How do you make a horse stand in front of a lion without running away? On this riding holiday, dressage Rider and FEI coach Gerti Kusseler offers flatwork lessons on well-schooled horses to show you how to gain your horses trust. During the mornings you have theoretical or practical lessons in the riding arena or on the cross country course. Exciting outrides with the chance of seeing the Big Five from horseback is how you spend your afternoons.
The aim of this course in South Africa is to learn the methods of riding your horse in a supple, submissive and relaxed manner.
Gerti teaches according to the German Training Scale, which starts with rhythm, looseness and works towards riding the horse on the bit. We want you to understand how to have fun with your horse whatever you do: dressage, showjumping, eventing or just enjoy your horse as a lovely hack. Each group is between 4-7 people all following the same itinerary. Good riding skills are essential.
2012: £90 per person return from Hoedspruit and £130 per person return from Phalaborwa. Private transfers available from Johannesburg, please enquire.
Transfer time is approx 1 hour.
Day 1 You will be picked up at either Hoedspruit or Phalaborwa airport by our transfer service. A pick up from Johannesburg airport direct can also be arranged for an additional cost (see below).
On arrival a light lunch or afternoon tea and coffee awaits you. The team, including Philip and Gerti, are there to welcome you and your hosts will introduce you to the training schedule and the safety procedures before going on your first riding safari.
This orientation ride takes you through the area surrounding the camp as you unwind from your journey and forget yourself in the peace of the African bush. This is your chance to become accustomed to our horses and riding style. We might even see the first giraffe or zebra. Sundowners, looking out towards the Drakensberg Mountains, are a perfect prelude to the generous 3 course dinner, accompanied by hand-picked South African wines, which awaits you in our dining area, furnished with antique African art.
The first night, with all its fantastic sounds and noises, is probably the most exciting one. Accommodation for these first three nights is in old style safari tents with ensuite bathrooms, mounted on platforms above the Makhutswe River at the main camp.
Day 2
We wake you with tea or coffee in the morning. After a light, continental breakfast you are ready for your first lesson.
On this first day, you will start with theoretical lessons. Depending on how long it takes, some of the 6-7 participants might still be able to ride. Practical lessons are taken in turns, and whilst one or two are riding in the arena the others are there to watch and observe. The training takes place according to the German Training Scale approved by the FEI.
After our morning session a big lunch awaits us with homemade quiches, pizzas or pancakes, freshly baked bread and lots of green salads, meats and cheeses.
After lunch we enjoy a siesta. You can spend your well-deserved rest in your room or at the swimming pool or may be you would like to improve your knowledge about Africa by reading one of the books provided in our library.
Afternoon tea and coffee strengthen us for another safari. The ride usually ends at a beautiful sundowner spot where drink in hand we enjoy an often colorful sunset!
Day 3 Today we take it in turns to having riding lessons on Wait A Little's horses. During this lesson Gerti will observe your riding, see what you know, how far advanced you are and where problems occur. Every lesson will be video taped and watched over lunch together to discuss problems and help each other. Today is also the chance to browse in our shop where you can acquire some of our merchandise material. From fleeces, fleecy jackets and sweatshirts to shirts, T-shirts, golf tops, hats, beanies and beads there is a beautiful and fashionable selection of safari outfits available. This afternoon we go exploring, cutting through the veldt at a canter, twisting and turning around the trees: what Philip calls “bushwhacking” and your surefooted horse carries you nimbly through the undergrowth, changing direction as you guide his course, having just as much fun as you. Here and there a tree, felled by an elephant, provides an irresistible jump. Or perhaps the giraffe, or wildebeest, seeing us pass, run in front of us to show us the best path. At the top of the hill you pause for thought, as mile after mile of unspoiled Africa stretches away before you.
