Equestrian Getaway/Horse Ranch

Our ranch is the ideal destination for a traveler looking to experience the beauty of equestrian vacation and nature. We are located in a picturesque setting, surrounded by wide open spaces and the jungle outback, tranquil creeks, and serene lakes. The area offers outdoor activities, including horseback riding, fishing, and hiking. Visitors can also take advantage of the local culture and cuisine. With a variety of both natural attractions, the ranch has something for everyone, making it the perfect choice for an unforgettable vacation!

We offer delectable and nutritious dishes prepared with love using organic ingredients.

We are passion driven and love what we do. Volunteer accommodations are clean and tastefully designed for comfort. Work here is not hard but rewarding and enjoyable!

We have WIFI for reasonable top up rates. Kalkuda and Pasikuda are some of the best beaches in Sri Lanka and are within approximately a 20 minute tuktuk ride from the ranch. We have an arrangement with a hotel property near the beach for our volunteers to use their pool for a reasonable rate and use the beach while there.

Our horses are Sri Lanka's tallest and well kept and we are committed to ethical riding.

My name is Alfie and am committed to natural way farming, ranch style horse keeping in the tropics and syntropic agroforestry. I lived and worked in Florida after my engineering studies there. Am an alumnus of Saint Petersburg College, FL and worked as a senior manager/engineer in a Fortune 100 company in the US. I went on to becoming a Chief Technology Officer and retired from corporate career thereafter to become the first Sri Lankan to have owned and trained camels in the UAE. I now run Sri Lanka's only dude ranch positioning ourselves to become a premium and preferred option for equestrian getaways! We are a team of dedicated professionals who strive to provide a positive, supportive, and enjoyable experience for our volunteers. Our goal is to ensure that our volunteers feel respected, appreciated, and supported throughout their service. We strive to recognize each individual’s unique talents and strengths and to create an environment where volunteers feel valued, heard, and respected. We strive to provide a safe and welcoming environment for everyone. We recognize that volunteers come from all walks of life and strive to ensure that everyone is treated with respect and it is important to us that they leave with cherished memories from their equestrian vacation here! Be assured you will depart with fond memories, invigorating experience and motivation, minus the stress you came in with!

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Digital Media/Web promotion/Photography Position

Escritor de contenido Fotografía Producción de Videos Redes Sociales

Paper Town, Sri Lanka

Equestrian Opportunity in Sri Lanka

Administración Limpieza

Paper Town, Sri Lanka

Reseñas

4.5
(14 reseñas)14

Anfitrión y equipo

4.5

Horas y tareas

4.5

Hostal

4.0

Aprendizaje y diversión

4.0

Suiza

5

Since the first moment i felt mostly welcomed there, even before the trip Alfie helped me with the logistics getting there!
I stayed there 2 weeks and it was a wonderful experience, you really have the chance to get in touch with nature, but there is no wifi if you need to work remotely
Food is simply incredible, and work is not that hard, you have a lot of free time and the place is far from the city so you have to occupy your time there.
Since the second day i had the chance to work with horses, all the staff is so kind and explained me everything.
highly recommended!!

hace 3 meses

Alfie respondido

Hi Amélie,

It was our pleasure to have you with us. Thank you for being an exemplary guest and taking the time to leave us a positive review. We wish you all the best and look forward to welcoming you back anytime in the future!

España

4

Vonfidel Ranch offers an unforgettable riding holiday experience where both riders and horses find joy and harmony. Nestled in a serene, tropical setting, the ranch provides a perfect blend of adventure, relaxation, and immersive nature experiences. With well-trained horses, experienced wranglers, and a focus on comfort and safety, Vonfidel Ranch creates a welcoming environment for riders of all levels. Whether you’re exploring lush trails or enjoying a peaceful sunset ride, Vonfidel Ranch ensures a unique and memorable equestrian getaway.

hace 6 meses

Alfie respondido

Hi Victor,

Thank you for leaving a positive review about your engagement and stay with us. We’re pleased to hear you enjoyed your time here. However, we noticed your closing comment about natural horsemanship and wanted to address it.

