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Mkulu Kei Horse Trails |
Mares |
A Wild Coast horse riding trail with Mkulu Kei is an
ideal chance to explore the scenic Transkei coastline on a guided
horseback adventure on a South African horse riding holiday. Tranquil
accommodation and adventure horse riding getaway giving you the
chance to relax, unwind and explore the very best that South Africa
has to offer. Travellers to Mkulu Kei horse riding holidays on their
journey along the secluded coastline cannot believe the natural
beauty, vast sandy beaches and the fact that there are so few people.
The magnificent Transkei Wild Coast South Africa’s best-kept secret
and nature lover’s paradise for those with a sense of adventure. A
fully guided horse riding holiday staying in beach hotels on route, a
premier horse back beach riding holiday a exhilarating exciting way
to explore our scenic underdeveloped coastline. With a chance to
extend your stay in South Africa working with horses at Mkulu Kei
horse trails on a working riding career break opportunity.
"A real ride to many places at any paces"
Our main working team of trail horses are
geldings and are used for the beach rides, we use the mares when more horses are required in a busy
season, at Lalapanzi on the safari rides, on the children’s or school pony camps and for breeding the
perfect trail horse. What is a perfect trail horse? For us an equine
that is easy to work with on the ground and in the saddle. A horse
more
than a pony in size, well trained, brave, sure-footed, responsive,
patient, with no physiological problems and having an individual
personality. They can be for any rider’s equine capability, however
they are not so easy to find, the good horses already have homes so
we started our own breeding program. Some of our babies are now in
work and our stud is proving to be a success. Horseback safari
adventures along the South African, Eastern Cape, Wild Coast. For
your equine riding holiday and African gap year & career break
adventure. Mkulu Kei Horse Trails.
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As a volunteer as part of your holiday abroad,
when we are not riding, more out of season it is the mares and foals
we work with the most. As the geldings are ridden regularly at the
beach stable, the mares need to be ridden, schooled and going for the
youth camps. We use the mares as riding horses in lessons, to
introduce the foals to the concept of working at the beach. The foals
need to be handled and halter trained, your extra pair of hands can
make the difference in a young horse’s life.
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Our horses run in natural family units within
the herd in huge camps where we do not interfere with the pecking
order and social structure. In the herd they are allowed to be
natural horses. We embarked on our own breeding programme in 2000. In
the next few years we however want to reduce the number of foals born
as we have a young herd of working horses and can now afford to
reduce the number of births and the mares will be ridden more often
at the beach. Easier said than done as the mares and stallions have
minds of their own and fences are easy to jump for a determined
equine.
Photos of a foal being born.
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Most of our foals are born naturally without any assistance however when I saw the size of
the foals legs I knew the mare and foal would require help. At
birth the foal was the height of an average 6 month old Friesian foal.
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Anyone present at a birth of a foal
and watched a foal getting to its feet and sucking for the
first time cannot help but to be impressed with the miracle
of nature. A foal should stand on it’s own for the first time
within an hour, (some 15 minutes others 2 hours) and suck as
soon as possible. It is extremely important that the foal in
its first suck takes in a substantial quantity of colostrums.
The foal’s mother’s antibodies in the colostrums are absorbed
into the foal’s blood stream, once protein has been
swallowed; the pathway is blocked to further transfer. It is
extremely important that the foal absorbs the antibodies to
start his healthy life. |
Mares:
With a description of each horse as you would
find her on an average day.
Atlanta
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Friesian X Saddler
Born: 28/08/05
16.2hh
Black
Sire: Poseidon.
Dam: Flicka.
Experienced
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Atlanta is a beautiful black mare with her
mother’s large expressive eyes and attitude to gates; she goes where
she wants to graze.
