Name: 28 Day Work on a Horse Farm Experience and Horse Riding Holiday on the Wild Coast of South Africa
Brand: Tom and Tori Horse and Heart Adventures
Price: 76576 ZAR
Availability: InStock

Accommodation

Check-in Time:

00:00

Facilities

Golf course
Swimming pool (indoor)
Table tennis
Tennis court
Volleyball court
Dining area
Garden
Kitchen
Lounge
Restaurant
Special menu request
Yoga deck
Free parking
Internet access
Laundry
Meeting room
Tour assistance
Wireless internet

Guests will stay at Buccaneers Lodge on the Beach, a laid-back coastal retreat offering breathtaking views of the Indian Ocean and direct access to the beach. Set just 1.5 km from the stables along a scenic private road, the lodge is easily reachable by a five-minute drive or a leisurely 15-minute walk.

Accommodation for this package will be at the dormitory to keep the cost down. There are three dormitory options, and the lodge is fairly quiet out of season, so you should be able to sleep in peace.

Accommodation can be upgraded on request to include private ensuite rooms, each featuring:

Comfortable beds with fresh linens
Hot showers and clean, modern bathrooms
Verandas or balconies overlooking lush gardens or the sea

The lodge offers a relaxed and social atmosphere - perfect for unwinding after a day in the saddle. Guests can enjoy tranquil moments in hammocks, take a sunset walk along the beach, or gather in communal spaces to share stories and connect with other travellers.

Whether you’re watching the sunrise over the ocean or enjoying a firelit evening meal with new friends, Buccaneers provides the perfect home base for your riding adventure.

Program

Are you craving a break from the screen, the noise, and the never-ending city pace? Are you ready to swap your desk for open skies, fresh air, and the soulful rhythm of life on a working horse farm?

Tom and Tori Horse and Heart Adventures' Work on a Horse Farm Experience is a hands-on, heart-filled adventure designed for students, young adults, and anyone looking to reconnect with nature, horses, and themselves.

What’s it all about?

At TNTHorseandHeart, they offer a truly immersive experience on a small farm where horses are not just animals - they're family, teachers, and teammates. You'll live and breathe every part of what it means to care for horses and run a farm that’s bursting with life, learning, and laughter.

What you'll do:

Horse care and connection:

Start your day grooming your equine partner, feeding, checking feet, giving meds, and making sure that every horse is happy and healthy. Whether it’s routine vaccinations or caring for an injury, you’ll learn to handle real-world horse care with expert guidance and compassion.

Real horsemanship and rider development:

This will be your chance to deepen your understanding of horses - on the ground and in the saddle. From training young horses to keeping the old champions fit, you’ll participate in every stage of the training process. Tom and Tori Horse and Heart Adventures offers expert tuition and encourages every participant to grow their skills with purpose and patience.

Riding disciplines that you can practice:

Trail riding through wild coastal terrain
Show jumping and dressage basics
The thrill of horse archery and barrel racing

Amount of riding:

Saddle time varies based on your fitness and skill - anywhere from one to five hours a day, six days a week. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced rider, there’s room to learn, ride, and thrive.

Farm life and environmental stewardship:

Working with horses means working with the land. Expect to roll up your sleeves and help with seasonal farm tasks like:

Fixing fences and stable maintenance
Removing invasive plants
Planting trees and growing vegetables

On average, you’ll spend two hours a day doing this meaningful, grounding work - always tailored to your comfort and ability.

Community and adventure add-ons:

You’ll also have the chance to give back and connect with the community by volunteering at Tom and Tori Horse and Heart Adventures' local nursery school and soup kitchen. Plus, you can assist with their exciting TNT Horse Holidays adventure program - joining canoe trips, surf lessons, hikes, game drives, and local craft days whenever space allows. No extra cost - just extra fun.

Reconnect. Recharge. Ride.

Whether you're looking to grow your horsemanship skills, breathe in the wild beauty of the Eastern Cape, or simply step away from the city grind - this is your place. Join Tom and Tori Horse and Heart Adventures on the farm. Discover the power of horses, hard work, and heartfelt connection.

Escape the city. Embrace the saddle.

Experience the heart and soul of rural life in South Africa through TNTHorseandHeart’s unique “Work on a Horse Farm Experience” program. Immerse yourself in the day-to-day rhythm of horse care, training, and sustainable farm maintenance - all while developing your horsemanship skills, enjoying the beachside lifestyle, and giving back to the local community.

This program is perfect for horse lovers, aspiring equestrians, gap-year travelers, or anyone wanting a deeper connection with animals, nature, and meaningful work. From morning mucking to afternoon classroom smiles, every day will be filled with purpose and connection. Come as a guest, leave as part of the community - and the herd.

