Horse riding in Cape Verde...

[metalmare]

I was really looking forward to galloping an arab type pony through the desert and along the beaches in Cape Verde, however it was not everything I thought it would be.

There were some stunning ponies there, however ours were wiry desert dwelling creatures that had seen better days. As Tom is a complete novice they very kindly gave him a pony that must have been pushing ninety which even he found tame after five minutes. As for my pony, I suspect he had a bit of go in him, but I wasn't able to unleash it for the pure reason that over there aids are slightly less subtle. If they want their horse to trot they whip it. If they want gallop they whip it continually. They don't seem to have discovered canter, yet. I asked my pony to trot English style, whereupon he turned around and bared his teeth, ferociously, inches from my knee. We settled on a faster walk.

All in all it was spectacular seeing the desert scenery at first hand and hacking along the beach, while our crazed guide galloped around us in circles, barely clinging on. I can't honestly say that I did any riding though, merely sitting.

I'll post photos when I get a spare minute, if I can figure it out.

 

[pagancluf]

Doesn't sound like the type of holiday I would want to go on too. It is a shame as presume you paid for it too? Poor horses too being whipped as an aid to go forwards. Just shows how well we look after ours in this country.

Showing ignorance - where is Cape Verde?

 

[metalmare]

It wasn't a riding holiday, it was two weeks on a beach snorkelling, pottering around, birdwatching, lizard watching, body boarding, etc.

We went riding for a few hours.

It's off the West coast of Africa, off Senegal. 800 miles south of the Canaries.

 

[Tia]

Yes horse riding is very different in different parts of the world. Riding over here is nothing like riding in England either. Each country has their own ways of doing things. Right? Wrong? I don't know, but they sure as heck aren't the same.

 

[pagancluf]

Aaah not so bad then!! Bet you have had better weather than here, lol.

 

[metalmare]

Sure I understand that and as a nation that doesn't even know where their next meal is coming from I don't expect them to have high standards of animal welfare, for right or for wrong. It just didn't feel much like riding - I didn't get a whip