Lost Horses = Mandatory Trail Rides!

A neighbor reported her horses missing, so I rode along with Jessica because to her, missing horses are like missing children...AND, what a great excuse for a trail ride! We rode two days in a row, the latter being 5 hours which is the longest my be-hind has ever been in a saddle non-stop. We rode because attempts had been made via auto to find the missing kids, so the thought was if you're going to find a horse, be (on) the horse. We were unsuccessful at finding them, even though wild fires had charred much of the grassland which increased spacial visibility and signs of hoof prints. A reward was offered (although that was not our motivation) and we ran into a caballero who was also looking for them. We rode with this guy for a few hours searching obscure trails off of the ferrocarril (old railroad track minus the tracks that still has public rights and people may use as a trail). I was soooooooo sore all over after that, but I was pleased to feel an increase in my comfort level of riding. I am getting better at it! As for the horses, they were missing for about a week and now the owners have them back. Not much is being said about the disappearance and return of the horses, but it is rumored they were stolen. The poor animals have cuts and scrapes that would suggest crude halters (probably made from rough rope) and it appears they had been ridden really hard. I am awaiting more info.


Photo taken by Jess of me (the wind was really strong so my shirt is poofy, I swear I'm not that bulky :) and of the caballero we rode with...Volcan Baru is visible up ahead.


Me and caballero riding along a charred fence line.