Unusual getaway: Outeniqua Moon Percheron Stud

Kids love the gentle giants that are Percherons. And you will, too

Spent an awesome weekend with the family at Outeniqua Moon. The farm offers self-catering accommodation, and it’s perfect for kids: my 5-year-old grandson was in heaven. Feeding the horses, going on a cart ride, and even getting a chance to ride good, gentle, Bobby.

Percherons were at one time plentiful in South Africa. Sadly, the motor car put them out of work, and it’s only due to the dedication of people like Pete and Christine Watt that they’re on the increase again.

Christine is a huge advocate for horses in general, and Percherons in particular. She spent a lot of time with us explaining why the breed is so important. Indeed, I would say that it has a future, since it is a willing worker and it’s incredibly strong: in time, we’ll have to go back to animal-drawn farming techniques, especially on organic farms.

It was an honour to spend time with the Watts and their animals (they’ve got dogs, cats, too – this is, after all, a working farm).

The farm’s situated at Ruiterbos on the R328 between Oudtshoorn and Mossel Bay on the Garden Route of South Africa’s Western Cape Province, and there’s a lot to do in the area – but we only moved out of the gate to go to the general dealer’s to buy sweets. For the rest, we lazed around the 25 metre lap pool, and talked to the horses.

It was a fantastically relaxing getaway, and one that you can happily recommend to your FITs and small tour groups.

Visit Christine and Pete at http://outeniquamoon.co.za/

Watch my video (yes, it was shot on my iPhone, and edited on iMovie) below; and

Have a look at an album of pics here.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFrvUfaZuiM[/youtube]