So, when I was suddenly thrown on the saddle of a horse for the dedication of a new environmental education center with the full assumption that I was a midwestern cowboy, I attempted to play the part well. But Long Island Jews aren't supposed to know how to ride horses, and I ended up arriving at the top of the mountain 45 minutes after everyone else including four 16 year old "reinas" or local beauty queens - an essential part of any official Ecuadorian event. It's not my fault that all my horse wanted to do was nibble on grass and poop, but as the strange gringo from North America, everything's excusable and all anybody wanted me to do was pose for pictures with the reinas.
After my first traumatic equine experience, I somehow voluntarily decided to go on a 2 day horseback riding trip with some friends in the Podocarpus National Park near Vilcabamba, about 45 minutes south of where I live. And, once again my horse was far from cooperative! At first he started galloping along with everyone, thoroughly disturbing my manhood with each stride, but after an hour of climbing in the Andes he decided that it sucks for him to be giving me a free ride and that it would be easier to turn around and head back down. Yes, he actually did a 180 and started going downhill! So, I ended up having to jump off the saddle and walk him up the mountain.
Don't think I'll be entering any rodeos anytime soon! Here are a couple of photos...
The 4th Livestock Fair Reina getting ready to saddle up!
Me and the reinas
Uncooperative horse #2 and gringo with floppy gringo hat
Fording a river
Andean views
Heading the opposite direction on lazy horse #2
Gina and Holly after 2 days of riding
1 comment:
Sounds like you wouldn't do so good here in TX then... =)
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