My friend Janet organized a beach trail ride for today with two other friends and myself. This was her first time inviting me and we are going to try to make it a weekly event for the four of us since we get along well and the cost is only 100 pesos for an hour!
There are lots of horses on Isla, but some are better cared for than others. The ones right on my street are sickly and dirty with protruding ribs. I would not have felt comfortable riding such a horse.
Lending a sharp contrast, the horses we rode today appeared nearly as well tended as any horse I’ve ridden back home. They were obviously well fed and groomed and had decent saddles.
Janet is a very experienced rider, having owned a horse for years. Next up with experience was myself, and then one lady who has been riding casually on Isla the last few years and another lady who has only ridden two or three times.
Our handler paired us with a mount suited to our experience and off we went to the beach. I regret not bringing my camera because what a memory that would have been, the tide low, the sky bright blue, and the palms and ocean framing us. Wow. How did I get to be so lucky?!
We mostly walked and trotted, but we did get in a good canter in both directions. It was absolutely exhilarating!
My horse, Diamante (Diamond) and I fit well together. I had no trouble posting at trot and was well seated for an exceedingly smooth canter. My only complaint was the stirrups digging into my ankles since I had to wear my Keens, not having had the foresight to bring my cowboy boots to Mexico.
Our guide was hilarious, joking about how lucky he was to be riding with four gorgeous women. Between our guide’s limited English and my Spanish, we were able to banter back and forth, learn about each other and Isla, joke, and have a great time.
I still have no complaints about my Mexican life, the recreational opportunities available to me, or the cost of living. 😀
The only time I rode a horse, the horse wanted to turn around and go home while I wanted to follow the rest of the riders. The horse won, we went home. It was a battle of wits and he was battling a half armed opponent. Evidently I do not speak horse.
$100 pesos an hour is way cheaper than I would have expected.
Croft, that’s hilarious!!!!
I was SHOCKED by the cost! In Canada, I would have paid between 50CAD to 100CAD for an hour with such a small group. Needless to say, I can afford an 8CAD per week riding habit! 🙂
The guide made about 32CAD for an hour of fun with four pretty gals. Of course, some of that goes back into the business, but it’s still a pretty good hourly wage!
For a guy, posting on a western saddle is not a good idea.
Peter, 😀
Funny, I was watching a show on people wanting to relocate to France and take their horses. I told Peter I could spend all my time on a back of a horse except that I would propbably kill myself. Maybe I will try again, my best friend and I raced around the outskirts of Montreal in our youth. Girls and horses……
I love riding, but don’t think I’d want the responsibility of horse ownership.
Such a deal, 100 Pesos. Now you have two months plus to enjoy this.
Hopefully, I’ll be able to keep it up when the other ladies leave, which will be well before me. I guess there’s always next year!
The core exercise is going to do me a world of good. My computer chair is killing me. 🙂