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The objective
of this programme is the transfer of equine skills to under-privileged
local youth in the Morgan Bay township. Mkulu Kei Horse Trails initiated
our own community development project 10 years ago and we are very
proud of the impact it has made to the young boys, who in turn will
make a difference to their community. By getting the education of
a sustainable professional skill these boys are already encouraging
and motivating youth and community development. Financially sustained
by Mkulu Kei through our working gap volunteers and donations from
our clients this project keeps the youth off the street reducing theft
and encouraging a center of learning. In the poverty stricken Eastern
Cape in South Africa these Xhosa boys would just be absorbed into
“Umona” a deep intense jealousy, a crab in a bucket where
individualism and success are not admired. By encouraging good work
ethics, the speaking English language and a sustainable, employable
skill we are, through education, encouraging an infrastructure that
will impact on the apathetic cultural situation.
“Umona” prefers that everyone experience the same
hardship. Their destiny; poverty and hopelessness. Our riding
training project is open at all the children, but we can only
concentrate on a few at a time. All the kids that have attended
on a regular basis can ride, some better than others and we
have three boys who are extremely talented. These are our
leaders, not just in the development project but also in the
community. Their leadership skills come with good work ethics
- no work no pay, no school attendance no horse riding. This
Mkulu Kei community initiative has already made an impact
on young lives but it will be in the future that the real
difference will be seen in full.
"A real ride to many places at any paces"
Mkulu Kei Horse
Trails Horse Riding Development Programme.
The aim of this motivational project is skills transfer to local
underprivileged children.
You too could pass on your equine knowledge, with our volunteer
working exchange gap riding holiday opportunity. Take a gap
from your studies and pass on your equestrian knowledge and
skills at Mkulu Kei Horse Trails.
See
You in the saddle Soon!
Our development project is aimed at Morgan Bay
local children between the ages of 6 years to 16 years from
families who do not have the finances to enable the child to
have this kind of experience. Children who would probably not
learn to ride a horse or pony and then they would never learn
the finer skills to be a horseman.
I cannot imagine life without my horses,
I watch my own children interrelate with their ponies, they
have grown up learning to care, love, and respect horses which
I believe encourages them to be better people, better equipped
to understand the needs of others. I have watched my client’s
faces as they take their first ride and conquer the idea of
controlling their fears on an animal so huge. The faces say
it all, I have witnessed clients riding ability, confidence
improves and I can understand just how much fun they are having.
How proud they are of their achievements.
As a qualified tour guide I have tried to encourage others to
understand just how much of an impact we have on our environment,
and how we can make a difference. I want to share my equestrian
knowledge with those less privileged, and on the volunteer exchange
program you could too. This is an opportunity to make a difference
on the working riding holiday by teaching and encouraging underprivileged
children like September, who through the development programme
and his own hard work has developed into a gifted horseman.
There is a sense of freedom, power and confidence when working
with horses. We at Mkulu Kei Horse Trails would like to pass
on our love for equines and hopefully some valuable life lessons.
We believe this programme is fun and gives the children a valuable
new skill that will give them better employment prospects; good
work ethics and hence become less dependent on handouts. We
aim to equip the children with the basic skills needed to further
develop careers as jockeys, ranch hands, tour guides, instructors,
and stable hands or even, ride for South Africa. There is so
much unemployment in the Eastern Cape and by teaching new employable
skills we are opening job opportunities to the children when
they grow up.
Alcohol addiction is a huge problem in this area and hope we
can influence a good work ethic and intolerance to alcohol.
We hope to discourage the dependency on alcohol as an adult
by offering another option. Any child caught fighting, stealing,
swearing or drinking is disqualified from the development project.
Attendance at school is a criteria to the project. No school
– no riding.
The backbone of this project is skills training and learning,
while having fun. We give the children the opportunity to learn
how to ride, communicate, and care for horses safely, teaching
them riding skills, basic stable management in addition to grooming,
feeding and basic medical treatment, while improving their skills
of the English language. We believe that by giving the children
a chance to learn to ride and be responsible not just for them
selves but for an animal and those around them, they will develop
confidence and become leaders in the community.
Some of the children have developed a passion for horses and
will take their riding further. Xhosa’s do not have pets
and do not have a natural empathy for animals. They are extremely
superstitious of cats; dogs are used for hunting, goats for
sacrifice purposes, “cattle is money in the bank”.
The Xhosa nation as a community are not encouraged to be horseman,
unlike their inland brethren closer to the Drakensberg mountains who
are. The Sotho have their Basutu pony and are internationally renowned
for their horsemanship skills, yet there are job opportunities in
this area as stockmen, and in the bigger cities well paid groom positions
which are not being filled by Xhosas.
