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100 %
Last replied
21 Jun 2025
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100.0 %
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Description
Dear fellow Workawayers, we (Larissa (57) and Arjen (53) are an international oriented, easy-going and sporty family living in the back-country of the southern Drôme Provençale near the village of Montaulieu. Since Jan 2023 Annemare (Dutch, 35) joined us and amongst other things she is the main trainer of our horses and specializes in breaking in the new horses.
Our horse-ranch is located in a remote area in the 'Parc Naturel Régional de Baronnies Provençales' in the hills of the Drôme Provençale. We currently have 6 horses and 4 dogs. We're originally Dutch and besides the Dutch language we speak English and French. Our goal is to create a place where you can experience real nature, in a friendly and social environment with the possibility to do (Western Style) trail horseback riding and other back country sports.
We are looking for 2 friendly and energetic workawayers who can help us with our daily tasks. For more info on the requested help see below.
The accommodation is a newly renovated 2-bedroom apartment. You will be needed to do your own cooking but we offer to provide (financially) for the meals. A car will be at your disposal and because of the remote location a driving license is required. We also have electric mountain-bikes which you can use any time you like. We own 30ha of off-the-grid land and the opportunities for hiking, climbing and biking are abundant. The air is clean and there is absolutely no sound other than the birds or the whistle of the wind.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Animal Care
Farmstay help
General Maintenance
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
For our work we travelled and still travel all over the world . We are naturally interested in different cultures and we appreciate different points of view. We speak Dutch, French and English and during our work on the property we gladly help in any of these languages. We always guide the travellers in the different jobs and we value working as a team.
Annemare and Arjen wil be glad to inform and guide anyone on one of the sport activities that can be done at and around our ranch. (hiking, climbing, mountainbiking, horsebackriding, petanque, playing darts, etc) The activities are also a great way to exchange languages and cultural points of view.
As mentioned above, in everything we do, we really appreciate a positive and relaxed atmosphere with lots of humour. We love what we do and we therefore live by the rule that any work or activity on our ranch should always be a pleasure and never a burden.
Help
We are currently fully booked..
The help on our ranch is very dynamic and amongst others, clearing forest, gardening, DIY, fencing and horse care is part of our daily routine. We might ask for a hand in all of this.
We fully guide everyone in all the projects that we do and we always work as a team. As always, a good spirit and positive vibe are essential!
Longer stays are desirable and because of the remote location a driving license is required.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
French: Fluent
Dutch: Fluent
Accommodation
The accommodation is a newly renovated, heated 2-bedroom, 2 story apartment. The first level has a balcony with a great view from both bedrooms.
You will be needed to do your own cooking but we provide financially for all your meals and drinks. A car will be at your disposal free of charge. We also have electric mountain-bikes which you can use any time you like. We have a small fitness-room and a playroom where you can improve your table-football or darting skills and we have a French petanque course. Or you can just sit on your balcony and enjoy the view on the surrounding hills and the stars at night.
What else ...
Among many other things the southern Drôme Provençale is known for its beautiful nature, its lavender, black olives, great olive oil and of course the well known Côtes-du-Rhône wines. You can visit the lovely and well-known nearby villages of Nyons, Buis-les-Baronnies and Vaison-la-Romaine and a lot of other typical Southern Provençale villages. The area is interesting for hiking, mountain-biking and rock-climbing for all levels from beginner to advanced. It also offers some of the best skies for stargazing. There is a spectacular site nearby where you can watch the biggest vultures of Europe (Griffon, Black, Egyptian and Bearded vulture) in their natural environment.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
My animals / pets
Feedback (8)
It was interesting hearing your point of view and your good sense of humour… read more
Their home is… read more
You’re always… read more
Arjen and Larissa and their daughters (of whom I had the pleasure to meet two of the three) are very warm, open, generous, hospitable and hardworking people. I really enjoyed spending time with them doing different jobs, the trail rides and the dinners we… read more
5-star premium accommodation and hospitality.
Two weeks of holiday for me with this beautiful welcoming family.
I hope I helped enough at the ranch during my stay.
Thank you Larissa and Arjen !...you are my friends in France now :-)
Photos
Feedback
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Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(4.9)
Communication:
(4.9)
It was interesting hearing your point of view and your good sense of humour… read more
Their home is… read more
You’re always… read more
Arjen and Larissa and their daughters (of whom I had the pleasure to meet two of the three) are very warm, open, generous, hospitable and hardworking people. I really enjoyed spending time with them doing different jobs, the trail rides and the dinners we… read more
5-star premium accommodation and hospitality.
Two weeks of holiday for me with this beautiful welcoming family.
I hope I helped enough at the ranch during my stay.
Thank you Larissa and Arjen !...you are my friends in France now :-)
Their place and the surroundings are beautiful and peaceful.
The three horses are really nice and each one has a different character. Since I didn't really come in touch with Western Riding before I learned a lot about it and totally fell in love with it here! Going on different trails and discovering… read more
The family welcomed me warmly and I got to stay with another workawayer in a nice apartement with a private room.
Our task was to take care of the 3 horses (all of them extremely kind and easy to ride, although I had to get the hang of the western style at first haha...). And… read more
Safe journeys, Arjen… read more
Originally we planned to stay only one month, but since we felt so comfortable, we stayed almost 4 months with the Dutch family. There were two other workawayers there during our stay, who felt the same.
We shared our appartement with the other workawayers, did… read more
