Equestrian Volunteer Programs Abroad

My Experience Working on a Strawberry Farm in Egypt I worked on a strawberry farm in Egypt for a period of time. My main duties included picking strawberries, sorting them, and preparing them for packing. The work started early in the morning and required physical effort, but I enjoyed working outdoors. This experience taught me the importance of teamwork, responsibility, and hard work. I also learned how strawberries are grown and harvested. Working on the farm helped me develop patience and discipline. Overall, it was a valuable experience that improved my work skills and gave me a better understanding of agricultural work.

I spent two months volunteering at Chilcotin Holidays, and it was hands down one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. As a French university student, I came here looking to improve my English, step out of my comfort zone, and discover the real Canadian wilderness. I got exactly what I came for, and so much more! The environment is beautifully remote, and the reality of the ranch is wonderfully authentic. Whether it's caring for the horses in the early morning, setting up the wilderness camps, or interacting with guests from all over the world, every day is an adventure. It is physical, demanding, and incredibly fulfilling. If you are looking for a standard, comfortable luxury vacation, this isn't it. But if you want a genuine, rugged adventure where you will push your limits, build deep connections, and experience the pure Canadian frontier, I 100% recommend Chilcotin Holidays. Thank you to the whole team for this unforgettable journey!"

I spent 10 weeks at the Chilcotin Ark Institute and came away with far more than I expected when I first applied. I originally joined because I was interested in conservation and wanted to spend time in the Canadian wilderness, but the experience ended up being much broader than that. The programme combines conservation work, ranch life, community living, and a surprising amount of personal responsibility. Rather than being given a fixed schedule every day, you're encouraged to take ownership of your goals and find ways to contribute. That approach won't suit everyone, but for me it was one of the most valuable parts of the experience. One of the highlights was progressing to the point where I could assist with guiding. It was rewarding to go from learning the basics of ranch life and horse work to helping support guests and take on more responsibility. The horseback element was also a major draw. Some of my favourite memories were spent travelling through the backcountry and seeing parts of British Columbia that very few people ever get to experience. Life at the ranch is immersive. You're not just helping with conservation projects; you're also part of a small community. Everyone contributes to cooking, maintenance, animal care, and the day-to-day running of the ranch. The days are full, but that is also what makes the experience feel meaningful. The programme isn't a holiday, and it isn't a typical volunteer placement. It requires initiative, adaptability, and a willingness to get involved. However, if you're looking for a chance to challenge yourself, learn practical skills, spend time in nature, and contribute to something larger than yourself, I would highly recommend it. For the right person, it's a genuinely unique experience and one that I expect will stay with me for a long time.

Had the time of my life at Antelope Park! Such nice people there, very warm and welcoming and so fun! Found friends for a lifetime from all over the world. The horses are so sweet and it was the perfect combo of work and fun - whereas the work was as fun as the activities in the afternoon. All in all I'd wish for everyone to experience this once in their life, it is truly unreal!

I had the most amazing week ever and wish I could have stayed longer! The staff are all lovely and couldn’t be anymore helpful and the other volunteers were all lovely to. The animals are so well cared for and it was great to learn so much about them and be hands on. Highly recommend if you are thinking about it, book it! You will have the best experience.

I had such an incredible time at antelope park on the stables project (with a couple days on wildlife). Everyone was so friendly, it felt like one big family and have definitely made friends for life. The project was run so well, with Martha as the Vol coordinator she was so organised and very very lovely!! Skye and Ted who ran the stables project were just so great. I learnt so much from them and they are the kindest people. The food that we had was so good! I will definitely be returning.

My stay with Volunteer Encounter in Zimbabwe Antelope Park this summer was honestly one of the best experiences of my life. I joined the wildlife conservation program, which was already incredible, but there was so much more to the experience than I expected. Seeing wildlife almost every day was surreal. It’s not an exaggeration! You regularly see rhinos, elephants, lions, zebras, and wildebeest. I even saw a kudu, which was really special. One of the absolute highlights for me were the sunrise rides with Ted. Those mornings were unforgettable. Ted is genuinely one of the nicest, most wonderful people I’ve ever met. Sky, one of the interns, was also fantastic, and honestly all the interns were amazing such fun, kind people who really make the whole experience even better. Massima is amazing and Marta is fantastic as well. There are also many opportunities to get involved with the local community. You can teach at the school, help with the soup kitchen, or join other community activities. Dancing with Sue and Tana during the community moments was such a fun experience. Tana is basically the community queen! Another huge highlight for me were the friendships I made there. In just the first few weeks I met people who became friends for life. We all live in different parts of the world now, but we still see each other and stay in touch, which makes the experience even more special. I would recommend Volunteer Encounter to anyone. It’s an unforgettable experience! Incredible wildlife, amazing people, and a community that welcomes you with open arms.

I had a fantastic 3 weeks at Antelope Park on Stables and Wildlife in Sept 2025. I thoroughly enjoyed all activities, especially sunrise and safari rides. I also enjoyed the optional activities on offer, e.g. Matopos. Antelope Park is a very special place, and all the people are amazing.

