On a recent visit to Kuta, we stopped in at Eudaimon – home of “Kuta Horses” on the south coast.

Beautiful Eudaimon Villa is perched high on the hill above Kuta with breathtaking views across the coastline and ocean. The villa itself is lovely; designed for gracious comfort with luxurious furnishings. Opening off the front of the villa is a decked area with a private swimming pool that seems suspended over the edge of the hill, floating above the blue waters of Kuta Beach.

There is also a comfortable guest house on the property with two bedrooms and comfortable living areas, including another large swimming pool and more stunning views of the coast. 

During our visit, we met the horses owned by Pierre-Emmanuel, a charming French man who makes his home in Kuta.

Having fallen in love with the natural landscapes of Kuta, Pierre-Emmanuel set about creating his unique villa and horse-riding property there and today operates Kuta Horses – one of only two horse-riding businesses in Lombok (the other is on Gili Trawangan).

Kuta Horses provides unique horse riding tours of the area, taking visitors to off-road locations they would never be able to see by car or motorbike. Different routes take riders along quiet beaches, peaceful bays, authentic villages, and through mountains and forests.

In a clean corral on the property are six horses; two from Australia and four from Sumbawa and Sulawesi, which were selected as they are tall for Indonesian breeds. The well-trained horses are all strong, have joyful natures and are never aggressive.

After being so used to seeing the small Lombok ponies used to pull local horse-carts (cidomo), it is lovely to see full-sized horses in such superb physical condition. It is obvious Pierre-Emmanuel takes good care of his horses.

For those interested in spending some time exploring the south by horseback, there are accommodation and riding packages available, including luxurious stays at the villa and daily rides.

If you are visiting the Kuta area, rides take place every afternoon, although it is advisable to book beforehand. Rides can be tailored to suit beginners and children through to experienced riders, and skill levels are matched to appropriate horses.

Duration of the rides can be one or two hours, or half day and full day adventures. Tours on offer include rides along mountain trails and through traditional Sasak villages, greeting the sunrise on Mt Prabhu, sunset rides along stunning beaches and swimming with the horses.

An exceptional day trip starts in the morning with a ride to beautiful Tanjung Aan through the fishing villages. Enjoy a picnic lunch on the beach and a relaxing siesta, and then go swimming with the horses. In the late afternoon, ride back to Kuta through the hills, enjoying panoramic views of the beaches and sunset.

Kuta by horseback is a unique and exhilarating way to explore the unspoiled landscapes of the south coast in the most natural way possible. The local people love to see the horses and their riders are greeted with excitement and friendliness wherever they venture!

For more information, visit: www.horseridinglombok.com