Throughout your stay, we frequently asked if there was anything more you’d like to experience, and your response was always that everything was great. It’s important to note that our Worldpacker hosting is not intended as a substitute for a natural horsemanship training course. Our primary focus as a business is providing riding holidays. That said, I regret we didn’t have the chance to discuss natural horsemanship during our mealtime conversations—an opportunity that was always available.

Given that your visit occurred between riding holidays, our team was catching up on leave rotation and horse moves between our stables. I could have taken my leave as well, but I stayed to ensure you had the best possible experience. We’ve had occasional volunteers who left feeling under-engaged, and I wanted to give you my full attention and diligence.

I would kindly suggest that, in the future, direct communication with your host could help clarify such matters. You could have easily gained more exposure to natural horsemanship had we known your interest. Our focus was on ensuring you stayed safe in the saddle and created lasting memories. Remember, your visit was for the ‘Cleaning and Administration’ position, not horsemanship, yet we provided daily rides as well while you had the daily opportunity to witness horses of diverse levels lunged.

I do regret receiving a 4-star rating over an issue we could have easily resolved had it been communicated.

Warm regards,
Alfie

Reino Unido

3

Alfie is the best host when he is there however this opportunity was defiantly not what I was expecting. If reconnecting with nature and wanting to dissociate completely from the world then this is a great place to do so! As far as volunteering goes there isn't anything you are required to do except ride Copper. I did struggle with the length of the minimum stay and did leave a little early as felt very much isolated! Learnt a lot about health benefits on food saw more about how locals really live. Didn't see much natural horsemanship but grateful for the opportunity to see how it ran.

hace 10 meses

Alfie respondido

Hi Rebekah,

Thank you for your review and for sharing your positive experiences and remarks. However, we regret receiving a 3-star rating, as we had no idea you were struggling during your two-week stay. At the time, we had a minimum two-week requirement, but after reading your feedback, we promptly lowered it.

I understand that being in a foreign country may have made it harder to express any discomfort during your stay, but I want to emphasize that we are always open to discussion. We are well-traveled, educated, and mature enough to sit down and address any concerns. For context, I have worked with Fortune 100 companies, where work-life balance and addressing grievances are high priorities—skills I apply here at the ranch as well.

We are also very careful to ensure that volunteers aren’t overworked, and we take extra steps to make sure tasks stay within agreed-upon hours. Our volunteer program is not, and never will be, a replacement for employees, and to suggest otherwise would be completely incorrect. Many volunteers have enjoyed the freedom and flexibility our program offers, making the most of their stay on Sri Lanka’s beautiful east coast. The key difference is that many of them rated us 5 stars, while you rated us lower for the same experience.

It’s unfortunate we didn’t have the chance to address your concerns in real-time, as you consistently mentioned everything was “all good” when I checked in with you. I regret we didn’t have the opportunity to resolve what seem to be simple matters.

Warm regards,
Alfie

Holanda

2

If you’re really into nature and love the quietness, this place is definitely for you! They also take great care for you, very Sri Lankan food, and Alfie will help you with questions. For me however, it was too quiet and really boring. There is nothing to do for you as a volunteer, and I really don’t know why they would call you one while staying there. I felt really lonely, because it’s in the middle of nowhere. It was not what I was expecting, because there was nothing to do. Before you book this ‘volunteering’ position, you should know that you will just be a guest, not a team member.

hace 10 meses

Alfie respondido

Dear Lora,

As outlined in our profile, we are a signature riding holiday ranch. We carefully select suitable volunteers, and their tasks and experiences naturally vary based on the activities at hand, the nature of our guests, and their willingness to work or socialize, among other factors. You were with us during a period when we had just completed back-to-back riding holidays, so our horses were on break and some team members were on leave.

