If you have not yet been on a HorseAbout ride, please stop procrastinating - you HAVE to experience this at least once in your life. Too too divine -
Kerstin
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As many of you know, John is not only fantastic with “problem” horses but is also a very experienced speed event coach. John travels the country giving clinics for both riders and horses. He recently travelled to Darling to coach a very keen group of students some of the necessary skills needed for competing successfully in speed events. Speed events such as Gymkhana and Western Mounted Games are great fun for the whole family and are seeing a huge growth in interest. As these events involve negotiating obstacles and completing patterns against the clock, good horsemanship is vital to attain accuracy at speed. Horses need to be properly trained and prepared for these agility games whilst the riders need to learn how to ride in an independent seat and coached on how to apply aids correctly and accurately. The success of Johns experience and fun training methods was obvious in the advancements made in one day, and it wasn’t just ponies at work, there was even a 17 hh thoroughbred learning new things! Hi John Thank you once again for the wonderful wealth of information and experience you shared with all of us at the western mounted games clinic I held on Monday the 9th of April. The clinic was held at the farm Suurfontein on the west coast road near Yzerfontein and Darling as an introduction to western mounted games and with the view to forming a club in our district. I invited John up to assist the riders with general skills related to riding and training their horses specifically geared at skills needed for mounted Games. And I concentrated on an introduction to the various events ie; the keyhole race , speed barrels , poles and the hurry scurry etc. Well it is needless to say, we had a ball of a time, and could not have asked for a better instructor, even my 12 year old was amazed at the connection between dressage and the classical training with games and agility sports on horse back. It is so necessary to get the foundation right and the fun just follows naturally! It was a wonderful experience and opportunity for me to work beside john and I really appreciate his input. You will be back John! Regards Tanya Menhinick “We all had a ball of a time! And everyone would love John to come back soon to help with a schooling clinic” Tanya I truly had the most amazing day out! Jo and John took me and my 4 year old twins out on the most amazing ride along the mountain range just outside Tulbagh. Me being slightly hesitant at first (I am a novice rider....) was a converted horse lover at the end of our trip. Needless to say that Jo and John effortlessly looked after my little boys and the slightly nervous mum. They have such vast experience, great patience and confidence with horses which was so important to me when I decided to take my still rather small boys out with me. They managed to teach my boys and myself the basics of riding which enabled us to have such a great family day out. The views were amazing and the horses just adorable. I cannot wait to get back on in the saddle for another memorable day and would recommend anyone (with or without kids) to do the same.
Anja On Thursday evening Carol and I join John, Jo and Spike Lister on a moonlight ride. In the late evening we rode up to the top vineyards of Fable Wines. We got to the drinks site just as the sun had set. We enjoyed a drink as we waited for the moon rise above the Witzenberg Mountain. We could see the moonlight slowly lighting up the valley.
The walk down was under the light of the moon. No other light was needed. It was an incredible feeling riding a horse in the moonlight. An incredible feeling of freedom. You don’t need to be an experienced horse rider to go on a Horse About ride. The horses are very well schooled and relaxed. I have almost never ridden a horse. Have a look at my photographs from the evening Magical Moon Light Ride I can highly recommend a ride with John and Jo. Norman "Wow, what an awesome experience.
On horseback with John and Jo, confidence inspiring and experienced instructors who patently love their horses and their lifestyle, showing you the wonders and beauty of nature. Ambling along as the sun slowly dips over the distant mountains and the shadows begin to gently lengthen, we ride through carefully tended vineyards, passing dams reflecting the evening sky and teeming with all sorts of birds and their busy chatter. Leaving behind the farmlands we ride through swathes of renosterveld, precious but rapidly disappearing vegetation in the Western Cape, trying to catch a glimpse of a scarce geometric tortoise. Passing through the renosterveld we climb up into the upper reaches of the fragrantly beautiful fynbos covered foothills and watch the sun take its final bow after a glorious Tulbagh day. The clear moonlight and stars safely guide us to ‘the tree on the hill’ where we have a welcome glass of chilled local wine before heading off home on our patient and kind equine friends. I can definitely recommend a horse experience with John, Jo, family and other animals. The pace is set by the level of competency of the riders. The horses are well trained and loads of fun, each with their own personality and not a single bored school pony in sight. The equipment is well maintained and the riding terrain simply sublime." Nicola |
John & Jo
We are the owners of horseAbout Trails & Adventures in the Western Cape. “We left the premises with heart full of joy, love for these amazing horses and admiration for the lifestyle of John and his family.” Categories
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January 2020
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