Meet Julie-Anne from the Wild Coast Trails!

The Wild Coast Horse Trails offer different programs that take place in the spectacular backdrop of Kei Mouth and the southern region of the Wild Coast of South Africa. Their programmes range from fully mobile 7-day trail rides where you can explore secluded beaches and local villages, to working holidays for those who are looking for a more organic experience.

A horsewoman, businesswoman, mother and wife!

I started riding when I was a child and got my first pony at the age of 13, which was when I started to do show jumping and low level dressage as a junior rider. Already in my 20’s I was introduced to endurance and rode at competitive high level and was able to take two horses to the top ranks in South Africa. Through the years I’ve also completed the Fauresmith 200km four times and several other races. At one point I also had a small riding school and a trail business in the mountains, plus I bred Anglo Arabs and part bred Arabs for 22 years.

All the horses are important to me, especially the ones that I have bred however I have had a very special bond with two particular horses. The first was Moonlight, my heart horse, a true friend and companion for 32 years. We raced endurance and found every path that built Wild Coast Horse Trails together. He was with me during my entire adult life and I miss him deeply. Al Adiyat Shabah was also my heart horse, half brother to Moonlight, he was the sire or grandsire of most of the trail team and was a magnificent endurance horse. Sadly, I lost him in a paddock accident about 10 years ago.

I already had the horses and was an hotelier by trade, it just seemed like a good idea to pay the bills!

The “riding with touch” workshop is hosted by Kiara Web and is an introduction to T-touch and ride with your mind methodologies. This workshop is part of our Equestrian Connection package which aims to show and guide our guests through the way we like to work with our horses.

We offer a unique opportunity for horse lovers to truly immerse themselves and experience the joy of being with and riding horses day after day along the stunning Wild Coast of South Africa. Aside from all the horse-related activities, the time people spend with us is about reconnecting with themselves and escaping their everyday life. Here the motto is: ride, eat, sleep and repeat! While some come free of responsibilities, we’ve also had digital nomads, and students who study remotely stay with us so the experience you have here is tailored to what you need as an individual. You can be involved as much or as little as you like, it is up to you to take what you need and want from being with us.

The pandemic was definitely a huge step back and it’s going to take a while to recover financially. We can only hope that people keep supporting us and booking riding holidays – as long as riders want to experience what we have to offer, we will do our best to keep doing what we do.

Trust your horse, relax and enjoy the ride - our horses are amazing and brilliant at what they do.  

To find out more about our rides, please visit our website. You can also contact us directly at info@equus-journeys.com or give us a call on +44 (0)1905 388 977