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 Mkulu Kei Horse Trails & Lalapanzi Adventure Centre Cher-a-Don Please add comments And your riding & activity photos. |
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Mkulu Kei Horse Trails |
Riding Development |
The objective of this programme is the transfer
of equine skills to under-privileged local youth in the Morgan Bay
township. Financially sustained by Mkulu Kei horse trails through our
working volunteers, riding gap students and donations.
Mkulu
Kei Horse Trails initiated this community development project 10
years ago and we are very proud of the impact it has made to the young
boys, who in turn will make a difference to their community. By getting
the education of a sustainable professional skill, these boys are
already encouraging and motivating youth and community development.
Financially sustained by Mkulu Kei through our working gap volunteers
and donations from our clients, this project keeps the youth off the
streets; reducing theft and encouraging a centre of learning. In the
poverty stricken Eastern Cape in South Africa these Xhosa boys would
just be absorbed into "Umona" a deep intense jealousy, a crab in a
bucket syndrome, where individualism and success are not admired. By
encouraging good work ethics, the speaking of the English language and
offering a sustainable, employable skill we are, through education,
encouraging an infrastructure that will impact on the apathetic
cultural situation.
"Umona" prefers that everyone experience the same hardship. Their destiny;
poverty and hopelessness. Our riding training project is open at all
the children, but we can only concentrate on a few at a time. All the
kids that have attended on a regular basis can ride, some better than
others and we have three boys who are extremely talented. These are our
leaders, not just in the development project but also in the community.
Their leadership skills come with good work ethics - no work - no pay, no
school attendance - no horse riding. This Mkulu Kei community initiative
has already made an impact on their
young lives but it will be in the future
that the real difference will be seen in full.
"A real ride to many places at any paces"
Mkulu Kei Horse Trails Horse Riding Development Programme a community development program for the youth.
Our development project:The aim of this motivational project is skills transfer to local underprivileged children giving them a chance, through education, to better their lives and the community they live in, with a sustainable, employable skill. With mastering the English language the boys will be in the position of looking for employment in the larger cities thereby increasing their earning potential and with their equestrian skills the door is opened to numerous job opportunities. Donate your time as a riding volunteer on your gap riding holiday and with your affordable daily rate you will make a difference to a child's life. |
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Our development project is aimed at Morgan Bay local children between the ages of 6 years and 16 years from families who do not have the finances to enable the child to have this kind of experience, children who would probably not learn to ride a horse or pony and definitely would never learn the finer skills to be a horseman. Tourism is growing in South Africa and these children have the advantage of speaking to our riding clients and volunteers from around the world; opening their vision of the world, developing communication skills and understanding. You too can make a difference in a child's life. As a riding volunteer while you are having fun riding horses on the beach you are impacting on a child's mind and shaping his future. Without you we could not afford to have horses riding out that did not have paying riding clients on their back. Help us to help them.
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I cannot imagine life without my horses, I watch my own children interrelate with their ponies, they have grown up learning to care, love, and respect horses which I believe encourages them to be better people, better equipped to understand the needs of others. I have watched my client's faces as they take their first ride and conquer the idea of controlling their fears on an animal so huge. The faces say it all, I have witnessed clients riding ability and confidence improve and I can understand just how much fun they are having. How proud they are of their achievements. As a qualified tour guide I have tried to encourage others to understand just how much of an impact we have on our environment, and how we can make a difference. I want to share my equestrian knowledge with those less privileged, and on the volunteer exchange program you could too.
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This is an opportunity to make a difference on the working riding holiday by teaching and encouraging underprivileged children like September, who, through the development programme and his own hard work, has developed into a gifted horseman. |
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There is a sense of freedom, power and confidence when working with horses. We at Mkulu Kei Horse Trails would like to pass on our love for equines and hopefully some valuable life lessons. We believe this programme is fun and gives the children a valuable new skill that will give them better employment prospects; good work ethics and hence become less dependent on handouts. We aim to equip the children with the basic riding skills needed to further develop careers as jockeys, ranch hands, tour guides, instructors, and stable hands or even, ride for South Africa. There is so much unemployment in the Eastern Cape and by teaching new employable skills we are opening job opportunities to the children when they grow up |
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Alcohol addiction is a huge problem in this area and hope we can influence a good work ethic and intolerance to alcohol. We hope to discourage the dependency on alcohol as an adult by offering another option. Any child caught fighting, stealing, swearing or drinking is disqualified from the development project. Attendance at school is a criteria to the project. No school - no riding. The backbone of this project is skills training and learning, while having fun. We give the children the opportunity to learn how to ride, communicate, and care for horses safely, teaching them riding skills, basic stable management in addition to grooming, feeding and basic medical treatment, while improving their skills of the English language. We believe that by giving the children a chance to learn to ride and be responsible, not just for them selves but for an animal and those around them, they will develop confidence and become leaders in the community. |
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Some of the children have developed a passion for horses and will take their riding further. Xhosa's do not have pets and do not have a natural empathy for animals. They are extremely superstitious of cats; dogs are used for hunting, goats for sacrifice purposes, "cattle are money in the bank".
