For the love of horses

I learned to ride as a little girl at a friends ranch in Florida. I used to visit this friend every weekend and ride her horse. I also have a cousin who owned a horse named Honey. I loved Honey and visiting my Aunt Katie every summer for two weeks. I would run outside across a small field to give Honey  a carrot every day while enjoying my special time with my Aunt and her family. I have fond memories of Honey and those summer vacations, leaving me with a suppressed yearning to have a horse of my own. I have never missed an opportunity to ride as my life has gone forward. When I moved to Colombia, I found myself surrounded by horses. In my past blog I mentioned how I was delighted that I found sweet horses grazing in front of my home (you can read it here http://migelitaincolombia.blogspot.com/2012/01/glorious-heartwarming-wonderful.html?spref=bl) during my first days in Colombia.

Horses hold their back foot posed and ready to prance

stables

On Mother's Day in 2011 I was invited by family here in Colombia to go to a restaurant and watch beautifully trained horses show off their talents. Colombian riding is quite different than what I learned as a child, the horses prance and the rider holds the reins to keep them in steps of dance-like moves. The sound of the shoes hitting the pavement can be heard in any small town as even horses on farms prance this way. The rider sits tall in the saddle and directs the horse in beautiful symmetric moves. We ate a wonderful meal while watching displays of Colombian riding. Afterwards we walked the stables behind the restaurant to see and pet the horses , and anyone could go for a ride if they so desired. I vowed that day I would have a horse when I was able to move to a farm.

If you read my past blog Playing tourist in Palmira Valle del Cauca  (http://migelitaincolombia.blogspot.com/2011/12/playing-tourist-in-palmira-valle-del.html) I mentioned  El Paraiso area and the home to visit. This area is a center for locals to visit and enjoy on the weekends. I go there often to wander the booths of food and to ride a horse. The horses are friendly, in perfect health, and

hores waiting under the trees

waiting for riders

a rider can go with their own private guide for a long ride through the mountains. They have little horses for the children, delightfully sweet, to teach your little ones as young as a baby ( I see fathers holding infants on horseback here) to get used to the feel of a horse. In Colombia, animals are part of life and children grow up with the knowledge of riding and the love of animals. After your ride, wander across to the park and have one of the fruit concoctions that our sold with ice cream! Delicious! People watching is a must, and the children playing in the steam brings a smile to your face. A wonderful way to spend a Sunday in Palmira!

I have met people here while looking at farms and just sitting on my front patio of my home who invite me to ride. They will always go with you or send an escort to guide you on your way. The people of Colombia are warm and friendly and love to show their hospitality to any person visiting their country. I have had many chances to ride, one of the most memorable overlooking the small town of St Elena where I live, at sunset. I was transported to another time while I rode the horse up a mountain path. I sometimes feel I am on a movie set here, the green of the grass, the blue of the sky, the sun peeking through clouds, makes for memories that will stay in my mind as I grow older. I never miss an opportunity to photograph horses along my travels. Mothers with babies, horses in pastures the mountains looming behind while they graze.

If you love horses, then you will have many opportunities to ride, watch or just pet them. What is better than the soft nose of a horse, the sweet way they move their ears, the magnificence of their demeanor? I can never get enough of them. In the future I will have my own, a lifelong dream.