Are Horse Safari Packages Ethical for the Horses?

Some are, and some genuinely aren’t. It depends entirely on how the individual horse safari operator manages its horses. A responsible horse safari operation should provide appropriate workloads, proper rest, good nutrition, veterinary care and suitable tack, while making sure horses are matched sensibly to the riders who ride them. They should also have plenty of time to simply be horses when they’re not working.

At the operations we trust, horse care is part of the daily routine, not something that only happens when a horse needs attention. Most horses are fed two to three times a day, always have access to adequate water, and have grazing available through the night and whenever they’re not being ridden. They have dedicated rest days and, depending on the operation and safari schedule, may have weeks off between safaris.

The horses are also groomed and checked twice a day by teams who know them individually. That regular hands-on care means the team quickly notices if a horse isn’t quite right, whether that’s a change in behaviour, condition, movement or appetite.

For us, good horse welfare isn’t just about whether a horse looks healthy when a guest arrives. It’s about how that horse is cared for every day, including when nobody is riding it.
At African Horse Safaris, we only recommend operators after visiting in person and, wherever possible, riding the horses ourselves. We ask directly about workloads, rest periods, feeding, tack and veterinary care, and we look at how the horses are managed day to day.

At many of the operations we trust, horses live out in herds when they’re not working. They may graze loose alongside wildlife and have regular veterinary, dental, physio and farrier care. Older horses and those needing extra support receive additional attention, particularly through the winter months.

One of the most important details is how horses are matched to riders. A well-run operation should know which horses are suitable for novice riders, which are better suited to experienced riders, and which horses are particularly sensible around wildlife. It shouldn’t simply be a case of putting a rider on whichever horse happens to be available that morning.

Good horse welfare is about the whole picture: how horses live, how often they work, how they’re managed, and whether the people looking after them genuinely know their individual needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you know if the horses are properly rested?
We ask operators how they manage time off between safaris, training and regular riding, and check this ourselves when we visit. Horses should have dedicated rest days, with longer breaks between safaris where needed. We also look at the horses themselves. Their condition, behaviour and way of going can tell you a lot about whether they’re getting enough time to recover. A good team knows their horses well and will recognise when a horse needs a break, rather than simply putting them back into work because they’re available.

Are the horses ridden by novice and experienced riders alike?
They can be, but the important thing is that the right horse is matched to the right rider. A well-run operation will generally use calmer, more forgiving horses for less experienced riders, while more responsive or forward-going horses are given to experienced riders.

Do horses get time off from riding on a horse safari?
They should. Responsible operators manage workloads so horses aren’t simply ridden day after day without adequate rest. How this is managed varies between operations. Some use larger herds so individual horses can have more days off, while others rotate horses according to the itinerary and workload.

How can you tell if a horse safari operator genuinely cares about horse welfare?
Look beyond the marketing. Ask how often horses work, how workloads are recorded, where horses live when they’re not working, what veterinary and farrier care they receive, and how riders are matched to horses. First-hand visits are even better, as you can see how the horses are actually kept rather than relying on what an operator says online.

What does African Horse Safaris do if an operator doesn’t meet its standards?
We don’t recommend them. Our relationship with an operator doesn’t come before the welfare of the horses or the experience and safety of our guests. We regularly revisit the operations we work with, so our assessment isn’t something that happens once and is then forgotten.