A weekend at Horizon Horseback

OUR INTREPID EXPLORER INVESTIGATES

TEXT: SKYE LITTLEFIELD

On any given day, I’m keen to jump into a car and drive a few hours away in search of an incredible experience, hopefully with some horses thrown in. So naturally, I did just that a few weeks ago and headed off to Horizon Horseback in the Waterberg. Horizon Horseback, Waterberg is a specialist horse safari lodge covering hundreds of hectares of land. It offers the opportunity to see a massive variety of game on horseback, from eland to buffalo to aardvark (if you’re lucky). The South African lodge isn’t home to any big game or predators, so it’s the perfect escape for riders who are looking for a bit of relaxation. However, the brave amongst us can hop over the border into Botswana and pay a visit to Mashatu, where you can find lion, elephant, and leopard all in a single ride.

THE HORSES

Our urban horses (as I like to call them) will spook at a gust of wind, a long patch of grass, and sometimes their own shadows, but bush horses are solid. I can’t deny that I clenched my bum quite tightly when we came across a flock of ostrich on the plains, but no antics were to be had! Can you imagine your ‘urban’ Thoroughbred spotting a charging ostrich?

Not only are the horses solid in the bush, but also surefooted; the reserve is home to many elusive aardvarks who like to dig holes under the moonlight, leaving an excellent obstacle course for your morning canter. Horizon’s guides are pretty adept at yelling HOLE to give you enough forewarning but still – the horses are very good at knowing where their feet are.

With a herd of close to 90 horses in South Africa, Horizon has the perfect match for riders of all riding abilities. When filling out my riding skill and horse preference forms, I always ‘um and ah’ about using the words ‘experienced,’ ‘likes a hot horse,’ or ‘keen on some spice.’ But I put the 'ums and ahs' aside and write all of these ridiculous things anyway! Of the twenty or so horses I’ve been lucky enough to ride overtime at Horizon, not one has put a foot wrong. Shenanigan did once perform an animated leap into the air when she saw a particularly scary aardvark hole, but lifting her feet in the air was – quite honestly – a reasonable response. I, therefore, encourage you to fill out your horse preferences with the vigour and bounce-ability of an 18-year-old rider, because once you’ve gone on your first ride, that’s exactly how you’ll feel.

Riding horses who are not easily alarmed allows you to take in the game and the views, and even as a South African, your heart will skip a few beats when you catch sight of that kudu bull a few feet away. There is no experience quite like cantering through a herd of eland who tower over your horses or sneaking through the bush to get closer to a journey of giraffe for that perfect picture.

And (because I know you’re thinking about this right now) Horizon uses Liversage trail saddles for their horses which are couch-level comfy. However, your bum bones may still feel it after a few hours in the saddle, so don’t say no to a bumnah if you’re offered one.

THE ACTIVITIES AND TRAILS

Our first evening spent at Horizon included a beginners polocrosse game, followed by sundowners. You’d be forgiven for not understanding a single rule of the game at first and surprised when you turn into a professional on the pitch, galloping from post to post with the ball in your racket. It is much harder to catch and pick up the ball than you’d think, but it’s an excellent sport to try if you’re looking to do something fun with your horse. I won’t tell you if my team won or lost; all you need to know is that we had gin and tonics.

The next morning we got up at the crack of dawn and watched the horses coming in for breakfast along the dam wall. Then, finally, we headed out on our first trail ride. The trail length varies depending on the heat and the path chosen, but they average around 2-3 hours and between 5 and 25kms. The terrain decides the pace, and the rocky outcrops are really where you’ll see your horse’s fitness shine. Barefoot, confident, and nimble, they go from rocks to sand to water, and you don’t feel a bump. We headed off that morning with the aim of game viewing, so our pace was slow and steady. Luckily for us, we found kudu, zebra, giraffe, impala, and a gorgeous fish eagle.

The sand tracks within the reserve are soft, long, and winding, which is the perfect combination for a smooth, easy ride. You can canter for 5-10 minutes without any roadblocks, barring the odd striped bum. Most of the trails have the odd jump dotted alongside them, which is great for a small adrenaline boost and my favourite part of the ride. If you’re a keen jumper, be sure to request a trail with a jump track so you’ll have chance to do some crosscountry amongst the impalas.

Depending on which route you take for your ride, you may have the opportunity for a bush gallop, which is exhilarating! I won’t ever forget being full speed on Zara, racing through waterbuck, sable, and ostrich (clenched bum, again).

Something really special that you have the opportunity to do after a morning ride is swimming with the horses in the dam, and this is the part that will make you feel 18 again! I hopped off after the trail, put on a cozzie, and got back on Hot Tamale bareback. The horses love the water, and Tamale walked right in up to her neck and happily ate the water grass. We ventured a bit further to get all four of Tamale’s feet off of the floor and had a proper swim. If you’re like me, and you’re worried about creepy things in the water touching your feet, then stay with your horse! It’s also worth mentioning that the Horizon dam has three resident hippos, but they frequent the upper part of the dam as they’re not so keen on swimming with the horses.

THE GUIDES

Your activities and trails are guided by one of Horizon’s three lead guides, Silas, Singai, or Owen. Each has decades of riding experience under his belt, along with a wealth of knowledge on the flora and fauna of the bush. You’ll pick up on their specialities and quirks after just a few rides.

Silas is exceptional at building confidence in riders who are a bit nervous, and he’ll tailor the routes to make sure everyone feels comfortable. Your favourite phrase will soon be, “Shall we do the canter?”

Shingai is the resident bundu-basher, so you’ll need to keep an eye out for low hanging branches on those bush canters. Be careful of him offering you a “creme caramel” to sniff while out on a ride; it’s actually a hyena scent-marking…!

Owen likes to go fast, and he has a signature move that I like to call ‘the elbows,’ where he does a quick glance back at his riders, flaps his elbows once, and heads off on a speedy canter down the trail.

Aim to spend at least a few days at the lodge so you can experience the magic of a ride with each of them.

THE FOOD

Oh, the food. I cannot say enough about the food! Being plant-based, I always assume that I’m going to starve because people don’t know how to feed me, but Horizon’s chef, Rhino, prepared easily the best vegan food I have ever tasted. I enjoyed homemade veggie pies, pastas, soup, phyllo parcels, roulade, stuffed mushrooms, caramelised pineapple, and SO much more. It’s become an inside joke that I only go back to Horizon for the food!

For those with meatier cravings, you’ll be treated to salmon and asparagus, game meat and delicious roasted veggies, kebabs, schnitzels, ample pastas, and some of the best slap chips I’ve had.

You’ll leave fat and happy.

2 WHEELS OVER 4 FEET

For those of us with non-horse riding partners or family members, both Horizon locations offer impressive biking trails. The mountain biking pace gives you an opportunity to spot animals that can be missed from horseback, including jackals, slender mongooses, and a huge variety of birds. If you plan correctly, your riding crew can meet up with the biking crew for sundowners on the plains and watch the sunset through the ears of some wildebeest.

I don’t know about you, though, but I’d rather have 4 feet than 2 wheels when facing a buffalo.

MEET ME AT HORIZON

Like many hospitality businesses, Horizon has been hard hit by the lack of visitors due to the pandemic, and as a result, are currently running a special offer for South Africans. The entire experience is second to none, and I would jump back into my car tomorrow for another weekend adventure. To find out more, visit www.ridinginafrica.com.

As South Africans, we should take the opportunity to explore this incredible country, and what better place to do it than on horseback.