So everyday I tell my mum about my day and everyday I say the same thing “I’ve had the most amazing day” because everyday here is so magical I don’t think there has ever been a day where there’s not a smile on my face. Every single intern, member of staff and volunteer has been so welcoming and I’ve gotten on so well with every single person it feels like a family. I am volunteering on the stables and not only are all the horses so patient and so talented at what they can do from doing safari rides to polocross and cross country but all the stable staff like Skye and Ted are incredible too they’ve helped me grow as a person an become such a better rider teaching me so many things and growing my confidence. My highlight is the morning rides waking up in the morning and schooling the horses and going for a ride in the park whilst the sun is rising and all the animals are waking up the world feels quiet and so peaceful. I have learnt polo cross here which I never thought I would love as much it’s so much fun and so nice to get a bit competitive. I also really enjoy the parties we have on the weekends everyone getting together and having a few drinks and playing games together. I have loved every minute here and never want to leave it has truly been the best 4 weeks of my life and I wish I could never leave

The horses were great, the work was fun and meaningful. The accommodations were very good, the food was nice and the housing perfect. The people who were in charge were great. Il loved doing soup kitchen for the homeless and going to the orphanage was very sad but it made so much sense. Overall I felt like I was on another planet than mine, completely overwhelmed by Zimbabwe and it’s reality. I definitely recommend this trip.

Almost a year after returning to the US, I'm still trying to hold on to Africa and relive the amazing experience I had at Antelope Park with some of the best people know. The staff at Antelope Park are truly wonderful people and care deeply about the work they are doing in their local community and with lion conservation. As Rosine says, "this isn't just a job, it's a calling". I'm so grateful that I had the rare opportunities to interact with African wildlife that I did, but also, to experience the love and hospitality of the people of Zimbabwe. I was also VERY fortunate to share this experience with some other amazing volunteers who made my time at Antelope Park so much fun! 10/10 recommend to anyone thinking of doing this, don't wait, just go!

I’ve been to AntelopePark for two weeks and they have been life changing. Truly one of the best experiences of my life. The staff is amazing, you have 24h assistance and they will make sure everything is fine. The horses are angels, you will fall in love with all of them

My week in Zimbabwe on the horse project was nothing short of incredible… short but so, so sweet. One week honestly wasn’t long enough; I’d recommend at least 2–3 weeks to truly soak it all in. Working alongside such amazing people made it even more special. Skye and Ted were the dream team - a wonderful duo who made sure every volunteer was involved in the care, the daily jobs, and the full experience. The variety of activities each day kept things exciting, and my confidence grew, whilst doing XC, more than I expected. I even got to try PoloX, which I absolutely loved. Seeing the safari animals up close was surreal such a special experience and I’ll never forget everyone going out of their way to make sure I saw a giraffe before I left. The evenings were just as memorable, especially the scavenger hunt and spontaneously jumping into the pool fully clothed (maybe not the wisest choice the night before a flight!). Missing the horses, the people, and the feeling of being there. I’ll cherish that time forever. I truly hope one day I’ll be back to make even more memories.

I truly had the time of my life at Antelope Park. From the beginning I knew this would be an experience I would never forget, and it turned out to be even better than I imagined. The staff were an absolute delight to work with, the volunteers were the most vibrant group of people I’ve ever been around, and the wildlife and horses were breathtaking. I don’t know any other place quite like Antelope Park. I would recommend it to anyone looking for adventure and one hell of a time :))

Had a great time working with horses in Croatia. Everybody involved was really kind and helpful, and the trip went smoothly. It was also very helpful that this could be done as a DofE Residential, and Oyster have been helpful in getting back to us with Assessor's reports.

I enjoyed some of the activites , but not others. The rivre walk and the walk to the koppies was 10/10. No intrenet was challenging , so 7/10. Jane , Precious , Patrick and Lucas were 10/10. I woul recommend this project to anyone who needs a detox from Social media.

I'm extremely satisfied to have been part of this great program helping children, their future and the future of the country. Accommodation - I was very happy and comfortable in a clean and pleasant environment. Food was always delicious, transport was always good, and cleaning was perfect. Staff were very kind and friendly with very good support; I was always able to reach them. I enjoyed every experience. Thank you so much for everything.

I enjoyed being part of the teaching program very much. Teaching English to year 3&4 was challenging at times but also a lot of fun. Receiving an email 2 weeks before arriving regarding school, classes would have been good. Emphasising the need for a laptop for lesson planning would have helped. I was very satisfied with accommodation; beds and pillows were comfortable, though upgrading to aircon was needed. Having 2 people in hot climate was better than three. Food was excellent and fresh with a great selection of meals all prepared by lovely, helpful staff. Having the occasional chicken meal was welcomed. Enjoyed experiencing Kerala food. We didn't need transport and the room was cleaned once a week & bathroom a few times each week. No complaints. All the staff were incredibly helpful, answering many questions. Working with Reshma was great both in and out of the classroom. She was extermely supportive when doing lesson planning & her help in the classroom with translation & classroom management was fantastic. Staff knew where various yoga places were always willing to suggest places to visit. Great suggestion by Shamla for cooking lesson and Kathkali.

During my trip to Perugia, I learned so much about Italy’s culture, a bit of the language, and met people that I still talk to today, two and a half years later. My experience revolved around rescues and refuges, and being able to see all the different species in Italy, and our vet who showed us how to examine them, was so inspiring! It made me want to switch my focus to exotic animals rather than small animals. It was an amazing experience, and one that I will remember forever!

New culture, new people, New Life. When we exchange our perspectives, ideas and plans to make a world better place for everyone. It's good to go different places it helps me view life in many directions