PLETTENBERG BAY NEWS - Animal and nature lovers are in for a treat as the Africa Hoofprint Foundation is set to host a fun day out for the entire family for a worthy cause early next month.

With the focus on healthy living and the environment, organisers of the Plett Eco Hike and Ride event said they want to raise awareness and funds for the organisation, which aims to improve the lives of the Kranshoek community and its horses. 

This will be the second event of its kind and the first time it will be held during the school summer holidays in an effort to attract a wider audience including holidaymakers.

To be held at Cairnbrogie on 6 January 2023, the event will offer three routes for participants to choose from and they can complete their chosen route on horseback, mountain bikes, by foot or with their dogs. The routes will be 2,5km; 5km and 10km.

"Enjoy the fresh air, fauna and flora on the most beautiful picturesque farm including Robberg Corridor trails," organisers said. Visitors will also have the opportunity to visit animal oganisations' exhibits or just relax afterwards with stalls, music and food to keep the family entertained.

Those with pretty pooches can also enter the event's dog show while visitors can watch the Griqua Heritage Horse Hero's parade, get up close to other special animals or watch some dog demonstrations.

There will also be pony rides, the Cairnbrogie pump track and a bike track for the little ones.

The Africa Hoofprint Foundation was established after the 2017 fires when horse owners of Kranshoek, a small settlement on the outskirts of Plett, approached the organisation's Lee Naudé to assist with moving their horses and livestock to another area. They needed to keep their animals safe after fences were destroyed, along with the animals' grazing during the fires.

Naudé, co-founder of EquineSA and a well-known personality in South African horse circles, immediately jumped in to assist the community. Her long-term vision and passion is to improve the conditions of both the Kranshoek horses and the Kranshoek community.

Naudé, who is a qualified equine assisted psycotherapy horse specialist, also started working with children from the community to boost their horsemanship skills.

For more information about the event and the work of the foundation, contact Kurt Plociennik on africahoofprintfoundation@gmail.com, or 082 481 9709 or 063 029 8744.

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