We spent this morning horseback riding in the mountains. Here is a picture of Sierra getting ready to go. The stirrups were a little short so the farmhand cut a new hole in the strap to shorten the stirrup for her. She rode this very gentle, old man horse (the horse is 20 years old). She did beautifully!



We rode leisurely for about an hour to a small waterfall and lagoa with rocks where we saw a hermit crab and adolescent tadpoles making their way to the pool of water. At this stop we let the horses rest, stretched our legs and after a short rest ventured back to the farm. It was a beautiful day!!! Rain was predicted, but we only experienced a few light sprinkles as we were mounting the horses and beginning the journey. The rest of the time it was overcast and cool. It was a perfect day for a ride. And the scenery was unbelievable. The foliage in this tropical climate still takes my breath away. The plants and flowers and fruit trees growing all around us is unbelievable.

The mountains are full of banana trees and the people who live there make their living growing, farming, and selling bananas. About half way up we were delighted to see two horses with large baskets full of bananas on their backs while the farmer walked slowly behind. The horses appeared to have muzzles on their faces made of woven basketlike materials, perhaps bamboo, I think they may have been feed sacks for the animals, but that was not confirmed.

When we turned the road to come back to the farm, we could sense the horses were smelling "home" as the pace of their gait increased and they started vying for first place. Sierra's old man horse decided he wanted to take the lead. I think our guide from the farm got a little nervous that the horse would go faster than Sierra wanted, but he didn't. Sierra remained calm, steering the horse all the way home. She told me the trick was that she talked to the horse the entire time. Thanking him for carrying her the whole way, understanding that he must be tired and thirsty, and reassuring him that she is grateful for his help as she wouldn't want to walk the path up the hill we were traveling! She's so thoughtful!!

Surprisingly, this evening my bum is not too sore. I feel the saddle, but it is not too terribly uncomfortable. I have to admit the 2.5/3 hours on horseback was extremely refreshing. There's nothing that compares to the feeling of being out in the open air with the animal and nature. Not to mention enjoying it all with fabulous company. This is the second "tour" type activity we have done with a tour company here in Rio. We have used the same company both times: rio hiking. The guides both times were phenomenal. Great company, knowledgeable about vegetation and area, and kind. We will probably hire them for other trips while we are here. I am now considered a "client" vs. a "tourist" as I have used them on more than on occasion. :-)