Take a Tour of Sirai Stud in Kenya

Nestled in the foot hills of Mount Kenya is Sirai Stud, a small boutique stud facility focused on breeding the ultimate safari horse – a cross between Friesians, Boerperd, and Thoroughbred. These tough horses go out all day to ride across the safari amongst the lions, giraffes, and elephants.

Learn more at siraistud.com

The stables were built in 2012 and were constructed at the same time as the main house (Sirai House) on the property. They were designed by Sarah Spencer, who did an amazing job on the project. The rustic chic stables at Sirai Stud have 15 stalls including a spacious foaling stall, and a stock room for performing embryo transfer and artificial insemination. The stables also have an embryo lab and a luxurious tack room.

The barn was handcrafted by a Kenyan artisan and features wrought iron railings and Tuscan P3 plaster on each wall. Lemon trees, Bougainvillea, and exotic grasses are planted among the stable grounds.

Sirai Stud is situated 700 ft below Mount Kenya and on the equator so the weather can really fluctuate. Temperatures really drop at night so the stable grounds were designed to keep in the warmth from the day. The stable walls are built with thick building blocks and coated in P3 plaster which can help keep the barn cool during the day when temperatures rise. The stable fronts and partitions are made out of local pine. The wood must be oiled with teak oil every six months to provide nourishment against the elements.

The stables were designed with the horse in mind, they provide a social environment with lots of ventilation and plenty of airflow. The columns and gates in the stable entryway are made from fallen cedar in the nearby forests.

The walkway out of the stables is lined with big Acacia Abyssinica trees which provide wonderful shade.

Sirai Stud has over 100 acres of turnout. The mares and young foals must be brought in the stables at night for their safety. Leopards patrol the property at dawn and dusk. The mosquitos are also bad at night so it’s best to avoid them since they can carry threatening diseases.

The neat and organized tack room.

If you are looking for the ultimate safari experience, you can stay at Sirai House and book your horseback riding experience. Riding is only offered to advance riders. Overnight trips with the horses offer the chance to camp under the African skies. Both day rides and safari rides get guests close to the big 5 (lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant, and cape buffalo).