Day 4 The morning will be filled with more flatwork lessons, trying to put into practice what we have learned the day before, again with video taping and commenting afterwards. Over lunchtime you are welcome to have a relaxing massage by our therapist. We have a well-prepared massage room where everything is for your comfort. This afternoon we will go on an exciting drive to our buffalo project. The drive will take you to the furthest northern corner of the reserve, all along the Makuthswe River to hopefully find these beautiful beasts. Here we enjoy our sundowner followed by a night drive back home to main camp.
Day 5 This morning you will see how pole work can help your flatwork training. Little gymnastic jumps help to relax your horse and yourself. Learn about the light seat and other positions the rider can adopt. Again all lessons will be videotaped for us to discuss afterwards. This afternoon you will go on a safari adventure on horseback. You will have to pack a little bag, as we will be sleeping out tonight. Beacon Rock, our fly camp, is situated at a giant rock formation from where you can overlook the whole Lowveld escarpment. A quick scramble up to the top rewards you with a spectacular panorama over the whole reserve and the perfect vantage point to witness a blood red sun fall behind the looming Drakensberg Escarpment.
Under the stars around a campfire, surrounded by our horses, we spend the night listening to the call of the hyenas or jackals which might visit us. Steaks or chops, cooked over the open fire with snakebites, baked potatoes and salads are the perfect fare to help us into a deep sleep tonight.
Day 6 Waking to the rich colors of the sunrise we revive the fire for coffee and breakfast before embarking on our ride home. This takes us down to the beautiful Karongwe River and over ridges with great mountain views on our way back to
camp. After a well deserved lunch and rest we will explore the cross country course, needless to say only when the lions haven’t decided to use the course for their afternoon siesta.
Here you learn how to approach natural jumps. The goal is to teach yourself and your horse how to manage difficult looking obstacles. We will also try and approach steep riverbanks and cross water.
Day 7 On this last day you go back to the riding arena to bring together all you have learned over the week and all you need to carry on practicing. Hopefully you have gained new ideas and lots of different exercises to help you and your horse
progress. The last sundowner on the open plain will be sad, but beautiful, impressive and absolutely unique. The African fever might have caught you as well and the good bye can be hard. For your farewell dinner Gerti chooses
something special - perhaps game fillets like kudu or eland served on pasta with sherry sauce.
Day 8
An early wake up will see us on the horses quickly so we can enjoy a short, sporty ride before the transfer service takes you to the Airport marking the end of your riding holiday in South Africa.
NOTES - GET FIT FOR SAFARI
Private transfers from Johannesburg 2012:
1 person - £420 each way
2 people - £240 per person each way
3 people - £190 per person each way
4 people + - £140 per person each way
The weight limit for this ride is 15 st/209 lb/95 kg, please enquire if you are an experienced rider exceeding this weight.
FURTHER DETAILS
As we are specialists in our field we have extensive knowledge of all our products from details of accommodation and meals to number/size/type of horses to pace of riding ... and much more.
Should you wish to receive further details of this ride please click here.
WHAT IS INCLUDED
Tariff is fully inclusive of all meals, accommodation & bedding, teas & coffees, soft drinks, beers and house wines (apart from at the Makalali Camp), taxes, experienced safari guides, horses & tack, back up vehicle, one game drive and laundry service at base camp.
For price details click here
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED
Excludes telephone calls, selected wines, spirits and champagne and all drinks at the Makalali Camp, transport to and from safari, entrance fee to the Makalali Reserve (R130 paypable on site), additional game drives, staff gratuities and aromatherapy. Alternative dates can be requested and safaris tailor made.
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What you see on our web site is exactly how much your invoice will come to and this will not change once booked. Unlike some other companies the prices on our web site are fully inclusive of often hidden extras such as: VAT, Sales Tax, state taxes, city taxes, service charges, non-optional tips, fuel surcharges which can add 20% or more to the advertised cost. Prices are available in £ sterling, Euros and US$. Once invoiced, prices are guaranteed against adverse currency fluctuations. Contact us for package prices which include flights from the UK and see each ride for exact details of all items in individual itineraries.
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