9th November 2025
how each operator’s horses are cared for
We know that one of, if not the most, important thing to consider when choosing a riding holiday is how the horses are cared for. It’s paramount that working horses get the right care and breaks. That’s why we a) very carefully vet each operator we work with to ensure they take care of their horses well and b) wanted to create this blog post for you, so you can be sure that any ride you choose on Wild Mane will feature horses that are treated with the utmost care.
So here’s how each operator we work with takes care of their horses:
Namibia Horse Safaris | Namibia
The horses at Namibia Horse Safaris live out in the bush between safaris and their ‘paddocks’ are several thousand hectares. Though the farm is very remote, it’s in an usually high rainfall area meaning native grasses are available all year round and this is what they feed on when not on safari. When on safari, each horse is fed hard feed 3 times a day, fodder 3 times a day and lucerne twice a day.
The horses are left as natural as possible and live with their friend groups, who they also go on safari with. They do between 3-4 safaris a year with a 6 week break between each safari, and the younger horses will do slightly less as they learn to manage carrying weight and build muscles & confidence. Their horses aren’t schooled as they prefer to encourage them to move and be as natural as possible which prevents injury and keeps them happy.
Despite being ‘out in the bush’ when not on safari, each horse is checked over every few days. Their staff are trained in animal husbandry, trimming and shoeing. The horses are only shod on the front during safari and the rest of the time they go barefoot. When on safari, each horse is given a mini vetting at the end of the day to make sure they’re fit enough to be ridden and continue on the next day.
The horses here are at the heart of the operation and are valued above all else.
Offbeat Riding Safaris | Kenya
The horses are the heart and soul of Offbeat Riding Safaris and their wellbeing and safety is their top priority. During the day the horses roam freely as a herd under the watchful eye of a herder with ample grass to eat and this natural, stress-free lifestyle keeps them calm, confident and responsive. At night, they are stabled individually (with dry bedding, hay, water and summer sheets on) to keep them protected from predators.
Their horses are regularly rested for 1 day - 1 week at a time and most will have a month off during the closed season. Riding hours are generally from 7:30 - 10:30 am and 4:30 - 6:30 pm which protects them from working in high heat.
Life in the bush means the team at Offbeat have learnt to handle much of the veterinary care themselves - from treating minor ailments to day-to-day health. For more complex cases, there are vets in Nairobi and Nanyuki that they can fly or drive in. The horses are shod once a month, have their teeth done once a year, are wormed every 3 months and are fully vaccinated for Africa horse sickness, West Nile virus, rabies and tetanus.
The result of the extensive care the horses at Offbeat receive is a group of relaxed and well-schooled horses who are perfectly at ease with the sights and sounds of the wild.
jerebeque trails | Spain
At Jerebeque trails, the horses are part of the family and get taken care of as such. Most of their horses were born and bred at home and others have been with them since foals. The result is the extensive pool of knowledge Emilio and Mamen have about each horse including their personality and story which means they each get exactly the right care.
Outside of each ride, their horses live in a group, eating, drinking, sleeping and travelling together. They’re given the most natural life possible. They live in a huge pine forest, a common land of 500 hectares in the Gredos Mountains or in the rich pastures in the Dehesas of Extremadura. They keep naturally fit as they walk around 20km a day in freedom and they live amongst other animals such as donkeys, cows, roe deer, deer, wild boar and foxes.
Most of their horses are beautiful PRE horses with some Hispano - Arab crosses. They’ve all been backed and trained by Emilio with the result being a group of serene, confident and happy horses. Emilio has a special talent for matching horse with rider and you will no doubt fall in love with your match.
The horses here are the true protagonists of every riding experience and are treasured deeply by Emilio and Mamen.
cheval et Chateaux | France
The horses at Cheval et Chateaux are deeply cherished and looked after as such. Many of their horses have been born, bred and trained, using horsemanship methods, by Sophie and Ken so they’re truly a part of the family.
They value natural care such as acupuncture, physiotherapy and osteopathy however conventional vet care is always used if necessary. Sophie and Ken try their hardest to balance nature and medicine and they do a fantastic job.
Their horses live in groups year round as they value socialisation and when not out in the fields, they live within an active stable concept with self service hay, movement, sleeping areas and water. During riding season, the horses receive regular breaks between rides and in the off season (Nov - Mar), they’re all deshod with extensive time for rest.
Their horses travel over 2500km a year, making them real sportsmen, which is why so much care is taken in looking after them but also in vetting riders. They’re very vigilant in making sure there are no riders joining their tours who bounce in the saddle and pull on the horse’s mouth everyday for up to a week.
Horizon horseback | South africa & botswana
At Horizon Horseback, the horses and their wellbeing is central to everything they do.
In South Africa, they’re managed as a free roaming herd within large tracts of natural pasture and in Botswana, the herd lives in protected paddocks at the yard due to the elephants and predators on the reserve.
All of their horses are brought in twice a day for hard feed and they’re groomed daily to keep them healthy and comfortable, alongside being monitored for any health issues. They’re seen by a professional farrier every 6 weeks for shoeing, ensuring proper hoof care throughout the year and are seen by an equine dentist once a year to maintain their dental health.
Each horse’s workload is very carefully monitored and after returning from safari, each horse is given a period of rest. Before the next safari, each horse will be taken for some gentle schooling and exercise to make sure they stay fit, healthy and never overworked.
equiberia | Spain
Equiberia take deep pride in their horses, a beautiful herd of Andalusian and Hispano Arab horses that are the heart of their operation.
It’s really important to the team at Equiberia that their horses live as much of a natural life as possible. Over the winter months, all of the horses are de shod and enjoy a long rest, living within 2 herds. They’re fed everyday and have access to large, naturally sheltered pastures with hills, water springs and holm oaks in. In early March, their training slowly begins to get them in shape for the riding season.
In early spring, they move back into their stables and are fed extra feed and hay which, along with daily exercise, gets them into the best riding condition.
Equiberia retire all of their horses at home and they live the same life in the pastures with the rest of the herd. They expect to have a horse sanctuary one day, full of their retired horses living their best life as they more than deserve it.
free rein | wales
The horses at Free Rein are a wonderful group of cob and cob crosses who enjoy their life outside year round. They live out in spacious fields as a herd throughout the year with plenty of natural shelter and their grazing areas are rotated to keep the pastures healthy.
The horses at Free Rein work for 7 months of the year and then enjoy a 5 month break during the winter season and each have their own personalised care routine depending on their age, condition and workload.
All of their horses receive regular vet check ups, farrier visits every 6 weeks and annual dental care. Each horse also has all of its tack individually fitted and every piece is customised and fitted professionally for Free Rein.
The team at Free Rein understand deeply how important it is for their horses to receive personalised care and they’re all paid the utmost attention, living a healthy and happy life.
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