She has potential both as a big trail ride
with lots of confidence and as a brood mare. Atlanta has started her
working career having worked both on the shorter rides and the longer
trails. Atlanta was always a flighty horse in the field she was more
difficult to work with on the ground than many of our babies. We all
commented that she was going to be harder to back than our other
progeny. What a surprise. She loved working from the second she had
her first rider. Luisa got on her back for the first time and Atlanta
realized what she was. A big mare that was born to be ridden. She
took the lead of the group and responded to all commands. Comfortable
in the lead, happy at the back of the ride, in the sea and passing
cars she took to being ridden like a duck to water.
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As a ride she is very responsive; more for the
advanced rider, as she moves forward easily with her long strides. Destined to be one of our very popular trail
rides and with her height a big brood mare. Atlanta will spend her
next few years as a riding horse, only letting her foal once she has
fully grown out. Well that is our plan until one night she escaped
and went looking for her man. We found her in the field with 29 colts
and stallions grazing happily. Three geldings had surrounded her in a
triangle and all horses where peaceful noses down eating. No fighting, squealing or drama. We had expected the worst and she never
conceived.
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Caribbean
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Friesian X Arab
Born: 27/12/04
16.hh
Blue roan
Sire: Prince.
Dam: Jamaica.
Intermediate-Experienced.
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Caribbean wanted her own rider like her mom.
Her mother Jamaica was our schoolmaster and used for lessons.
Caribbean joined her mother trotting over trotting poles, bending
poles and even jumps from a few days old. One morning Caribbean
nudged Johnny who was carrying his 18-month-old daughter at the time
until Johnny placed Skye on Caribbean’s back. Then she was happy and
proud she had her own rider.
She, at 6 months,
had backed herself!
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Caribbean has her daddy’s personality; she
wants loves and does not always take no for an answer. Caribbean is not
pushy on the ground but will stand patiently waiting for attention,
following your every move with her eyes but when you move she follows
you. You share your shoes with her and can play follow my leader
through any obstacle course. Maturing into a very kind, affectionate
mare, bigger than her mother and she will still grow out later. Her
brother Excalibur grew out late and only bulked out at 6-7 years. |
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Caribbean lost the foal she was carrying, it was not a
planned pregnancy our neighbours stallion jumped the fence,
2009 has been a very hard year with little to no rain and
the grass exceptionally dry. A blessing as we don’t like our
mares to foal too young, it stunts their growth and we will
let her conceive again only after a few years of working.
Caribbean is officially backed and going but more skittish
than we expected and does not like to get her feet wet. She
avoids the puddles and even the wet sea sand, she is taking
longer than our other horses to accept the sea, but she
never went as a foal. Her mother was our schoolmaster at the
homestead and used for lessons in the school. She is more at
home in the arena with trotting poles and jumps and as that
is where she will be used more with the pony camp. We will
give her the time to confidently work out that the sea does
not swallow horses alive.
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Cheyenne
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Paint X
Born: 2003
15.1hh
Blue Roan
Sire: unknown.
Dam: unknown.
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Cheyenne was involved in a horsebox accident
as a young foal. When she came to us she was petrified of everything,
now on the ground she is great. But she still has major issues, we
can't touch her muzzle and she won’t accept a halter. From what we
have established she was tied with her halter and trapped in the
horsebox when it rolled. There is no point in stressing her further
we just need to work around the problem. She accepts a strap around
her neck, loves an ear scratch and happily walks up to you in the
field.
When she is stressed she rears up. We work
with her in her own time. It is worth the extra five seconds to settle
her. |
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She has given us two stunning colts
Maverick and Jack Sparrow. Unfortunately when we moved location
Cheyenne went walk about to one of the neighbouring farms with
Jack Sparrow, then a small foal at foot. We hunted but could not
find them in the ravines for a few days. When we did locate them,
Cheyenne had reverted back to the nervous feral condition she was
when we first got her and could not get near her or the foal.
During this time we lost one of Jack's ears to screwworm. Now
Cheyenne is back to trusting us again and happy to get in our
pocket on her terms. She is young and has thrown quality foals
and is very content when pregnant so we can afford to leave her
as a brood mare.
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Cinnamon
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Appaloosa X
Born: 8/11/2002.
14hh
Sire: unknown.