Horses:

Google - Thoroughbred
Snow - Percheron cross
Pablo - Nooitgedacht x Boerperd
Sabrina - Friesian
Pepe - American Saddler

Weekly itinerary snapshot

Day 1 (Monday):

Arrival, transfer to the lodge, orientation, and meeting the horses

Day 2 (Tuesday):

Assessment ride, farm tour, and introduction to community projects

Day 3 (Wednesday):

Training ride and vegetable garden work

Day 4 (Thursday):

Beach outride and tree planting

Day 5 (Friday):

Rest day for horses
Optional light farm work or beach time

Day 6 (Saturday):

Assist with riding lessons or outrides; training and farm maintenance

Day 7 (Sunday):

Support a riding school or enjoy a fun local activity (game drive, surf, etc.).

This itinerary is a sample only and can vary according to guests, weather, and tides. The itinerary repeats week by week but will evolve over longer stays as the guest learns the ropes and shows competency in various tasks.

Weekly itinerary:

Day 1: Arrival day: Monday

After airport pick-up and transport to Buccaneers Lodge on the Beach, settle into the accommodation and meet the horses. There will be a short introduction to the beach and the environment around the accommodation. Lunch and dinner will be provided as appropriate.

Day 2: Tuesday

07:45 Breakfast
08:30 Transport to the farm
11:30 Walking tour
13:00 Lunch break
14:00 As this will be your first full day in Africa, the afternoon will be free and you can chill out, go to the beach, etc.
16:00 Feed the horses, check them over, and give them lots of love and attention
17:00 Transport back to the beach lodge for showers and relaxation
19:00 in the winter and 19:30 in the summer - Dinner will be served (evenings will be free for socializing with the other guests at the lodge)

Transport to the farm

Groom the horses and do an assessment ride to ascertain your level of fitness and riding ability. This will match you to the main horse that you will work with during your stay. You will then take the horses out for a training ride to further confirm the suitability of the horse and the ability of the rider. At 11:00, complete the ride and let the horses out to graze.

Walking tour

There will be a walking tour of the farm to see the types of farm tasks that need doing (these may vary depending on the season and the strength and experience of the guest), as well as an introduction to the nursery school, teachers, and children.

Day 3: Wednesday

07:45: Breakfast
09:00: Groom and tack up the horses
11:30 Horses are let out to graze
13:00 Lunch break
14:00 Continue with the work in the garden
15:30 Pack up tools and short break
16:00 Evening horse routine of feeding and giving them attention
17:00 Return to the lodge for showers and relaxation; in the summer, there may be time to even go for a swim in the sea or pool
19:00 / 19:30 Dinner

Groom and tack up horses

This will be 30 minutes of schooling and training horses, followed by a six-kilometer fitness run with hill climbs and fast work where appropriate.

At 11:30, horses are let out to graze, and you will begin your work in the school vegetable garden with the goal of supplying much-needed vegetables for people on the farm and school kids.

Day 4: Thursday

07:45 Breakfast
09:00 Grooming followed by an amazing outride down the beach to the Cefani Lagoon
12:00: Hose horses down and let them out to graze
13:00 Lunch
14:00 Continue with tree planting
15:30 Pack tools away
16:00 Evening routine with the horses
17:00 Return to lodge for showers, etc.

Grooming followed by an amazing outride down the beach to the Cefani Lagoon

This type of outride is to prepare horses for people who may book day rides, to keep them fit, and to teach them to travel together at a trot or canter without racing each other.

At 12:00, you'll hose the horses down and let them out to graze. Check on the vegetable garden and prepare to plant trees. Depending on the season, you may collect seeds and begin the germination process or actually dig holes to plant saplings.

Day 5

Friday is a rest day for the horses. They will still be fed and groomed, and you can spend time with them, but there will be no riding. Tom and Tori Horse and Heart Adventures chose Friday for a rest day because the weekends can be busy with bookings for horse riding lessons and trail riding.

It is also a rest day for their staff. This means that after the grooming is completed, there will be free time until 16:00 when horses are fed and put out for the night.

07:45 / 10:00 Breakfast - As today will be a rest day, you can sleep in; the latest you can get breakfast is at 10:00
09:00 Grooming and feeding - Not all hands will be needed for this feed, so people who want to sleep in can do so
Free time
16:00 Check and feed - Not all hands are needed for this feed, and so if you have gone out on an outing or just need a break, there will be no need to return to the farm at feeding time

Day 6: Saturday

Saturdays can have bookings for trail riding or lessons. “Work on a Horse Farm Experience” participants will help prepare the horses for these activities and assist in the activities themselves. This may include doing lead rein work with new riders or accompanying them on an out ride. A qualified guide will always be in attendance.

If no rides are booked, you will focus on doing some really good training rides either out on the beach, in the bush, or on the farm, expanding the training of the horses, as well as doing maintenance jobs around the farm. There may be some time left for a little fun on the beach, like a surf or paddle on the lagoon.

07:45 Breakfast
09:00 Groom and prepare horses for the day's work
13:00 Lunch
14:00 Prepare horses for afternoon work (possible free time to enjoy the amazing beaches and lagoons)
16:00 Evening feeding routine
17:00 Return to the lodge

Day 7: Sunday

Sunday will be very similar to Saturday. “Work on a Horse Farm Experience“ program participants will help with running the riding school, etc.

