Horseback Riding with Rancho Baaxal, Maroma Beach, Playa del Carmen

I have just returned from horseback riding on Maroma Beach. Olimpo, who also teaches horse jumping, was my guide. India was my horse. Because of rain the other rider coming down from Cancun backed out, leaving me to go alone with Olimpo, a handsome young Mexican with military bearing.

Grandad had a ranch, my uncle lived his life as a cowboy and my cousin raised Appaloosas. I rode a lot as a young man. One of my fondest memories is a week in Saskatoon with my Dad when I was 16. He took me riding a couple of times with his cowboy and cowgirl friends. They were all wild and I had a great time, mostly being with my Dad and his friends. Later I'd marry a woman who rode English. I never rode but to stay on a horse so could only admire her comfort in the saddle. I introduced her to my Mount Currie friend Wayne Andrews, World Indian Broncho champion. That was nearly 20 years ago. We had some fun times riding with Wayne, doing "man from snowy river'downhill, racing across moonlit fields, riding bare back through ponds. She loved every minute whereas frankly I was really just glad to survive being along. Since then I've ridden only once a year, if that, sometimes a lone, sometimes with a group.

It's 2 years now since I was trail riding in Tucson, Arizona.This was just that at first. Great horses. Great guide. Beautiful trail. Jungle all around. Then we came out on the beach. Spectacular. Olimpo turned to me and said, "this is my office". Some office! A little blue sky with lots of white clouds, green foliage meeting the white sand then aquamrine water. Beauty everywhere.

What I didn't know was India thinks like a race horse. My retired jockey friend, Jim, will be impressed when I describe in detail to him how suddenly the horse was prancing(and probably why all ranches the world over have you sign a waiver). There's a couple football field beach run. The horses like to gallop here. With India prancing sideways, I asked Olimpo, "Does he smell oats or something?" Olimpo responded, "This is where we let the horses gallop if you want."

I'm getting old. But what the heck. I gave India a little rein and off we went not like the proverbial freight train, but more like a jumbo jet. I was bouncing a bit, standing on the stirrups too. None of that jockey over the neck of the horse pose. When India let loose I was lucky I wasn't back out flying over the tail. I actually stayed in the saddle thanks to a combination of prayer and terror.

At the end Olimpo who'd been riding alongside just a little behind me, said, "If you want we can gallop back." I don't know that I really wanted too. I was still thanking Jesus.

India however was gung ho to have another go. Now this time I think he had my measure. India wanted to run and run and run. That's just what he did. Faster and faster and faster! I was shouting 'whoa' and trying to remember what whoa was in Spanish. There was absolutely no time to consult a dictionary. At the end of this run, India slowed and literally grinned back at me, with a "ney" I'm sure said, "I knew you could do it."

That's when Olimpo told me, "India likes to run. He's really fast, isn't he?" No kidding. I was thinking Hadron Collider fast.

I'd circled the level 'moderate experience but not ridden lately'. I must remember to put 'novice' next time. I'm sure was glad I didn't say I had moderate recent experience or claimed to be 'an expert'. This was just enough for me. I can't remember going that fast on a horse since I was 20, back when I had more confidence than brains.

I told Olimpo I'd done more cantering than galloping in recent years. He thought I held on well. Then he said, "Most horses walk, canter and gallop, but India only likes to walk and gallop". Now I know what Harley Davidson was aiming  for when they designed my motorcycle..

We stopped on the beach for soda and snacks. Big beaked pelicans that were sitting in the water every once in a while took off to circle, scouting for fish. A sailboat was anchored down aways just off the beach. The horses had a breather. Dark clouds rolled in. We mounted again.

Now as we rode back to the stables the skies opened up. I had my jacket and hat on but Olimpo and the horses thought nothing of the warm rain. Back at the tack shop the main concern was to get the saddles off the horses so the leather was under cover. The horses were glad to join their half dozen or more horse compatriots.

I had a spectacular time. My friend Anil told me how much he and his daughter enjoyed beach riding and now I get to tell him I understand. Nothing like it.

Horseback Riding with Rancho Baaxal Maroma Beach, Playa del Carmen 77710, Mexico 1-984-145-8962

My assistant, Hannah arranged everything over the internet. Thank you Hannah. Now I can say, "Yo estoy vaquero, Me llama es John Wayne!"