Dam: Paula.
Intermediate-Experienced.
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Cinnamon was given to us at 6 months an
insipid, sickly filly, that we nicknamed "Sheep". My understanding
is she lost her mother a few weeks after birth and was bullied by
the whole herd. Cinnamon wanted the stallion at all costs, to the
point of climbing through fences. Pregnant with Spice she was like
a butterfly - her conference and attitude changed, she now stands
up for her rights, is accepted in the herd and has blossomed in
looks before our eyes. |
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A very pretty, unusual coloured horse
with incredible eyes. Backed but too tiny to carry much weight I will
re-back her after the birth of her second foal, Our plan is to use
her in the arena and has potential to be a very sweet child’s pony.
She gave us a strikingly beautiful, showy
filly, Spice.
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Jessica
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Reg. Welsh Pony
Born: 2000
1.2 hh
Grey
Sire: Waiting for papers
Dam:
Intermediate-Experienced.
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Jessica is a little madam nicknamed Miss Piggy
because she had no tail when we bought her, she was standing at a
dairy farm and the cows ate it!
A little horse with a “look at me” attitude.
Very showy. Nice small pony attitude and would hold her own in a
showing class Jessica is used in the lessons and pony camps.
She gave us a stunning filly from Spirit
called “Paris Hilton” |
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Flake
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Boerperd X
Born: 1996
14.3 hh
Bay
Sire: unknown.
Dam: unknown.
Intermediate.
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See
You in the saddle soon! |
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Flake was one of the original horses we
purchased from a truck load of abused and unwanted horses. Her
history is unknown but she does not like men, hates if you raise your
voice and she needs to know her rider before she really gives of
herself. She would be happier being ridden by one person only, her
eyes tell it all; a deep sadness with a history of abuse. We have to
handle her every day to keep the trust and she goes feral very
quickly.
Flake is a schooled, honest, weight carrier, with
a good forward moving floating pace. A mare we have not used in
riding to her full potential, but Flake is 100% mom and way prefers
raising foals. She can be used in the arena, although moves better on
the shorter out rides.
Flake is valuable as a brood mare, throwing
quality foals and hard working progeny like Robin Hood, Travis, Black
Jack, Demeter, Esmeralda and Black Berry.
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Gwenevier
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Boerperd X
Born: 1996
15.2 hh
Bay
Sire: unknown.
Dam: unknown.
Intermediate+-Experienced.
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Gwenevier a schooled, forward moving, honest,
hard working, mare with a big heart that likes to please and loves to
swim. Gwenevier gives what you ask and a bit more, she is a very
popular ride. "A trail horse in a million". Superb temperament, kind,
gentle personality, loyal, fearless, loves to be in the front and
take the lead. A nice ride in the arena even though she is not on the
bit. She is a confidant horse taking the lead over jumps, trotting
poles etc but can get a bit excited in gymkhana games. We bought
Gwenevier at a dubious auction in horrific condition. I was not sure
we would get her home alive, she was terribly thin and full of huge
old scars across her chest from a big accident, Fence, car? She is
inclined to loose weight very quickly when feeding a foal but she
picks up quickly once the foal is weaned.
She has proven to be an unsuspected success
story. She loves the longer trails and has given us three fillies,
Cleopatra, Aphrodite, Lola.
Aging fast, 2009 has been a hard year with
little to no rain and in the sour veld the grass has been of very
poor quality and Gwenevier took strain, but once the green grass came
through she improved quickly.
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Joan of Arc
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Friesian
Born: 25/10/2000
17.0 hh
Black
Sire: Grant.
Dam: Louna.
Intermediate-Experienced.
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Joan of Arc, one of the first horses to be
bred and trained by us. She has had the perfect upbringing. Joan of
Arc is a stunning mare in terms of height, stature and temperament. A
big strong lady, who is easy to work with on the ground, a ladies
hack with superb high action, that is honest and forward moving. A
mare we have not used to her full potential as a riding horse or for
the carriage as she happier raising foals. Weaning her babies however
is a nightmare, and she ends up feeding them until they are nearly
fully grown and looses too much condition. Joan of Arc was the inspiration for our very successful weaning halters. See our tack
shop pages. |
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Joan of Arc is one of our most valuable brood
mares in our Friesian breeding program. Mother to Zeus, our first
third generation foal, now a young stallion and fillies Esperanca,
Berica and Zena.
