Riding these horses has been quite an experience. We were paired up with our horses depending on skill and weight. One by one, they adjusted our stirrup length and what-not. While we waited for everyone to be setup, it slowly came into conscience how horses have earned their "beast of burden" moniker... I was looking around at the other horses, seeing how the anatomy of the horse allowed it to carry a rider on its upper back. I still remember how the horse's whole body was breathing under the saddle, accentuating all the joints that made riding it work. Fantastic creatures!
Then off we went, riding up to an overlook, getting used to the horses and enjoying the scenery. Our guides Mehina and Fred showed us a gazillion waterfalls there and took a photo of _each of us_ on our horses!
We then rode down towards the beach. The horses would trot now and then to catch up and man, if I didn't know I had a bony ass, now I found out!
After we took some more photos at the rocky shore of the west side of the island, we started back. And that's when the magic happened. Fred showed us how to run our horses for a good half minute. They got into a steady rhythm galloping, and I mean very steady! It was hard to take in this experience as it was happening. Once we stopped everyone was so jubilant and thrilled with the what had just happened.
The thing is, us humans are used to our two-legged gaits -- walking, jogging and running feels a certain way to us. In the past, I've taken tourist rides on elephants and camels and was familiar with the walking gait of a quadruped, very rocking and wobbling in nature. But a horse running, now that's a thing apart and I will never forget it!
This was more fun than I expected and an eye opening experience.
Thanks!