When Lizzie Mlongo first boarded a plane from the UK to South Africa, she imagined a year of adventure, volunteering and sunshine before returning to her “lovely life in England.” What she didn’t expect was a complete rerouting of her future, one shaped by the North Coast, a small herd of gentle horses, and a calling she hadn’t yet recognised.
Today, Lizzie is the founder of Stable Steps, an equine assisted learning programme just outside Ballito. It’s a place where children who struggle in mainstream settings, from anxiety and dyslexia to ADHD and autism, learn, regulate, read, laugh, connect and grow through the quiet magic of horses.
From classroom to countryside
A lifelong lover of children and teaching, Lizzie arrived in South Africa in 2019 to volunteer at LIV Village. A short visit the year before had already planted a seed. “I just fell in love with South Africa,” she says. “It is the most beautiful place and I had this feeling I was coming back.”
She signed on to teach at the village school, but soon found herself in uncharted territory: homeschooling a little boy who’d never been able to learn in a traditional classroom. “It was all about creativity, trial and error, and finding different ways to help him learn. That experience sparked my passion for alternative learning.”
Alongside teaching, she began managing the therapy department and spending more time around the village horses, a childhood passion she hadn’t explored in 15 years. When an opportunity arose to travel to Canada for an equine assisted learning qualification, Lizzie went. And something clicked.
“This whole world opened up. The horses, the learning, the life skills: it made sense in a way nothing had before.”
The birth of Stable Steps
After four and a half years at LIV Village, Lizzie faced a crossroads: return to England or plant roots on the North Coast. Faith, along with a friend’s horses, helped her choose the latter. In April 2024, Stable Steps officially began.
Today her programmes include:
Horse Powered Reading
A hands-on, movement-based approach that helps children build reading confidence without worksheets or pressure.
Adaptive Riding
Gentle, therapeutic riding experiences focused on regulation, movement and sensory input.
Horse Agility and Care
Obstacle courses, problem-solving activities, grooming and groundwork that build confidence, curiosity and responsibility.
But the real magic happens between the lines.
“Horses are incredible teachers,” she explains. “They give non-judgemental feedback. If a child is unsure or anxious, the horse will show it – maybe they won’t move forward. So, the child learns to self-regulate, to try again, to communicate differently. And when they succeed, that sense of ‘I can do this’ carries back into the classroom.”
She tells the story of children who once refused to look at text now reading fluently. Others arrive overwhelmed from a tough day and leave calm, centred and smiling. “Even one hour can change everything,” she says. “Parents will message me afterwards saying, ‘They’re like a different child.’”
Meet the horses
Lizzie works with a small but special herd, including Solitaire (Solly) and Lady, two horses who have lived side by side their entire lives. Each brings something unique to the arena.
Temperament is crucial, as is willingness. “Some horses just don’t want to participate. You need horses who are curious, who enjoy people, who want to connect.”
A life she never planned – and wouldn’t trade
While Lizzie never imagined living in South Africa long-term, life had other plans, including meeting her now-husband, Rashid.
“He’d never been around horses,” she laughs, “but he loves them now!”
Stable Steps is growing through one-on-one programmes, group sessions and plenty of new ideas for 2026.
But her heart remains anchored where it began: with children.
“My passion is working with children under 12. To give them a place outside traditional structures, somewhere peaceful and grounding, where they can learn, breathe and feel brave.”
Details: 063 916 4026; IG: @stablesteps1