When Berica was born, I saw Joan of Arc lying
down, when she saw me she got up and walked about 20 meters towards
me and then turned her hindquarters. I saw two feet that were
sticking out but the shoulders and head were stuck! Joan had come to
look for help, we pulled out the foal and all was well.
Absolute
proof of the intelligence of a horse; their reasoning, problem
solving abilities and of a good bond between us.
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Nibbles
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Basuto X Boerperd
Born: 1998
14.3hh
Bay
Sire: Bullet
Dam: Millie
Intermediate-Experienced.
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Nibbles was given to Luisa at 2 years old and
was a hand-reared orphan with the worst stable manners! Dangerous in
the front, scary from the back, have food and she will eat your hand
for it. She must have been spoilt and hungry, associating humans with
food. She hates men and still storms Don, tolerates women and loves
children and will do anything, jump anything for a little girl.
Get on her back and she is a pleasure to ride,
flies over anything, would do very well in competitive jumping, she
is brave, responsive and enjoys big jumps. She covers ground with her
long floating action and when you are on her back she feels bigger
than she is.
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Nibbles is an incredibly energetic horse,
she trots in the field and seldom walks, if she is not eating she
is moving with her family unit in tow. A very dominant mare with
her babies and does not allow her foals to interact with the
other horses, making working with them on the ground a nightmare.
If we are moving horses to the next field she bolts with family
behind her, seldom in the direction we want her to go.
A real asset as a child's second pony, bold,
honest, schooled, forward moving, willing, jumps, swims and loves to
please under saddle. Nibbles loves any work, arena or out rides. She
would have made a good cross-country horse; this mare is brave and
willing to jump anything. A great kids pony but can get a bit
competitive in gymkhana games.
She gave us three cheeky foals
Moon Dance, Nippit (Megabyte) and Flash Drive. Once weaned the foals
do improve their manners! |
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See You in the saddle soon! |
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Nippit (Mega Byte)
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Friesian X Basuto pony X Boerperd
Born: 23/09/05
16.3 hh
Bay
Sire: Poseidon.
Dam: Nibbles.
Intermediate-Experienced.
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Nippit, a bigger, kinder version of her mother
Nibbles. A “nice” mare, put together well, strong, very friendly and easy to work with if in the field without her mom. Even
at the age of three Nippit charges back to her side if mommy calls.
She uses her ears a lot more than other horses, she puts them back as
if angry and changes her mind and climbs into your pocket. She is
totally joined up and comes when called. I have high expectations for
this big mare. I believe she is going to be an asset both in work and
as a brood mare.
She has just started her working career and is
a really nice big ride, forward moving and willing, wants to please.
Not for beginner riders, she can spook, but is already on the bit and
a quick learner. Even under saddle her mannerisms and movement is as
her mothers but without the attitude. A great trail horse for more
experienced riders that like a horse to responds quickly with a
energetic pace. |
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Come Ride with Us. . .
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Starlight
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Miniature
Born: 1999
90 cm
Black
Sire: unknown.
Dam: unknown.
Lead rein
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Starlight looks like a Miniature Friesian mare with along flashy
mane. A sweet mare, except when she is pregnant. Then she transfers
into a man-eating monster, but two days after the foal is born her
sweet nature is back. A little mare for little people on lead rein.
We assumed her to be pregnant to King Arthur, a miniature stallion,
90cm high, Oops!
Pregnant to Poseidon a 17.2 hh purebred
Friesian stallion. The result; Thumbelina, a cute real miniature X
Friesian filly already bigger than Starlight. We could have a perfect
kids pony, small but strong and very pretty.