Costa Rica - Swiss Travel Tours - Horseback Riding - Zip Lining - Hot Springs

I loved the day long tour arranged for about $100 with the Swiss Travel Tours.  Alehandra was the tour guide. He was fun and a wealth of information about local sights and customs.  I was the old guy with a terrific group of young people from Ohio and Pennsylvania.  Nurse, OT, Executive Assistant and Financial Planner.  As representatives of todays young adults there is serious hope for the future.  My office assistant Joanne had said her parents loved the zip lining through the jungle heights. I'm now convinced they are younger and in better shape than me. I had the idea of something less exciting and less strenous.  It was way more fun. I really loved the horseback ride. The whole tour occurred on a private ranch. I'm pretty sure it was Verdanna.  This is a terrific place, a functing farm that produced most of the food we later had for a magnificent meal at the end of a great day.  The white hatted cowboy - horse master - really was the real thing. The horses were obviously family. Nothing 'trail ride' about this group. Really well cared for horses which the family themselves were riding about their fields.  It was a thoroughly beautiful ranch near the volcano.  Great to see this beautiful countryside .On the ranch horses were an active means of transportation. As grandad was a big northern rancher I really appreciate cared for horses and ranch and farm folk that really take pride in their world. One of the sons accompanied us on the ride and spoke with enthusiasm about building an additional water slide complex to add to their already luxurious hotsprings complex. The water is natural mineral healing water but it's heated because it cools off getting to the pool. I liked the honesty. I liked everything about this. The company was funny too. I wished I'd had more time for more tours. The river boat tours were popular and Alehandra said these were great for bird pictures.  These are horseback riding pictures.  I have to put the zip lining ones on the next blog. 

Spanish Trail Outfitters, Tucson, Arizona

Horse back riding in the desert is a must.  Spanish Trail Outfitters in Tucson are a delightful place for a very fine trail ride. The horses are well kept, safe and well mannered. The organizers are truly professional. The equestrian was beautiful and entertaining as the cowboy. "I"m not a cowgirl,"she said. "I don't have anything to do with cows".  "So my elderly aunt, when I told her this, said, then you're an "equine lady".  "Yes, aunt, I'm an equine lady, "I said, "preferring that to cowgirl. In contrast, Roger, is a cowboy who has done his years of outback riding and carousing and was glad to share this on the trail when I told him about my grandfather the rancher, my uncle the cowboy and my cousin who raised appaloosas.
I've been around horses alot of my life but moved from riding horses as a young man to riding Harleys as an old man. My friend, Dr. John Christensen, rode motorcycles all over the aussie back country as a young man before becoming an accomplished equestrian who did those days long overland round up  rides Canada is famous for.  Dad grew up riding horses but speaks most of his driving a logging wagon with 6 Clydesdales pulling.  My brother rode motorcycles as a young man and now kayaks and bicycles.  His butt is less sore as a result.
I did an hour and a half ride with the Spanish Trail Outfitter, $40 of incredible scenery, and great exercise, My horse, Fidget, wanted to stop and chomp on any tree as opposed to focussing on following the horses ahead. It gave me a lot of arm work pulling her head out of the bushes. The 'equine lady" followed behind on one of the most beautiful mules i've ever laid my eyes on. "They're the best for mountain trails because their eyes are placed more lateral and they can see their back foot  placement better than an horse can."
Along the trails,  there were rabbits, quail, chipmunks, and one harmless snake that certainly was a show stopper.  We didn't see any Apache or Navajo but I would later buy the silver inlaid jewelry the Navajo are famous for.  When the first family with school age children left I stayed around for the sunset ride.  A couple of really cute teen age girls rode along on that one looking like they'd been poured into the saddle the way they sat so tall taking the uphill and downhill climbs like regular pros.  Roger commented on that between our discussion of black bears, grizzlies and bald eagles versus Mexican eagles.  It was gorgeous riding among those tall Sonora Dessert cacti watching the blaze orange of setting sun .  Alot more serene than my harley. It was a great ride and I'm sure I felt every muscle in my body when I climbed out of the saddle. I'll have to get up to Mount Currie and out riding with First Nations retired World Rodeo Champion Wayne Andrews when I get back. It's such a grand experience trusting a horse and enjoying the ride.  Spanish Trail Outfitters are good people. They treat their horses well as a result the horses treat rusty cowboys like me just as well.