20/06/2024
Look at these cuties. New arrivals at Stormy Hill.
Stormy Hill Trails & Tails
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Horse riding, horse trails and horse holidays in Midlands, KZN/Southern Drakensberg. Accommodation in self catering country cottage
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Stormy Hill is Caroline’s home on the edge of the Drakensberg escarpment where horses and hounds flourish. The horse trails are tailored to the individual riders with big and small, beginners or experienced riders welcome. All the horses are well-tempered and each has its own personality, which is taken into account when matching horse to rider. Caroline only takes one group or person out riding a
t a time which means the ride is exclusively yours. Enjoy a stay in the Stormy Hill Country Cottage. This is a self catering three bedroom cottage with delightful views of the surrounding countryside. It has a fully fitted kitchen, dining room and a living room with a fireplace. It's bathroom has a ball and claw bath and a large shower. The cottage can sleep five people and is set in it's own garden. Horse holidays are also available staying at the self catering cottage with riding and horse activities during the day.
20/06/2024
Werner and Chantone came for a lovely ride down to the dam yesterday. Werner rode Zambi and Chantone rode Stormy. A super 2 hour ride covering 9kms.
18/06/2024
Well, I bought Timmi a lovely custom made Bombers bit. Since Timmi came back he had been sharing Sunshine's bit as that was Timmis before he left. This was getting awkward as I was having to adjust bridles every time I wanted to ride one of them. Time to get him his own. He went great in it yesterday and I schooled him this morning. Yes I know it's the same as the other one and it shouldn't make a difference but you never know. I do like Bombers bits. I use the loose ring snaffle and the horses find them very comfortable.
17/06/2024
A pair of wattled cranes seen when we were out riding.
17/06/2024
A great ride this morning with Jannie on Timmi and Crystal on Rainbow. Another 13.7kms covered with lots of trotting and cantering. What a lovely few days and I am sorry to see them go.
16/06/2024
Rainbow tries water sports today much to all our surprise. Good job Crystal is a good rider and didn't get too wet.
16/06/2024
A big day today. First Crystal tried out Timmi in the training ring and then went on to Rainbow with Rainbows first jumping lesson. Then we all went out with Crystal riding Rainbow this time. We got to a small dam in the forest area and saw the pair of wattled cranes. Then instead of having a drink in the dam Rainbow decided to lay down in the water with Crystal still on top. Crystal managed to get Rainbow to get up only to have it happen all over again. She managed to finally get Rainbow out of the dam and we carried on with our ride. I was very impressed.
16/06/2024
Jannie and his daughter Christel rode their first ride on their horse holiday yesterday. Jannie rode Zambi and Christel rode Hurricane. We covered 13km and we were out for 3 hours 15 minutes. A lovely ride with lots to see.
11/06/2024
Out on Stormy this morning and we met this stallion in the forest area. Luckily he wasn't at all bothered by us so we all went about our business with no fuss.
07/06/2024
I heard the dogs barking early this morning so I went out to see what was going on. The dogs were running up the terraces just as the chickens and pigs were heading down at speed back home. The horses were whizzing about and I knew that some animal must be around. I then saw feathers on the ground at the stables. Someone had been down here for a nice chicken takeaway breakfast. Probably the caracal as she is rather partial to chicken. The big question was had the chicken been taken or had the dogs rescued him from the attack. I could even tell which one it was. The tail feathers meant it was a rooster and the colour told me which one it was. Then about 10 minutes later to my relief he appeared. So here he is minus his floofy tail feathers. Well done to the dogs.
06/06/2024
Time for a pupdate on Skabelix. As you can see he is coming along nicely. I gave him a bath yesterday. Not his favourite thing. His scabs are nearly all gone. He needs some more hair but I'm sure that's growing slowly. He is so affectionate and he seems to be loving his new life at Stormy Hill.
04/06/2024
Out on Cloudy this morning checking the way up the wagon trail and the fence at the top. All clear after the big storm so that's great.
