Sunday, July 22, 2012

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 

Sunday, July 15, 2012

El segundo día

The day started out with a visit to the Poás Volcano.

Cruising down the Costa Rican roads with some mountain views on the background

On the way to the volcanos a lot of shops like these yelling to get there fresas (strawberries) sold

Alright gang, ready to face the volcano?


Vulcano Poás!!!
Vulcanic lake

Local inhabitant ^^
As all of Costa Rica says: Pura Vida!

On the way back stopping for a typical Costa Rican dinner (portion is way too big for me but I courageously finished it anyways, after handing out a third of my plate obviously :p)

Birdie birdie in the sky, kolibries!!!
In the evening we then went for an aecrobatics/dance show.

Trafic lights, Costa Rican style! Gotta love it.

Prelude...

Aerial dancing, they had NO safety nets or mats lying beneath this. Crazy folks!

Jong geleerd oud gedaan ;-)

Bijschrift toevoegen

Breakdance

This girl was hanging in a big ringie

Friday, July 13, 2012

Pura Vida Mae

= Carpe Diem dude, Costa Rican style ;-)

Arrived yesterday 21 o'clock local time.
  • Time difference with Belgica: 8 hours
  • Weather: +/- 25 degree and a nice breeze passing by regularly 
  • Jetlag: check
  • Blog: check
First thing on the to do list today was arranging my schedule for the next month.
We met up with Johnny Chaverri who pulled a couple of strings and arranged my ranchwork for next week starting on Monday, oooo yeah! For the horse people among us: Western ranch with quater horses and mixed ones with arabians. The owner is a local champion in roping, awesome! Let's rock this party!!!

Johnnys car with his herd of dogs in the back, cowboy style!
From left to right: Johnny, his shy friend (when it comes to English) whoms name I forgot and Benigno Apuy, my friend who's hosting me during my stay in San Jose.


Afterwards Mei took me for a lovely walk through San Jose center.
dfd
Street view with Costa Rican flag
Local market
Park - Busy streets of San Jose - San Jose city - Surrounding mountains, all in one line, awesome!
My guide for today, miss Mei ;-)
Costa Rican bus on the way back. Mind the little yellow thing which is basically a piece of foam where the driver drops the money in, so the cash desk
Last but not least a nice hot chinese meal with family Apuy. Nice day meeting cool people and finishing up with a filled tummy, what more can one ask for :-D

Family Apuy
First day of Costa Rica: Check!