However, if the weather is bad or there are no bookings, program participants can elect to either do riding activities or choose another activity of their choice, such as go on a game drive or visit Tom and Tori Horse and Heart Adventures' local tame giraffe.

Notes:

The minimum stay for working on a horse farm is two weeks, with a maximum stay of three months. Each week's itinerary is essentially the same, as horses require a constant routine of care and training. The timing of some of the activities, such as long beach outrides and canoeing, can be subject to time variation due to tides and weather.

The nursery school also follows the national school holiday schedule, which changes every year.

Breakfast is served at 07:45. Dinner is served at 19:00 in the winter and 19:30 in the summer.

The horses are stabled at a location one and a half kilometers from the accommodation. This is about a 15-minute walk along a private dirt road overlooking the sea and is the access road to the lodge. Transport will be provided to the horse farm after breakfast everyday at 08:30 and back again at 17:00.

As the distance is so short, it is possible that at times you will just walk backwards and forwards to the stables. This is a great way to warm up before riding and a chance to chat about the day's planned activities. Therefore, work with the horses will start daily at 09:00 at the latest.

Included excursions

Visits to the beach, canoeing, surfing, hiking

Instructors

Thomas Muller

3 Certificates

Show

Thomas Muller is a Certified Adventure Guide with a scope in Horse Riding and Hiking. A retired Waldorf School teacher and Trained Spacial Dynamics Therapist Tom has 25 years of experience in teaching and sports coaching with adults and children. He now brings his lifelong passion for Horses and Nature to Tom and Tori Horse and Heart Adventures providing expert technical coaching in horseriding and facilitating all adventure and craft activities. Tom and Tori his son and right-hand man strive daily to build a loving relationship with their horses and share this dream with their guests.

Location

Discover the magic of horses and the wild beauty of South Africa

There’s something truly life-affirming about being around horses. Whether you're galloping across open terrain on their strong, warm backs or simply sharing a quiet moment and breathing in their sweet scent during a cuddle, these noble animals have a way of capturing your heart and healing it.

At Tom and Tori's Horse and Heart Adventures in Chintsa West, Eastern Cape, South Africa, you’ll find five much-loved horses and access to a stunning coastal reserve filled with lagoons, beaches, rolling dunes, and ancient forests. This is your chance to create a riding holiday that’s as relaxed or as adventurous as you want it to be.

Let the rhythm of hooves and the call of the wild help you unwind, explore, and reconnect.

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Food

The Buccaneers Kitchen will provide a home-cooked set menu for supper. This will include a vegetarian option as well as several salads. Breakfast will be a buffet served from 07:45, including bacon and eggs, as well as cereals, yoghurt, etc. Lunch will be served on the farm and will be provided by Tom and Tori Horse and Heart Adventures.

They will always do their best to accommodate special diets, so please just ask.

Meals are a highlight of the stay:

Breakfast is served at 07:45 and includes fresh fruit, homemade bread, and hot dishes to fuel your day.
Dinner at 19:00 features delicious home-cooked meals inspired by both local South African flavors and international cuisine, often served at a vibrant communal dining area.

The following meals are included:

Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Drinks

The following drinks are included:

Water
Coffee
Tea

The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:

Vegetarian
Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
Other dietary requirements on request

If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation

Things to do (optional)

Available in the area:

Massage
Golf
Safari
Giraffe interaction
East London Aquarium
Lion Park
Snake Park
Surf club
Soup kitchen volunteering - donations welcome
Power boat rides

Other durations

2 weeks: 40,100 ZAR
3 weeks: 58,800 ZAR
5 weeks: 93,475 ZAR
6 weeks: 109,290 ZAR
7 weeks: 124,250 ZAR
8 weeks: 138,200 ZAR
9 weeks 151,470 ZAR
10 weeks: 163,650 ZAR

Spa treatments

Various spa treatments available (not included)

What's included

Daily horse care and training activities
Farm maintenance tasks (fencing, gardening, tree planting)
Supervised participation in riding lessons and trail rides
Community volunteering (nursery school, soup kitchen)
Optional participation in adventure activities (canoeing, surfing, hiking)
Airport transfers (East London)
Beach access
Swimming pool
Communal lounge and kitchen
Wi-Fi and laundry services
On-site bar and restaurant
27 nights accommodation at Buccaneers Lodge (shared dorm; upgrade available)
Daily breakfast and dinner at the lodge
Light lunch provided on the farm

What's not included

Flights
Travel insurance
Personal expenses
Upgraded accommodation (available on request)

How to get there

Recommended Airports

ELS

East London Airport

33 km

Transfer included

JNB

O. R. Tambo International Airport

746 km

Transfer not provided

Arrival by plane

Fly into the Johannesburg International Airport and transfer to East London (King Phalo Airport). The local airport is King Phalo Airport / East London Airport (ELS). Airport transfers are included in the price of the package.

Arrival by car

If you will be driving, enter Tom and Tori into Google Maps to get the location.

Airport transfer included: East London Airport No additional charges. You can request this in the next step.

Cancellation Policy

A reservation requires a deposit of 15% of the total price.
The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
The rest of the payment should be paid 7 days before arrival.

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