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The Xhosa nation as a community are not encouraged to be horseman, unlike their inland brethren closer to the Drakensberg mountains who are. The Sotho have their Basutu pony and are internationally renowned for their horsemanship skills, yet there are job opportunities in this area as stockmen, and in the bigger cities well paid groom positions which are not being filled by Xhosas. Traditionally the whites born in this area all speak beautiful Xhosa resulting in the Xhosa's seldom mastering the English language, as a result the local blacks were limited to finding work opportunities only in the Eastern Cape thereby losing out on the better paid salaries offered in the bigger centres. (It is politically correct to say black, white or coloured when referring to race in South Africa) |
Nelson Mandela, (Madiba as he is affectionately known by all) has changed that and brought the English language into the curriculum at school level. We at Mkulu Kei Horse Trails give the children an opportunity to practice and better their newfound language.
In order to ride the children have to help me on
the ground with lead rein clients, carrying saddles, washing bits and
general help around the stable. We have just had our first Xhosa girls
joining us, very out of culture, and time will tell if they keep coming
back. The Xhosa girl's work at home fetching water, wood etc. Keeping
the numbers of children to a manageable number is not easy but all
regular children are riding.
My "little guys" are doing so well in season I invite a few to join us on a ride with my clients on the day rides. All are cantering beautifully and some are now jumping.
Three of the children; September (Siyathemba), Alex, and October are all riding so well they often help us as second guides with big groups. (October his nickname was named by September because he started at the development project after September) All three talented boys are training young working horses and are valuable members of our team.
What I personally enjoy is seeing the boys now interrelating with our clients and offering their riding skills and encouragement.
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My man September. September (Siyathemba) is a very slightly built 15 year old, who has the riding skills and knowledge to make something of himself. He has a gift, a talent and passion. Having joined the development program some 7 years ago he has captured our heart and attention. We have been nurturing not only his equine skills but his social skills too. He comes from a rural background. His father is a farm worker at the local dairy and his mom a part time house cleaner. They live in a mud hut without running water, electricity or even a bathroom. September has the talent and ability to be way more than just a talented rider, he could make something of his life. We believe with your help he could make a career out of horses. I have promised September I will find someone who can market him as a person, find him a sponsor, possibly for a career in racing. |
Although his interest lies in show jumping he will find it hard to make a career out of shows in this country. I believe by January 2011 he will be ready to face his future. We believe he would do very well as a jockey if he were to go that route. He will require not just the opportunity but the correct clothing, air tickets and pocket money.
Anyone who helps this child will not be wasting their time.
As we are trying to help September not only with his riding skills but his social skills too we have taken him out for meals at the hotel.
Many holidaymakers asked about the small child riding the big black horse on the beach one season 2008-2009. That was my man September on a 4-year-old Friesian stallion. He has Zeus looking like a show horse, on the bit and moving beautifully.
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2009 Christmas came early to my development boys this year. A volunteer, Jessie Hoogveld from the Netherlands, was to join us for a period over December but before she arrived she motivated a collection of bottles and donations from her community to raise money for the development project. She confided in my daughters and they went shopping. They purchased a kit consisting of a pair of riding boots, jodhpurs and gloves each for five children. September, Alex and October received their riding kit, their faces say it all. It was decided that the rest of the new kits would be given to the boys who have shown us the most dedication and commitment. A fourth child Musa has been under our feet for years, at three years old I had chased him home on numerous occasions as I could not take responsibility for somebody that young at the stables. We have a rule that the boys had to reach a certain height before they could ride, indicated by a mark on the wall.Mussa reached that height and proudly showed me. Mussa although young and only just started riding was determined to show me he was the next deserving child. On his first ride I saw the same gift and passion September showed at his age and he is already assisting us. The remaining kit is waiting for the next boy that shines. Part of our project has always been to address the children's social skills, it was my plan to take September on trail, a night out at a hotel, show him how to behave in that sort of environment. How can we expect him to go to jockey school if he has never used a bathroom or sat at a table to eat? Well in March 2010 we took four boys on trail, the balance of the donation will be used towards jockey school. We would firstly like to say a big thank you to Jessie for her initiative and then a thank you for all the people in the Netherlands especially to the main sponsor Frenck Lutke Innologi. Maria and Henny Hoogveld And of course Frenck Lutke from innologi.com |
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Please help us to help the talented development children.