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Watch this space to find out more. Jiminy Cricket a second foal and a third colt to Poseidon.
Stuart Little. Starlight obviously likes her man to be big and
strong. She cannot be contained as she walks through any fence, so if
she wants a baby that is it.
A mare has the ability to retain the size of a
foal in uterus there by having a foal she can cope with at birth. The
foal grows out after birth.
I fancy six miniature Friesians to pull my
antique carriage
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Tenacity
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Saddler X
Born: 1999
15 hh
Bay
Sire: unknown.
Dam: Flicka.
Intermediate-Experienced.
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Tenacity was given her name for a reason, she
was rescued when she fell into a flooding river just after birth and
had to be rescued and revived. Rescued again from uncaring owners in
terrible condition six months later, having completely lost her ear,
due to an infection and screw- worm. Her lack of ear adds to her
character and personality. Bold, honest and forward moving. She
struggles with vertigo in some situations. Tenacity is a really nice
comfortable ride and with her long legs covers ground easily. A
really good ride if you set the tone that you are taking her for a
ride and not her taking you.
Watch out; her back end is dangerous. If she knows you are working
behind she is fine, but don’t surprise her, she is fast.
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We have a foal! We put Tenacity to 7 different
stallions over the years and gave up trying to get her pregnant, it
was not through lack of trying on her part - she is a very loose
lady.
On the morning of 30/7/2006 Tenacity had a
foal, one beautiful filly Tenacious Spirit. We thought Tenacity had
stolen a foal from another mare then we realized it was hers!
Thinking back I had put her with Spirit as a companion a year prior.
I smile, Tenacity showed no signs of pregnancy, she has a very long
back. About a week before the birth. I said to her she was getting
fat and if I did not know better I would think she was pregnant. She
had the last laugh.
Unfortunately she lost her second foal, the
township dogs killed the foal as it was being born.
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Thumbelina
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Miniature x Friesian
Born: 31/08/05
Black
Sire: Poseidon.
Dam: Starlight.
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Thumbelina came to us as a surprise. It was
not that we did not know her mother was pregnant, Starlight looked
like a beached whale, but rather who the father was. King Arthur, a
miniature stallion, was supposed to be daddy, but Starlight (90cm
high), wanted Poseidon, a huge Friesian standing 17.2hh, the result -
Thumbelina. At 2 yrs old she stood the height of a 3 day old foal
Spice. A cute real miniature Friesian filly bigger than
Starlight. A forward moving little lady that has awesome motion,
attitude and confirmation. A very flashy, showy mare that moves as if
on a cloud, tossing her long mane. A mare with her father’s nature,
except near food.
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Thumbelina, loves children. She follows the
development children round like a puppy and wants to be ridden.
We put her saddle on and one of our
development kids jumped on her back and off she went like she had
been ridden all her life, keeping up with the front horses taking 4
steps to every one of the bigger horses. We laughed watching
September posting at the trot with Thumbelina’s legs moving in a
blur. She loved every second of her first ride and was reluctant to
have her saddle removed. However on the fifth ride she got
competitive, challenging the front horse for a race. We have not had
the opportunity to use her at the beach stables much since the
stallions are back in the working herd. |
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Thumbelina is not a child’s first pony. She is
forward moving, flighty, moving from A-B in a big competitive hurry
to keep up with the horses 4 times her size. She was very happy to
pass dogs, trucks and wade in the sea but can spook at movement in
the grass. Brave at what she can see. She would make a competitive
lead rein pony as she moves so easily. We have plans to put her and
her brothers in harness.
We are going to spend time with her as she has
huge potential and is as cute as a button under saddle. As she
matures she could well be used for less experienced riders but for
now only takes kids that do know how to ride.
Watch this space to
find out more.
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Topaz
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Part Arab
Born: 1/10/1998
15.2hh
Bay
Sire: Al Adiyat Shabah.
Dam: Torstone Starlight.
Intermediate - Experienced.
