Horseback Riding in the Water Makes Anything Seem Possible
On our recent vacation to Negril, Jamaica, Claire and I rode horses into the Caribbean Sea.
This was an experience I never thought possible, but there I was up to my waist in salt water while a Jamaican horse galloped below me on a floor I couldn’t see.
Later, sitting down with a plate of jerk chicken in the pavilion and recounting to Claire how many times I had laughed on that water-logged horse out there, I began to think about other animals and how I’d like to ride each one of them in the Caribbean Sea. But then, I thought, why just limit these rides to the water?
So, here is a short list of animals I’d like to ride and the places I’d like to ride them in, and why:
1. An elephant in a mine field. For the challenge.
2. A giant eagle into a Giant Eagle grocery store. For the irony. And I wouldn’t snap my jewel-encrusted reigns for the giant eagle to fly us away until I heard a customer or cashier recognize this irony verbally.
3. Hillary Clinton into a math classroom. For everyone’s sake.
4. A moose through a Chevy dealership. Because its hooves would sound really cool clip-clopping on the pavement and I’d like to see if I hate the 2008 Impala as much as hated all the past models.
5. A horse into a bar. For the punch line.
6. A wild boar in a drained pool of Styrofoam peanuts. Because I think the children would enjoy seeing it.
7. A pair of gray squirrels (as skis) going over Niagara Falls. Because it is their destiny.
Chukka Caribbean Adventures
888.2.CHUKKA
Horseback Ride ‘n’ Swim: $76
When Greg and I were deciding on which tours we wanted to do with Chukka Adventures in Jamaica, I immediately knew I wanted to go horseback riding. I think Greg’s first choice was some kind of under-water helmet situation but, to me, the idea of riding horses through the mountains and along the ocean on a Caribbean island seemed irresistibly romantic and soothing.
Well, I clearly won out on my horseback riding preference and the second morning of our vacation found both me and Greg saddled up and coated in not enough suntan lotion for our three hour riding session. The majority of the tour led us through the small fishing village of Sandy Bay and surrounding countryside. And it was just lovely. The gentle sway of the horse beneath me and the wide open, impossibly blue sky curving overhead served to remind me just how possible life can seem. Our guides galloped around us on their horses, pointing out various landmarks and trees and plucking leaves for us to smell, flooding our nostrils with verbena and all-spice.
I patted my horse softly on the neck sometimes and scolded Greg on occasion for coming up too close behind me with his. We sauntered through a little mountain village where goats dozed in the shade and kids waved to us from the side of the road. I felt far away from my life in Chicago, my desk at work and the sound of coffee percolating on a Tuesday morning.
The end of the tour led us back along the ocean, the mangrove trees rustling in the sea breeze and the water a cool, pale turquoise. We briefly disembarked from our horses and mounted them once more for a bareback ride into the ocean. Greg had been talking about this part of the tour all along but until I was waist deep in the ocean on a galloping horse that I realized I hadn’t really thought about it.
It was absolutely thrilling! I was first in line, my horse pulled along by a guide on horseback in front of me. At first we were just wading through the water, my knees pressed tight against the horse’s abdomen and then suddenly we were galloping and I was clinging on for dear life, laughing and laughing, as we descended into water that rose to my thighs. I looked back at Greg who was laughing just as hard, streaming through the ocean behind me on his horse and I smiled and thought about all the things you can do in this life.
Tags: Chukka Adventures, Hillary Clinton, Horses, Impalas, Jamaica, Negril, Squirrels as Skis
May 13th, 2008 at 2:25 am
The mathematical comment about Hillary is just hilarious. Thanks for making a primary-addicted, mathematically-challenged teacher laugh after a long day’s work. I love the little yellow lifejacket cherrios that you both had to wear, too. That’s hot!