Horse Riding

My friend Linda has been coming to Antigua for 20 years. Almost every morning she goes horse back riding. After a lot of deliberation, I decided that I had to go with her and give this dangerous and uncomfortable pastime another go! My history with horses is not positive and  they usually don't like me- a reciprocal arrangement. However, I wanted to see the hills around Antigua ...

We left at 8am and caught a "chicken bus" ( local transport) to San Juan Obispo - a little town about 20 minutes away. The horse farm is owned by 2 British eccentrics who have roamed the world and came to Guatemala years ago (this is a recurring theme here). Fred who accompanied me is a very sprightly 82 year old and Paula looks after the horses and their 11 rescue dogs!   

 

All geared up in boots, britches, and helmet.

Fred giving me last minute instructions. Notice the mounting steps in the background - a great invention for grannies! Paula and some of the dogs watching on. I rode a beautiful, well behaved horse called Cupaca

We rode through coffee plantations and farms where they grow coffee, beans , flowers....everything on very arid land. We were lucky to see Volcano Fuego ( left) puffing on a bright clear day. Antigua is 5000 feet altitude and we were way above the city.

Riding through town on the cobble stoned streets - a bit rough on the hooves but sounded great - clippety clop.

 

Fred chatted all the way about politics, history, the future of the world etc... but also gave me a thorough riding lesson including trotting and cantering. The horses wear those pretty hats to keep the flies away from their ears and eyes.