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Topaz, a kind mare with beautiful eyes, a
gentle temperament, soft personality and perfect manners. A people
pleaser and has no vices. She is a surefooted, bold, schooled, solid,
forward moving mare that swims the sea or rivers with ease. A very
loved trail horse and is often requested for repeat trails, happy to
take the front or the back of a ride. She will go at any pace you
ask, no fuss no fight, and a pleasure to work with. A team player
that likes a good race on the beach. We use Topaz in the riding
lessons, and pony camps as she jumps with ease and works well in an
arena. In 2008 Topaz came in from the field having
been caught in a wire snare just below the hock, dragging a huge
tree. The wire was so tight and imbedded that we battled to cut the
wire out of her swollen leg. We then struggled to get on top of the
infection, screwworm and proud flesh and to get it to heal. |
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Proud flesh is an excessive granulation of
tissue in a horse, the new tissue continues to rebuild itself
causing a disfiguring protrusion and is accompanied by inflammation
and can significantly lower the abilities and the value of the horse.
How we saved her leg was in itself a miracle, but how the tendon was
not affected we don’t know, and with no scaring. In desperation and
several ointments later we tried Aloe sap straight off the plant.
This worked to completely heal the wound and most of the hair grew
back. You would not notice if we did not point it out to you. Looking
at Topaz now one would never believe just how bad her leg was. She
has fully recovered and is back in work.
Topaz gave us a colt called Hermes, who will
remain a stallion, and a special very showy filly called Utopia with
an awesome flaxen mane. Both show huge potential.
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These are stunning young mares (not recent
pictures) which we will be backing in the next few weeks and will join the older mares in work,
both on out rides and arena work. I don't want these girls to become
pregnant for a few years and believe being part Arab and lighter then
some of the geldings will become popular riding horses for the longer
trails.
I am truly in a dilemma. Spice, Fiesty, Lola
and Paris Hilton are going to be a bit small for our trail ride needs
and although they will be perfect for the pony camp and lessons, I
don’t need so many mares and try to breed bigger. We expect Spice and
Paris to be a child’s first pony and very pretty, while Fiesty and
Lola are just as beautiful, they are more all round children’s ponies
that will show and jump. All will do well in the show arena. I don’t
generally sell horses, however if you can guarantee the home that
they will get and make it worth our while I will consider selling
them. I would suggest we ride them over a period to totally bombproof
them before you took possession, giving your child a fully trained
pony. Contact me if you are interested. My other option could be to
find good child rider to match each horse, who would compete at shows
over a period on our behalf as a form of advert for the Mkulu Kei
Horse Trail brand name.
Fillies in the system
Black Berry : 19/12/07 and Xenia : 19/11/07
Gap year and career breaks are a great way to
extend your stay in South Africa. At Mkulu Kei volunteers will get
the chance to see how we work with our horses, getting the best
results in training the perfect trail horse. As a riding
volunteer you are allocated tasks that vary according to the time of
the year and how much equine experience you have had. The most fun
and rewarding is helping with our breeding program. Starting with
bonding with the mares and ultimately the foals, then going on to
backing and schooling the youngsters.
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.
This unique South African horse trail offers
a total riding holiday experience, incorporating beach, rural life
and Safari riding, while giving you the chance to sample the
undeveloped beauty of the South African Wild Coast. An equestrian
adventure to remember. You could be here on your coastal safari horse
riding vacation, Mkulu Kei Horse Trails The best of equestrian
holidays.
Come Ride with Us ...
and you will see rolling hills, rich Savannah grasslands and
thick-forested valleys with multitudes of rivulets cascading down to
rivers that eventually spill out onto quiet sandy beaches, fantastic
high rise cliffs and spectacular rock formations that make the Wild
Coast in South Africa one of the most beautiful places in the world.
An incredible combination of cross-country horse riding and the
exploration of our beautiful coastline.
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
sending us their horse trekking photos, these are your holiday
memories. Thank You. Cheryl
Contact Details:
Tel/Fax: +27 (0) 43 8411 525 A/H Cell: +27 (0) 83 632 7298
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.
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