02/06/2024
Off I went with Sandman this morning to cut some trees back on the wagon trail. We got to the part I was focusing on and I loosely tied Sandman to a tree while I got to work with the chainsaw a bit further up the path. All going well then I realized that Sandman had managed to untie himself and had disappeared. Not to worry he has probably gone to find some nice grass so I carried on. Once I'd finished that section I slowly started back down the wagon trail cutting obstructing branches down along the way. Then I got back to the Stormy Hill boundary and found the gate broken. What has Sandman done! Off I went back to the stables and there was Sandman. He was pretty upset as I had put the other horses into another paddock which he couldn't get to. I put him in his stable while I put the chainsaw etc away. He didn't look injured from breaking the gate but I decided to give him a wash down and a good inspection to make sure. I went to get him out after hooking up the hose pipe and there was no Sandman. How on earth did he get out? There was nothing broken. The gate was still closed and chained. What on earth had he done. I found him in the garden happily grazing. I really thought that he must have injured himself getting out of the stable so after a good wash down so I could see past all his fluffy teddy bear coat I gave him a good inspection. Result was not a scratch, not a nick, nothing. I just don't know how he managed all that escape artist stuff without even a mark on him. I put him out with the other horses and here he is quite happily eating his hay after supper tonight in what I used to think was his secure escape proof stable.
30/05/2024
I took Cloudy out for an hour ride this morning. I'm so pleased as she went really well. She hasn't been out for ages as she had foot problems that just were not coming right despite visits from the farrier and her vet. Anyway after countless different treatments I seem to have found something that works and after 3 months she is going really well. Something like this is something to celebrate. 🎉🍾❤️. I've also included a photo of the three pregnant pigs having a nap this morning. 🐖
The video is from yesterday on Stormy.
30/05/2024
I took Cloudy out for an hour ride this morning. I'm so pleased as she went really well. She hasn't been out for ages as she had foot problems that just were not coming right despite visits from the farrier and her vet. Anyway after countless different treatments I seem to have found something that works and after 3 months she is going really well. Something like this is something to celebrate. 🎉🍾❤️. I've also included a photo of the three pregnant pigs having a nap this morning. 🐖
29/05/2024
Going for a ride up the wagon trail and back this morning.
27/05/2024
15/05/2024
On the hillside this afternoon.
11/05/2024
Some photos of the cottage all ready for the next guests.
06/05/2024
Well I've had some guys here cutting down some trees and they have made such a mess. They then told me that it is not working for them and have left the job. It's going to be a huge job to clean up and I won't be able to move the big tree trunks on my own. Then I thought of Timmi. He had started pulling some things around when he was here years ago so I wondered how long it will take to get him used to pulling things again. This is his first little training session pulling a tyre in the training ring. He was not at all sure at first but we will see how we get on in the days to come.
05/05/2024
Pottering about on Stormy this morning. 😊
02/05/2024
Another pupdate about the new dog otherwise known as big scabby dog. These are the photos of me and the dogs bringing the horses down for their supper. Can you believe it. Big scabby dog elected to join us in the walk and managed to get right to the top of the hill. I'm so impressed. He's feeling so much stronger. He's putting on weight and the bleeding and scabs are slowly going away. You can see where the scabs have been falling off as the skin underneath is white until his hair starts growing again. So pleased with his progress as he just lay on his bed and showed no interest in the world when he first joined us at Stormy Hill horse trails.
27/04/2024
Mist, rain and wet muddy horses this morning at Stormy Hill horse trails
22/04/2024
A lovely ladies weekend here at Stormy Hill horse trails. Chilling and relaxing, foraging, herding horses, going for walks and riding horses. What more could you ask for? Oh, didn't I mention the good food, wine and chocolate. 😁❤️
20/04/2024
Anthea and I had a lovely ride to the dam and back. Anthea on Zambi and I rode Sandman. Great relaxed ride with lots of good conversation.
19/04/2024
I went looking for mushrooms with my lovely guests in the cottage Anthea and Dee. Look what we found and Dee showed me how to work the portrait setting on my phone. Feeling very tech savvy now. We then picked some seps for supper and came back.
Address
S29, 68221 E29, 95299 Stormy Hill, D510
Boston
3211
Opening Hours
| Monday | 08:30 - 13:30 |
| Tuesday | 08:30 - 13:30 |
| Wednesday | 08:30 - 13:30 |
| Thursday | 08:30 - 13:30 |
| Friday | 08:30 - 13:30 |
| Saturday | 08:30 - 13:30 |
| Sunday | 08:30 - 13:30 |
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Videos
Riding up the wagon trail on Timmi
Rainbow tries water sports today much to all our surprise. Good job Crystal is a good rider and didn't get too wet.
Rainbow tries water sports today much to all our surprise. Good job Crystal is a good rider and didn't get too wet.
Wandering down the wagon trail on Zambi this morning.
Out on Cloudy this morning checking the way up the wagon trail and the fence at the top. All clear after the big storm so that's great.
