The document discusses the experiences of volunteers who cared for horse refugees in Mozambique after fleeing Zimbabwe due to political turmoil. It highlights the development of a horse safari enterprise that promotes eco-tourism and provides economic opportunities for local communities while preserving traditional fishing practices. The author shares personal lessons in leadership and horsemanship learned during this impactful volunteer experience.

1. Horse Volunteering People of Mozambique Horse Safari Lessons
• Supervised successful care for 25 horse refugees from Mozambique Horse Safari started in Zimbabwe when President Robert Mugabe The most important lesson I learned was patience. The worst insult
Zimbabwe’s Land Reform Act enforced the Land Reform Act. Mugabe used this act to take over farms owned and biggest mistake to be made in Vilankulos was to lose one’s
• Led daily community tourism trail rides for up to 30 people, by whites in Zimbabwe and give them to native Zimbabweans. While many patience. Despite what would often be best described as chaotic
teaching safe and proper riding style to international (French, farmers fled the violence, Mandy & Pat continued to farm, collecting their times, I learned to keep my emotions in check, always have an open
German, etc.) clientele neighbor’s abandoned horses. When finally forced to leave Zimbabwe for asylum mind, and in the terms of one of my professors, border cross.
• Developed new trail by plotting and then exploring routes by in Mozambique, they left almost all their possessions but took 104 horse refugees.
Among other lessons, I took a class with another volunteer that
land & sea using GPS devices/software
used horsemanship to teach personal leadership. The activity used
Together Mandy & Pat Retzlaff, below center, have grew MHS from scratch to a
horses to reveal personal strengths and weaknesses. Through the
healthy eco-tourism company. None of this would have been possible without the
activity, I was able to see my own leadership style and its effect.
hardy character or their love for animals. Through their enterprise they have
provided many Mozambicans the opportunity to grow economically while
keeping their fishing traditions alive. Eric, a business partner of MHS and local
chief, is pictured below on the right.
Vilankulos, Mozambique
Vilankulos is a town along the central coastline of Mozambique. A
Figure_1.bxxxxxx
traditional fishing village, it is located 9 hours north of capital,
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Maputo. It is also five hours east of Chimoio, the Mozambican
town along the border of Zimbabwe. While it still has a local
vibrant fishing culture, tourism has become the main industry for
this gateway town of the Bazaruto Archipelago. It has a
population around 25,000 and the main language spoken is The Horses of MHS
Portuguese.
Acknowledgements
1. The Duke Endowment for funding this amazing opportunity.
The horses of MHS are some of the best kept and well-groomed horses I have 2. Minda Brooks, Former Assistant Director to BN Duke, for all
come across. Almost all have been trained by Pat Retzlaff in the Pat Pirelli her support and encouragement throughout this experience and
horsemanship style. Unfortunately, only around 30 of the original 104 horses my entire Duke career.
remain. While some have been homed with other people, plant poisoning killed 3. Mandy and Pat Retzlaff of Mozambique Horse Safari
around 25 horses four months before I arrived. Pat uses mostly Western tack 4. Gerald, Evita, and Blakely Wise for being a constant resource
and snaffle bits for the horses. during my travels.