the andulasian horse

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August 25th 2008

Published: August 27th 2008

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Kelsi

montserrat

after the descent from the pyreness, a morning pilgrimage to the old monastary

In a matter of a few days, I received an email asking for my help on a horse ranch in southern spain and then had an offer for a ride down the mountains into barcelona from a couple that was staying at the BB. how could i resist?

so i packled my bags, explored barcelona and Montserrat - an old pilgrimage walk to a monastery - for a day, and then spent the night on a bus to granada.

for ten days i have worked on a horse holiday riding farm. which means that i have living and breathing horses. it has been amazing. the rooster wakes me and my ranch buddy, elisabeth (from norway), every morning at dawn, we roll out of bed and get terrorized by the herd of horses grabbing hungerily at the towering stack of hay i am carrying. after that, every day is a different experience. for the first few days, we led (MItch, a los angeles horse/music dude who has traveled everywhere, also happens to be the owner and family father) and the other helpers day horse treks (one day actually had to walk up the mountain in the sweltering heat, i thought

arc

remaining remains of the original building before WWII bombing

it was a joke) or riding lessons or if there were no scheduled rides, we decided that the horses needed exercise, which really means we go out on a trail ride. i am amazed how accepting and embracing a place can be, how after two days, i felt like i had been there for weeks. the work never stops here, but it is incorporated as a lifestyle. it feels exhilarating to be out in the sun, working and caring for horses all day long. i only realize how long the days are till i fall into bed at night, my body feeling content with a day´s work.

riding through the sierra nevada mountains is breathtaking. although the views and arid terrain is impressing (i am constantly reminded of california), it is each individual horse´s distinct personality that makes riding so much fun. I was able to ride about 7 of the 11 horses on the ranch . Jack is this massive andulusian who thunders up hills, but decides to halt abruptly and refuse to walk at other times. Samauri reminds me of gunnor, my horse at home. he is a 4 year old arab andulusian that, head in the

black virgin

in the cathedral

clouds, is so willing to learn. i was able to ride him the last few days on a six day trek ride with a bunch of ladies from the uk.

The horses´demand of caring for them has really grounded me into the moment. you always have to be present with horses if you want their respect. their patience and forgiveness to the many people that ride them has been another rewarding reminder. many moments during the day felt so surreal i wasnt sure if i was really there, if being on top of this horse high up on a peak, teaching, IN SPANISH, little girls how to ride, or even hearing that rooster crow way too loud at dawn, was actually happening, or that i was participating. falling into this rhythm of life here has warmed up ´numb´parts of myself. almost everyday i had a fit of ´violet hour´giggles. i think i loosened up a lot, letting the moments of the day guide me. i felt like i lost consciousness of self, and became part of the place, if that makes sense. i also was filthy dirty for days on end, so i guess that is true on a

peaks

names for every peak, ie 'bishop's belly'

physical level as well.

i left the farm yesterday to pick up my brother in granada. we now have two weeks to travel. spontaneity is the word, we have a tent and sleeping mats, and coasts of beaches and villages to explore.

fact, or perhaps myth, - until recently the little towns in the mountains were isolated from one another and the outside world. sooo, over the years, the people realized that inbreeding was problematic. everyone looks similar, some a little to0 similar or worse, distorted. so, once a year in august they hold a ´vigil´all night up in the mountains to solve this problem. if you are born in May, you are a more intelligent, or at least have a more diverse gene pool.

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