Going for a ride up the wagon trail and back this morning.
Well I've had some guys here cutting down some trees and they have made such a mess. They then told me that it is not working for them and have left the job. It's going to be a huge job to clean up and I won't be able to move the big tree trunks on my own. Then I thought of Timmi. He had started pulling some things around when he was here years ago so I wondered how long it will take to get him used to pulling things again. This is his first little training session pulling a tyre in the training ring. He was not at all sure at first but we will see how we get on in the days to come.
Pottering about on Stormy this morning. 😊
Bringing the horses down for their supper. Shadow, the new dog seems to be enjoying her new life. 😁🐕
Come on Sandman, we're supposed to be going for a ride, not back to bed.
Another great ride at Stormy Hill horse trails
Rainbow looking after the piggies
What a hot day. Surprised myself by getting all the horses feet done, cleaned saddles and managed to herd lethargic horses down to the paddock and back. I also have to admit to a couple of dips in the pond to try and get a bit cooler. Must say, it worked a treat.
There was an attempt to take the horses yesterday afternoon. I was so lucky that Stormy screamed for help and fought the thieves. My neighbor at the top of the hill heard all the commotion and managed to chase the thieves off. Stormy had a rope noose round his neck. They had been hitting him but he was rearing up and refusing to go. I got up there and he calmed down. I found the other horses in the mist and we all made our way back to the stables. There are some injuries with one with a swollen eye, one has hair off the back of his ears where he must have managed to get out of a rope or halter. One had a long piece of barbed wire stuck in his tail. Lots of bumps and bruises and some slight lameness in a few of them. Thankfully they must have decided to stand and fight rather than be taken. They and me are pretty traumatized but we will get over it in a a few days.
I read the following on Facebook and I really think it's worth a read. 😊🐎 I’ve got a bone to pick and it might surprise you to know it is with b-l-o-o-d-y trail riders. I get quite a few trail riders coming to my clinics and so I have enough experience and ammunition to make a legitimate complaint. Actually, I have 2 complaints. The first is easy and I can deal with it in one short paragraph, but the second deserves a rant. Okay. First up, about half of those that mainly do trail riding describe themselves as “pleasure riders”. Stop it. We are all pleasure riders! I hope we all ride for pleasure – even professional horse people. Being a good horse person is hard and dangerous work, so if you don’t love it, the other rewards (financial, accolades, ribbons) are not sufficient enough to make it worthwhile. So trail riders should stop trying to appropriate the term “pleasure rider.” Now the second and more important reason I am cranky at trail riders is their attitude. Whenever I meet a new student at a clinic I ask them what do they do with their horse. I would say 4 out of 5 of the trail people say something like, “Oh not much. I just trail ride” or “I just like to potter around on the trail” or “We are not serious. We just like to ride out in the bush (forest).” They tell me they trail ride as if they have to apologize for it. It’s as if there is some sort of shame to being a trail rider and they are the second-class citizens of the horse world. Well, I’m going to tell you that trail riders are not second-class horse people. They are the WARRIOR CLASS of the horse world. I have come across plenty of people who have had long and highly successful competition careers that wish they had a horse they could safely ride on a trail. They practice their exercises in the safe confines of a riding facility where the most startling and unpredictable thing that can happen is that the horse gets its tiptoes wet on the water jump or it
Coming down the wagon trail on Timmi early this morning.
I managed to finish fixing Sunshine's stable the other day. Now, instead of the wall he now has a nice big pole in its place. He doesn't look too impressed.
Great morning ride at Stormy Hill horse trails
Another great ride at Stormy Hill horse trails, KwaZulu-Natal midlands, South Africa
I spent a couple of hours training Timmi this morning. First with ground work and then ridden work. Here we are on the trail.
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Our Story
Stormy Hill horse trails are tailored to the individual riders with big and small, beginners or experienced riders welcome. All the horses are well-tempered and each has its own personality, which is taken into account when matching horse to rider. The rides are all guided by Caroline, the owner at Stormy Hill. Enjoy a stay in the Stormy Hill Country Cottage or The Bed in the Shed. Stormy Hill Country Cottage is a self catering three bedroom cottage with delightful views of the surrounding countryside. It has a fully fitted kitchen, dining room and a living room with a fireplace. It's bathroom has a ball and claw bath and a large shower. The cottage can sleep five people and is set in it's own garden. The Bed in the Shed is a double room with a kitchenette and shared shower room. You can book just the accommodation or make your stay into a horse holiday.
