Daily care of the horses, including grooming and feeding.
• Cleaning tack and equipment and basic yard maintenance. 
• Introduction to barefoot trimming, riding and management.
• Our horses all live out, so there are no stables to muck out. 
• We do regular ground work with our horses.
• Exercising & schooling horses in basic flat work & jumping.
• Fitness training, exercise & care of the horses.
• Assisting and taking out local holiday makers on beginner and more advanced out rides in Kei Mouth & Morgan Bay.

Daily Routine
Our horses live out 24/7 in paddocks situated at the Kei Mouth Country Club about 2.5km from where we live. We go to the yard everyday at 8am, and bring the horses in for feeding, grooming and checking. The rest of the morning is spent riding and schooling the horses or taking out any beach rides that are booked.
After lunch, rides depend on how hot it is and in winter, we need to be back before the sunsets. The horses are fed again in the afternoon and turned out for the night.
Our schedule changes from week to week, and revolves around beach ride bookings and our overnight trails arriving and departing, so there is always something different and interesting happening. 

Other Activities

Sunday is a free day for you to sleep in, enjoy beach time, go out for lunch or just chill out and watch Netflix!   

During the week we will make sure that there is plenty of free time for the beach and other local activities and outings, including game drives, paddling, abseiling, hiking, river cruise, spa treatments, local markets, restaurants, evenings out or even a deep sea trip with Clint to view dolphins!  You are here for at least a month, so there is plenty of time to fit everything in!  For more information on our village life, go to www.keimouth.co.za .
 Working Riding Holiday Program

Availability

We have available places throughout the year and normally have 4 riders staying with us at any one time.  

We prefer riders to arrive during the week Mon - Thurs. 

  • South African residents that book direct with us qualify for a discount and can also apply for an internship.

Want more information?

Got questions? Check out our FAQs, and if you still can't find the answer, send us an email!

Chat to riders who have been to us https://www.facebook.com/groups/wildcoasthorses/

Find all the great photos https://www.facebook.com/Wild.Coast.Horse.Riding.Adventures

https://www.instagram.com/wildcoasthorses/

Read great blogs from riders who have stayed with us.

https://wildcoasthorses.com/the-truth-about-volunteering-at-wild-coast-horses/ 

https://wildcoasthorses.com/blog/ 
I am keen to find out more.
Message us for available dates
Working Riding Holiday

Prices

Your holiday package Includes the following.

Accommodation with own private bedroom in a shared house, Wi-Fi, laundry, all horse riding and equine interactions. Meals are not included and are Self-Catering.  

Prices quoted are for 2025 - please contact us for the 2026 rates.
1 - 3 weeks Short Stay 

  • 1 week R18 620.00 

  • 2 weeks R19 250.00 

  • 3 weeks R28875.00 

  •  You will help out at the horses, and we will make sure that you get to do lots of riding!

  • Join a Riding with Touch Workshop if one is scheduled during your stay.

  • Add in a Mini Trail at a reduced rate.

 Yes! I want to book a short stay
4 to 9 weeks 

  • 4 weeks R38 500,00 

  • 5 weeks R48 250.00

  • 6 weeks R57 750.00

  • 7 weeks R67 375.00

  • 8 weeks R77 000.00 

  • 9 weeks R86 625.00

  • FREE Mini Beach Trail

  • 2 day Riding with Touch Workshop.

 Yes!  I want to book 
10 to 12 weeks 

  • 10 weeks R96 250.00

  • 11 weeks R105 875.00

  • 12 weeks R115 500.00 

  • Join other trails as back up rider if required.

  • Eat, Sleep, Ride, repeat and live like a local

  • FREE Wild Coast Trail

  • Join all Riding with Touch Workshops

 Yes!  I want to book 
Got questions? Check out our FAQs and Packing List

Fill in the form and let's start making your dream a reality!

Enquiry for 2025 / 2026
Working Riding Holiday enquiry for 2025 /2026 E-mail Where are you from? Mobile phone/WhatsApp contact number How long do you want to stay? When do you want to come to South Africa? Who referred you to us? Please tell us a little bit about your riding experience. What do you want to get out of this experience?
I understand the following.
I am a paying guest volunteering on a hands on get involved working riding holiday.
I will be assisting the team with the day to day care of the horses, including, but not limited to - groom, feed, clean tack, light yard work etc as well as schooling, fitness training & taking local holiday makers on beach rides.
I am committed to having fun and taking full advantage of this amazing opportunity to ride horses and experience life on the Wild Coast South Africa.
I would like to book the Volunteer Work Riding Holiday