Our Story

ANDY TAYLOR —

“Everyone with a passion for horses is on a constant journey to improve their ability to ride and communicate with horses. There is nothing more satisfying than seeing a horse grow into its true potential, thanks to you!.”

A man in a blue shirt and gray cap smiling while standing next to a white horse with a red blanket on its back, outdoors with trees in the background.

INTRODUCTION

Passion for horses is still very much alive in the hearts of most people around the world today, However this modern age we now live in no longer makes demands on the horse as the working animal it used to be but rather as a luxury creature for our pleasure and sports. 

As a result of the times we now have a world of horse riders with a fast decreasing community of Horsemen and women. With the decrease in true understanding of these animals comes the increase in the problems and vices they develop.

As an intern with African Hoofbeatz, you will have the opportunity to work with quite a few horses who have rider issues and through working with these horses your journey to horsemanship will begin, our work is varied from starting horses under saddle for the first time, identifying and solving issues of problem horses, schooling young horses for the competition circuit, be it polo, polocrosse, showjumping and so forth and on occasion working with riders who have  confidence issues.

In addition to the offsite clinics we do with other owners horses we also run a small dealing yard of Thoroughbred horses mainly for the polo and polocrosse community and as an intern with African Hoofbeatz you will spend a portion of your time each day schooling or fitness training the Hoofbeatz horses in preparation for competitions or instructing riders in basic horsemanship, our lessons differ slightly to the typical lesson one would receive at a normal riding school as we also encourage our students to try develop an understanding of the signals given off by their horses, in short we not only develop riding skills but try to also build a partnership between horse and rider.

There is a lot of knowledge to be gained from spending time with this veterinary clinic, as Africa is home to some very interesting diseases and ailments, and although the patients they deal with are mostly of the domestic variety on occasion some of our wilder residents also pop in for a check up or need attention from fighting or poaching.

ABOUT ANDY TAYLOR

Andy Taylor has had a passion for horses his whole life. As a young adult he decided to pursue it as a career, training horses of all breeds and disciplines. He has worked with horses in Australia, the United Kingdom, Dubai and Zimbabwe. He has represented the UAE and Zimbabwe in polocrosse and continues to play the sport competitively.

His career highlights include backing polo horses for a polo breeder in England whilst working for low and high goal polo teams. He backed and trained Arabs for endurance and desert rides in Dubai under the personal request of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Faisel Al Quasimi. Despite introducing polocrosse to the United Arab Emirates as well as a successful career there, the open horizons and warm winds of Africa called him home in 2011. Back in Zimbabwe Andy ran a busy 40 horse trail riding stable on a wildlife game reserve, training the horses whilst overseeing a breeding program, before going into retraining racehorses for polocrosse full time.

Since 2012 Andy Taylor has been retraining racehorses into the sports of Polocrosse, Polo and on occasion Showjumping. A believer in the idea that “no one method works for every horse”, he pulls on ideas and techniques from a number of different natural horsemanship schools of thought in his work.

Thoroughbreds are the predominant breed of horse for all disciplines in Southern Africa. Like everywhere else in the world, the supply from the racetrack outweighs the demand from the sporting community. Coupled with this, a large percentage of thoroughbreds which are retrained are done so incorrectly. He therefore believes that in order for a retired racehorse to continue providing value, the proper amount of foundation work needs to be put into it which is what he focuses on. Whilst horses could end up finding a home in various sports, his foundation work is in Polocrosse.

THE PROGRAMME

This programme focuses on time in the saddle and is designed for those whose number one priority is to spend time adding value to horses. Besides re-educating thoroughbreds into a second career, Andy assists other horse owners with correcting vices and backing young horses.

Playing the horses in Polocrosse (entry level or higher) is his main method for ensuring a safe, obedient, mentally stable horse. You will have the chance to learn and play a fun and competitive sport which also provides a great social environment with other riders.

In addition to this there are life changing excursions which you can be a part of, a horseback wildlife camping safari in Matobo Hills, a World Heritage Site, rhino walking in Matobo Hills as well as the option to go on a trip to the mighty Victoria Falls, one of the seven Natural Wonders of the World, to name a few.

Whether you're an experienced rider eager to dive into the competitive world of polocrosse or a beginner looking to build confidence in the saddle, this programme is designed for everyone. Andy is passionate about teaching both polocrosse and horsemanship. Although he has his own unique riding methods and style, he believes that horses can thrive under various techniques. He enjoys collaborating with riders to tackle the challenges of the equestrian world while creating lasting memories together!

Each volunteer will be assigned a pair of horses to work with daily throughout your stay. These horses will be available for you to play practice chukkas on at the weekly polocrosse practices at our local club, as well as local showjumping events in Bulawayo and occasionally polocrosse tournaments across the country (subject to time of year and horses suitability). The horses will be paired based on your riding level and preferences.

HORSEMANSHIP & RIDING EXPERIENCE

A significant aspect of the internship revolves around you and the horses. It's about learning from one another and collaborating toward a common goal. Whilst there isn't a single perfect approach, there are several methods we prefer to use, especially for young, spirited, ex-racehorses or those with an established schooling background. Throughout your time here, you'll have the opportunity to discover the unique personalities of the horses and work towards achieving the various objectives we set for each one.

We can accommodate riders of any level in our project, however your level of experience does dictate the amount of responsibility we can entrust to you on a practical level. This will be at the sole discretion of your trainer. For example less experienced riders will be limited on the amount of work they can do with the younger horses we work with.

We welcome both Western and English riding disciplines however the style we use is a fusion of both, namely Stock riding. The focus is not on how you ride but rather learning about communication between horse and rider.

Regardless of an intern’s experience, there is a lot of work to be done with horses, and time in the saddle is what we all need to become better horsemen and women.

POLOCROSSE

EXCITING NEWS:

The 2027 Polocrosse World Cup will be hosted by Zimbabwe, specifically at the Thorn Park Polo Club in Harare.

This is the first time Zimbabwe will host the event.

Polocrosse is a fast-paced, team sport played on horseback, combining elements of polo and lacrosse. Players use racquets with loose nets to pick up, carry, and throw a soft ball, aiming to score goals.

Polocrosse requires a good horse-rider bond, subtle horse-rider communication based on weight shift and neck reining, fast responses, alertness, good balance and athleticism from both horse and rider. These are all the things you will be working on every day with the horses and can start bringing it all together in the form of a game.

You will be taught the basics of polocrosse, rules of the game, use of a stick and ball and tactics. As your skills grow you can have friendly games with other students and join games on a Sunday at the Bulawayo Country Club polocrosse field just down the road.

The polocrosse season runs from March to September each year with usually 1 tournament per month from April to August. Therefore, if interns want to compete in tournaments they will need to come during this period.

Person wearing a helmet riding a brown horse through a grassy field with trees and hills in the background.

Ready for an adventure of a lifetime?

To find out more about our internship programme, availability and bookings, please fill out an enquiry form using the link below.

Alternatively you can contact us directly on:

africanhoofbeatz@gmail.com

(+263) 77 795 8270