About Us

Location All of Horizon's holidays are situated in the Waterberg in northern South Africa's Limpopo Province. It is an area renowned for its wilderness quality and conservation importance, reflected in its status as a UNESCO recognised biosphere reserve. This area is only a two and a half hour drive from Johannesburg International Airport.

Management Team

The Horizon portfolio is run by Shane and Laura Dowinton, both originally from the U.K. They met whilst working in Australia and settled in the Waterberg in 1993. They are now confirmed lovers of Africa. Their patience and knowledge of horses is shown with every one of their much loved herd.

Shane’s experience with horses ranges from horse racing in Lambourne to the show jumping yards of Guernsey and the Clydesdale show teams of Sydney. However, his real passion is working stock horses. Travelling through the northern tip of Australia and the southern alps of New Zealand, Shane spent many years working livestock on horseback, breaking colts and retraining problem horses. Now in South Africa, Shane currently runs over 70 horses and has specialised in bringing on youngsters using gentle horsemanship methods. Having spent most of his life in bush areas, Shane’s enthusiasm for the wilderness is as heartfelt as his horsemanship. Those with an enquiring mind will enjoy absorbing his abundant knowledge.

Laura has a gregarious nature and is a constant source of humour and embellished stories. She loves good food and wine and takes great pride in planning the culinary delights of the day. Having worked in the corporate field for many years, she now uses her organisational skills and perceptive nature to accommodate clients’ holiday wishes and daily activities. Her favourite pastime is to escape the office with Horizon's guests, to explore the ranch and Waterberg wilderness.

Shane and Laura are aided by a friendly and enthusiastic team, chosen for their love of life, horses and people. Together, they create one of the most welcoming and relaxed riding destinations in Africa.

The Horses

At Horizon, we take great pride in the care and quality of our horses. Our herd comprises Anglo-Arabs, Thorougbreds, Boerperds and crossbreeds, ranging in size from 14.1 to 16.3 hands. All our horses are honest, forward-going and highly responsive. Many have been reared, broken and schooled at Horizon by Shane, who has been using "round pen reasoning" techniques on young and problem horses for over 15 years.

With over 70 horses to choose from, for a maximum of 10 guests at Horizon Horseback Adventures and 8 on safaris, we are in a position to closely match horse to rider ability and inclination. Experienced riders will have a stimulating ride on an intelligent horse, whilst novices are able to build confidence as they are informally coached by both guide and mount. We use mainly customised McClellan saddles that give a comfortable and secure western-type ride. English and Australian stock saddles are also available.

Atmosphere

At Horizon, we offer a highly professional holiday experience in an informal way. Many of our guests become lasting friends, and guests travelling alone find themselves welcomed among new friends. Like the bush the world over, the Waterberg is made up of small communities of real characters and we enjoy introducing our guests to the region and the people that live here. Horizon will welcome you into it’s life and share with you the beauty and community of the Waterberg.