Ecuador 8- A little out of his depth

Jemima’s Birthday

We head to a different hacienda for a horse trek. Jemima has for many years gone pony trekking on Mull for her birthday, and she is keen to continue this tradition as her birthday treat. We pick up the phone and call Carlos, who has been recommended to us. He pops by on his way home on his motor bike to meet us and chat things through. We explain that we are all riding novices. He has just the perfect horses for us.

We head up to Las Tortorillas in a taxi with Anna and Lily, our new Cuenca friends. Carlos owns a lovely bit of land here, where he keeps 12 horses. None of the horses are ready when we arrive for our 2-hr trek and Carlos only just begins begins to saddle them all up when he sees us arrive, even though it’ll be getting dark in two hours. There are plenty of welly boots and hats to go round, though some of them are bike helmets – better than nothing. The horses are incredibly beautiful but almost too good. Now I am getting just a little teensy bit worried.

I am to ride Moody Margaret, who kicks every horse in sight, which in turn makes everyone terrified of being anywhere near me. Jemima, birthday girl,  gets the lovely Uvia. But there doesn’t seem to be a Docie Docile anywhere in sight. Carlos, is now looking the part with his Gaucho Mac and cowboy hat, but his horse is a Bucking Bronco, so no one wants to be anywhere near him. Mark, has at last a good sized horse and looks less like Sancho Panza.  A young frisky unsaddled mare with way too much energy, tags along with us for the ride but she seems to make all of our horses a big edgy.

We head off from the dirt track and off on a narrow path across green grassy hills. It’s incredible up here, only the odd white hacienda farms, dotted on the hills for miles around. but I am too nervy to enjoy the serenity of this beautiful verdant green landscape.

We head off the main track to the the top of a lovely hill across soft grass, but it’s been raining quite a lot in the last few days and there is a bit of mud. We head up a narrow path, which means we are all squeezed in together in A single file and it’s muddy, so lots of slip sliding.  Everyone is trying to keep their distance from the troublesome duo, me and Carlos. I would like to turn around now, but instead we plod on, hoping things will improve.

Having reached the top, we now have to descend down the other  side, but it’s very steep and none of the horses want to go, they start backing off, and none of us do either. What is Carlos thinking? We made it very clear we were no experts. No more! Everyone pleads, almost in tears, to go back. Lily  gets off her horse and walks, so does Anna. We all want to go back. Carlos, is forced to change his plan.  Millie’s horse stumbles! I happen to look up to see a cartoon style picture of Millie, with both feet in the air, head falling towards the ground. Fortunately Carlos who at this stage has got off his horse, happens to be alongside her, and catches her as she falls into his arms. Millie pulls off a high pitched scream but is then amazingly persuaded to get back on her horse. Jemima is now in tears, so is Lily. It feels like pandemonium. Even Carlos is looking awkward. I would like to be in tears. Carlos admits defeat and we head back to the ranch, relieved to dismount and be on firm ground. Phew, it’s all over!

And now for a slice of cake.

All the children say they are never ever going riding again. Oh dear!……..