We have not even scratched the surface of what we will require to fill our promise to these children and we need your help. The boys going to jockey school will require more than just their school fees, transport to and from KZN and uniforms ...
We really need someone who has the time to promote - market these boys on an on going basis to ensure that they get the best opportunities available for their future.
8th 10th March 2010 four of our best development boys went on an over night trail.
These boys live in small shacks or mud huts without running water, they have never experienced a bathroom or formal meals. Going on trail was a new experience in many ways. Going on holiday, sleeping in a bed at a hotel, eating in the formal dinning room, eating different foods and having access to the swimming pool and other facilities.
The motivation was to work on the boy's social skills and allow them to experience new things. How can we expect the boys to use the bathroom correctly if they don't have one at home? As a jockey they will be expected to be comfortable eating at a table and know which knife to use.
For days I had been teasing September about using a knife and fork, he always said he knew, however he never expected so many.
Our first meal at the table was very funny as the boys practiced their new skill of eating with utensils, culturally they only use their hands or a spoon and even sitting with a women at the table is totally out of culture, men sit at on a chair while women eat later on a eating mat. I was very proud of the boys who took advantage of trying new things and laughing at themselves.
The route on trail was new and exciting for the boys as we rode paths that tested their riding abilities.
They proved to me that my time and effort is going to make a difference and by giving these boys every opportunity to succeed. They will be ambassadors both to Mkulu Kei and to their community.
The boys took advantage of the whole experience. The bunk beds, bathroom, electricity and swimming pool where hits but the big race was the highlight of the trip. I won on Spindy closely followed by Alex on Royal, who rode a good calculated race.
Debbie loaned her camera to the boys and the boys took great delight in photographing each other in the bath or posing in the bedroom. Mussa learnt to swim and September and Alex spent hours diving for a spoon at the bottom of the pool. October was happier playing tennis and won the putt-putt.
Debbie, a volunteer who joined us, has put together a blog page (MKulu Kei development trail) of our adventure for more detail.
Our trail was an absolute success and great fun was had by all.
It is something I will do again but it must be earned and not expected. The two older boys are ready to face their new life; now it is up to them. Please they now need your help with funding.
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Contact me personally. Cheryl Tel/Fax: +27 (0)43 8411 525 A/H During the day please contact me on the cell, I am probably horsing around. Signal can be irregular, please leave a message or phone me on the landline in the evenings. E-mail: cheryl@mkulukeihorsetrails.co.za |
We at Mkulu Kei Horse Trails, the two and the four legged would like to say a big Thank you to all our riding guests and volunteers for donations to wards the development project.
This is a project Mkulu Kei Horse Trails is proud of and sponsored by Mkulu Kei with your help.
We use your donations towards the general running of the project. This includes giving the children pocket money, T-shirts, on occasions food, stationery and school shoes, and we have had a number of children parties (with chips, sweets and cool drinks) something they would never normally experience.
Please we require donations of children's jodhpurs, riding boots and riding hats. I would like to upgrade the children's dress code for pride and safety reasons.
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(6 years-16 years) Second hand or new. Thank You. Cheryl |
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You could be here volunteering on your coastal horse-working gap exchange riding vacation and making a difference in the lives of a rural community with our development project. As a paying volunteer not only your time and equestrian skills but also part of your daily rate is used to sustain our development activities. This is a totally different opportunity to join a exchange working gap holiday experience in a family business, the more you put in the more you get back.
Ever thought you would like to canter your horse along a beach, or play in the waves?
The sound of the horse's hoofs on the sand or splash of the water will live with you forever. Combine your dream on a working holiday. Take a gap at Mkulu Kei Horse Trails.
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