Centaura 1.19

Cenatuara is an anomoly is Costa Rica, and a style of tourism to which my mother and I were certainly not accustomed.  The main ranch has over 30 amazing horses, better cared for and trained than any others we had het seen in Costa Rica. We got a bit of a deal by staying in a smaller cabin and agreeing to help out with barn chores.

The first day we went out for a ride we were allowed any horse we wanted and though the first horse  I rode was beautiful and smooth I had my eye on Perla , a sleek Peruvian mare with an amazing paso llano gait, and a fierce prancing pride. Plus, she loved to run. And, as I learned over the next three days of riding, so do I.  I cannot even begin to describe to you the feeling of galloping full speed with both your hair and your horses ' streaming wildly behind you in the wind.

We rode with Micahel most often, who was quiet but fun. Mom rode beside William, the handsome ranch hand who was more tuned to conversation, as Michael and I rode ahead in peaceful silence.  We rode to a beautiful little swimming pool, and then rode back along the ridge of the mountain,  the view clear enough to see both Rincon de la Vieja and Arenal.  An absolutely stunning ride.

Ever since hearing ranch hands tell stories of their days as bronco riders in the rodeo, I had dreams of going to the rodeo. With and absence of this, and with much teasing, they set me up with the next best thing --> riding Tonka, the amiable resident buffalo.   So  fun!