(It is politically correct to say black, white or coloured when referring
to race in South Africa)
Traditionally the whites born in this area all speak beautiful
Xhosa resulting in the Xhosa’s seldom mastering the
English language, as a result the local blacks were limited
to finding work opportunities only in the Eastern Cape thereby
losing out of the better paid salaries of the bigger centres.
Nelson Mandela, (Madiba as he is affectionately known by all)
changed that and brought in the English language into the
curriculum at school level. We at Mkulu Kei Horse Trails give
the children an opportunity to practice and better their newfound
language.
In order to ride the children have to help me on the ground
with lead rein clients, carrying saddles, washing bits and
general help around the stable. We have just had our first
Xhosa girls joining us, very out of culture, and time will
tell if they keep coming back. The Xhosa girl’s tradionally
work at home fetching water, wood etc.
My “little guys” are doing so well in season I
invite a few to join us on a ride with my clients on the day
rides. All are cantering beautifully and some are now jumping.
Two of the children; Alex and
September, are both riding so well they have helped me as
a second guide with big groups. A third child October although
young and only just started riding is showing me the same
gift and passion September did at his age.
What I personally enjoy is seeing the boys now interrelating
with my clients and offering their riding skills and encouragement.
My man September.
September is a very slightly built 14 year old, who has the
riding skills and knowledge to make something of him self.
He has a gift, a talent and passion. Having joined the development
program some 6 years ago he has captured our heart and attention.
We have been nurturing not only his equine skills but his
social skills too. He comes from a rural background. His father
is a farm worker at the local dairy and his mom a part time
house cleaner. They live in a mud hut without running water,
electricity or even a bathroom.
September has the talent and ability to be way more than
just a talented rider, he could make something of his life.
We believe with your help he could make a career out of horses.
I have promised September I will find someone who can market
him as a person, find him a sponsor, possibly for a career
in racing. Although his interest lies in show jumping he will
find it hard to make a career out of shows in this country.
I believe by January 2011 he will be ready to face his future.
We believe he would do very well as a jockey if he were to
go that route. He will require not just the opportunity but
the correct clothing, air tickets and pocket money. Anyone
who helps this child will not be wasting there time.
Many holidaymakers asked about the small child riding the
big black horse on the beach this season 2008-2009. That was
my man September on a 4-year-old Friesian stallion. He had
Zeus looking like a show horse, on the bit and moving beautifully.
Please help me to help the talented development
children.
We at Mkulu Kei Horse Trails, the two and the four legged
would like to say a big Thank you to all our guests for donations
to wards the development project.
You could be here volunteering on your coastal horse-working gap exchange
riding vacation and making a difference in the lives of a rural community
with our development project. As a paying volunteer not only your
time and equestrian skills but also part of your daily rate is used
to sustain our development activities.
This is an opportunity to join an exchange working gap holiday experience
in a family business; the more you put in the more you get back.
Ever thought you would like to canter your horse along a beach,
or play in the waves?
The sound of the horse's hoofs on the sand or splash of the water
will live with you forever. Combine your dream on a working holiday.
Take a gap at Mkulu Kei Horse Trails
You could be here volunteering on your coastal
horse-working gap exchange riding vacation and making a difference
in the lives of a rural black community.
This is a totally different opportunity to join a exchange
working gap holiday experience in a family business, the more
you put in the more you get back.
Ever thought you would like to canter your horse along a beach,
or play in the waves?
The sound of the horse's hoofs on the sand or splash of the
water will live with you forever. Combine your dream on a
working holiday. Take a gap at Mkulu Kei Horse Trails.
This is a project Mkulu Kei Horse Trails is proud of and
sponsored by Mkulu Kei with your help. We use your donations
towards the general running of the project. This includes
giving the children pocket money, T-shirts. On occasion’s
food, school shoes and we have had a number of children parties
(with chips, sweets and cool drinks) something they would
never experience.
As we are trying to help September not only with his riding
skills but his social skills too we have taken him out for
meals at the hotel.
Please we require donations of children’s jodhpurs,
riding boots and riding hats. I would like to upgrade the
children’s dress code for pride and safety reasons.
(6 years-16 years) Second hand or new.
Thank You.
Cheryl
P O Box 25, Haga Haga 5272,
Eastern Cape, South Africa.
During the day please contact me on the cell, I am
probably horsing around.
Signal can be irregular, please leave a message or phone
me on the landline in the evenings.
See
You in the saddle Soon! 