On April 10, 2024, you asked, "Are there any other volunteers present?" to which we replied, "We try to have a maximum of two students at a time. Over the past two years, we have seen a demand for more discerning students who want privacy, as most of them are digital nomads with equipment, space, and privacy preferences." Given this clear communication, it is puzzling that you described our ranch as being “in the middle of nowhere” and “too quiet and really boring.”

We chose this location out of a passion to escape urban madness and seek tranquility, a choice appreciated by many of our guests and volunteers. We understand that preferences vary, but it was clear from the start that our ranch is not a hostel and would have, at most, two volunteers at any given time.

You left earlier than your commitment required. We had staff on standby to host you, who could have been sent on leave, but instead, you chose to criticize us in a manner we believe is unfair and unfounded. We understand that you might be perturbed because there was no refund, as explained per our organization policy. Our profile contains nothing misleading or false, and if there had been, we believe you would have highlighted it at the time. We regret your insincerity and unsocial conduct in this regard.

Regarding your statement, "There is nothing to do for you as a volunteer," we want to clarify that we run an equestrian operation in a country with very few horses. Horse comfort and safety are of paramount importance to us. You had the option to ride twice a day on some days and once a day on others, based on your preference. If you had wanted more work, we would have gladly assigned you tasks that you could execute comfortably and safely. Staying in your accommodation all day and complaining more than a week after you left does not help us address any concerns. If you check your WhatsApp, you will see that Alfie responded to your messages within minutes, even while traveling or at work. We are, therefore, disappointed with your attitude.

Furthermore, your private comment about lowering the $15-a-day fee, which covers three meals, coffee, electricity, mineral drinking water, linen, water, and the prorated costs of staff who cooked your vegetarian food, served, cleaned, and kept you safe and attended to your needs, is insulting and demeaning. Where else would you receive all this and have the opportunity to ride a horse twice a day for such a cost?

Sri Lanka may have a lower GDP than your country, but we are richer in hospitality and service. We have to provide all of the above and still pay licensing fees, taxes, and upkeep. We left you good feedback, but your insincerity prevents us from remaining silent on this matter.

After your encounter, we have not only raised the fee we charge our WP volunteers but have also lowered the minimum stay requirement. This adjustment aims to attract those who genuinely wish to benefit from our program, similar to others who have given us positive feedback. At the same time, it naturally filters out those who may not be a good fit, helping us avoid future drama.

Sincerely,
Alfie

Alemania

2

You can really can get in touch with nature! There was no wifi and you’re alone as a volunteer. I felt really alone. There were no task for me that I could do. You really felt that it is more about business than anything else. You’re not a part of the team. If you looking for a place where you can work and have some interaction with animals/nature, than it is your place. There is also good food if you’re a vegetarian but you have to listens to lots of comments how meat would be better for you. There were also other inappropriate comments about how woman should dress.

hace 11 meses

Alfie respondido

Dear Linda,

Thank you for sharing your experience with us. During your brief stay of two days, we made efforts to ensure your comfort and addressed any concerns that arose.

On the evening of your arrival, we extended a warm welcome and hosted you for dinner. However, it seemed that on the second day, you encountered some personal challenges, including fatigue and emotional distress, which affected your engagement with the activities.

Regarding your attire, we maintain a commitment to safety, cultural sensitivity, and professionalism in our interactions with both guests and local partners. While we understand that cultural norms may vary, we regret any discomfort you may have experienced.

Regarding connectivity, we strive to provide clear information to our guests, including suggestions for obtaining local SIM cards. We apologize for any inconvenience you faced and appreciate your patience as we assisted you in resolving the issue.

We regret that your experience did not meet your expectations, and we value your feedback as we continually strive to improve our services. We sincerely hope that you will reconsider your review and give us the opportunity to welcome you again in the future.

Warm regards!
PS: We are happy to clarify details beyond formality of this response.

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