I love horses!

Friday.

From the top of Mandango, looking out over Vilcabamba.

After the hike, relaxing with a cold coca-cola. I feel like an actress in a coke commercial sometimes drinking them. But they just taste so good here. No high fructose corn syrup, just sweet sugar cane!

There is a hike above town called Mandango. We hiked up to the cross the other day. I almost threw up from the heat once I finally got to the top. We decided to go during the most intense heat of the day, which wasn´t a good idea. But once at the top, it was worth it. The views were amazing and Shay and I split a juicy mango.

The top of Mandango.
It was a very narrow path and the heat was making me dizzy. I kept having to sit down and get straight. I was nervous about teetering off the side of the mountain.

Walking home from school...

On Saturday, we left Vilcabamba with Gavin, a New Zealander who has been living here for some 25 years now, and the horses. It was awesome! We rode up through this valley going through rivers and farmland. At first I was a little unsure on Colorado (that was my horse) but by the end of the first day, I had remembered my horse lessons from many years back and was riding a lot smoother.

Gavin ahead of me.

Shay-bur, looking elegant in her riding scarf.

We stayed up at the cabin Gavin built. He called it his 5-star resort lodge. There was no running water in the house, only a facet outside that came straight from a natural spring and no electricity. It started pouring down rain about 20 minutes after we got there, so instead of going hiking as planned, we watched the rain and sat in the clouds. Gavin made us bean burritos for dinner and we drank fresh squeezed passion fruit juice with a little vodka.

Edgar feeding the horses panela, their favorite treat.

Part of the view from the valley, looking out from Gavin´s front porch.

The next day rain was still looking ominous so we went for a short walk in the cloud forest and then set off down the mountain on the horses again. It was slow going down the steep, rocky cliffs of the valley, but everytime Colorado and I came to a clearing, I would kick him and urge him to go fast.

Gavin feeding Colorado, his "best friend," panela.

Colorado, looking for a bite of our pancakes.

I LOVE going fast! On the way out of the mountain once we were on wider roads, I got separated from Shay, Gavin and Edgar and was riding through the streets as fast as Colorado would take me. We were zooming past the locals who laughed and yelled "Gringa loca" at me. It was so fun. I couldn´t stop smiling.

The cabin.

Hosing off the horses back in town.

Colorado rolling in the grass.
They reminded me so much of pet dogs. Just a lot bigger, thus more to respect.

Gavin, the guy from New Zealand.

After we came down the mountain and returned to the office, we paid, Shay went back to the hostel and I stayed with Gavin and the horses. We rode the horses back to his house where we took their saddles off and put new horse shoes on them. That was cool. Then, Gavin´s helper, Edgar and I rode bareback up to where he keeps his horses overnight. Oh! that was soo cool. I learned how to make the horse do this fancy walk where he kicks his front legs out to the side. It looks real cool, but it also makes the ride really smooth. So Mescal (the horse) and I were doing this fancy walk through the center of town and then when we got outside, onto the dirt roads closer to the farm where they stay, Edgar was riding ahead of me, showing off and riding fast and so all the horses started going really fast, including Mescal. I almost fell off a few times and I got a little scared, but I still couldn´t stop smiling. It was so much fun. Working with horses is kind of like working with dogs. It´s all about remaining in control of your fears and emotions. The horses are so smart and sensitive to what you´re feeling.

Bareback.
Only a blanket, that ended up sliding off anyway, and the bridle and bit.