Rancho Sacramento

Five days of cowgirl life. Through Johnny's friend Checco I got the oppurtunity to work a few days on a western ranch. Well western is much said cause they have everything here: Quarter horses, pinto's, Crillo, english thoroughbreds, Iberians and mixed bloods.

First thing they ask me to do after arrival. Taking down a young foal (potro). 

First step in taking down a foal, Jeton

My 'mentor' in here Memo with the foal

My turn

 After that giving me a totally tuned up who knows what breed it was horse and make me lunge it. The horse was literally dancing while I was holding it. But ok so far so good, we made it. Next some normal stuff like grooming and washing up some horses that until they handed me their stallion Hercules while walking by the mares stables. Damn that horse has muscles like a bull and he knows how to use them!

Hercules in the hallway

 Next bigger adventure was the shot of antibiotics for a horse that had an infection, three guesses who was allowed to give the shot, haha felt like a vet for a second :-D The guy just pointed a out a place on the neck and made me put in the needle. Well that's another experience to add to the list! So the first day was quite full of surprises, good ones tough. 

Memo taught me how to make a halter with a piece of rope so of course I had to practice it, on a stone horse... ^^

The main stables

One of the quarter horses

View from the stables down

This is Mambo with his beautiful blue eye!

Lunging a young colt with my self made halter! *pride pride*

The second day started was also fun and with nice twists and turns

Other little one who was a bit more shy :p

Beginning the day by bringing the foals outside to stretch their legs. Mind the gorgeous mum at the back!

View on the arena

Appearently they liked my plaiting so they asked me to plait Mambo and Hercules. Real machos now! (btw, macho is the spanish word for stallion :p)

Louis and Memo standing next to plaited Hercules

How to restrain a non behaving donkey

During lunchtime I met Checho and he took me along for a visit with one of his clients: non-behaving donkeys with way too long hooves.

Memo working a two year old

Fabio gave a very tasty bread a brick of chocolate milk (whereover I will be ever in his debt :-D) and the freshly cutted 'grass' for the horses.

David the stable boy enjoying his lunch

Me on Hercules!!!!! *Happy face*

Vale on Imperial (quarter horse x english thoroughbred)
during a ride out

Roma and her foal in the round pen

I went to the ping pong training with Ben one of the evenings, it was quit cool, some work out for the legs

The view was totally awesome!

    A long walk outside on Mambo with Memo

Hercules!!! :-D Handsome boy ^^

Back on the ranch, Pura Vida!

Local perro (dog)

Giving the one day old piglets their injections

The gang, from left to right: Someone I don't know, Fabio, Tatiana, David, Memo

 

On the way back a farmer taking out his cows and by doing so blocking the way :p