A peculiar magic happens when you climb into a saddle. Your heartbeat syncs with the rhythm of hooves, the air smells faintly of hay and sun, and suddenly, life’s complications seem to become more manageable. At Thandeka Stables in Melkbosstrand, that alchemy is offered to everyone: from toddlers to sprightly nonagenarians with unfinished business in the saddle.
Lessons kick off gently on a lead, the horse’s slow amble steadying new riders. Soon enough, pupils advance to the circular lunge ring, where walking turns to trotting and then, inevitably, to cantering. Graduates of this equestrian academy then move on to the open arena, learning not only balance and control, but how to tack up, tack down and keep calm when the world’s a bit too fast.
Later on, the more daring can advance to jumping and dressage with the unflappable Nikki Thurgood, and for those simply smitten, pony camps and horse-care clinics that turn affection into skill.
But Thandeka isn’t only about riding—it’s about healing. The reins you take could be lifelines. Through equine-assisted therapy, horses help humans rediscover trust, empathy and emotional stillness. Children with learning differences find focus and confidence in the rhythm of movement; parents join sessions to share in progress; and adults find calm in the quiet company of a horse that never judges.
Be assured, “No hour of life is wasted that is spent in the saddle”.[1]
Where: Thembani Farm, Kleine Zoute Rivier, Melkbosstrand, 078 2119894; office@thandekastables.co.za
[1] Winston Churchill
