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[RC] Chile - part 3 - Steph Teeter

After breakfast on Wednesday- Ruben left the apartment to locate the venue and get ready for the arrival of the horses he had arranged for the Malaysians to ride. We went along (me, Santi, Hernan, Julio and Ruben's 2 boys who came the night before with his brother Paulo from Santiago) while the riders stayed back to sleep more and relax. They'd only arrived the day before and were still pretty tired. The 'venue' was a big field and nothing more. It was only Thursday morning, so I figured people/rigs/water/etc would start showing up soon. (actually it wasn't until Friday afternoon - but it did come together). Ruben got a call from his driver and the horses would be here soon. The riders would come out after lunch to test the horses, try saddles, etc.

The horses arrived in a huge truck with canvas sidewalls and open roof. They were standing diagonally head to tail, with mattresses to separate horses from gear, which was also in the truck - hay, tack, buckets - everything they'd need. The horses scrambled down the steep ramp, eyes wide, and were then tied to the long perimeter fence. People here don't use portable corral panels, nor high ties for that matter! I only saw one group set up a pen - electric wire and plastic posts - (Jose and Anita, who also own the only LQ trailer - Sundowner- that I saw there). Everybody else tied their horses to trees, or drove posts into the ground and tied their horses to the posts, or high-lined them between trucks or trees or posts. It was pretty basic. The FEI horses were stabled in a field down below the venue the night before the ride. A large area was surrounded by plastic webbing attached to posts to make a wall. The horses were tethered to the posts, where they were given a pile of hay and bucket of water. There were some stalls too, but most of the horses were just tied to the posts for the night.

Mat Din and his little army arrived at camp after lunch, ready to test their horses. The riders didn't bring saddles (were told they didn't need them) so they spent quite a bit of time trying saddles, adjusting horses, and testing horses. Zul had come earlier to try all the horses and decide which horse was best for each rider - so everybody had an assigned horse when they got there. There was a little bit of swapping around, but mostly everybody just went with the horses that Zul thought were best for them. The riders went out on a test ride, the rest of us followed in the van, or with Ruben in his truck. Pretty country - rolling fields of mid summer wheat and oats, pasture (dried out by now - this country is a lot like California - wet and green in the winter, dry in the summer) and forests of eucalyptus. Oak-like trees dot the pastures, it's quite lovely. I rode in the van with Julio and Hernan and Santi and we got in a bit of a bind at one point as we tried to follow the riders back up the steep gravel road we came down, but it was too steep and loose, so we wandered off searching for another route back - ended up at a gorgeous ranch (Fondo) by the ocean. No way to drive through but after some questions with the gardeners the guys drove back out with a better idea of where to go - and eventually back to camp. A nice detour - it was fun to see this hidden Fondo - just dirt track access, a hidden beautiful place.

After riding it was time to prepare the lambs for the night's barbecue. Malaysians are predominantly muslim, and muslim food must be 'halal' - or 'permissible'. From wikipedia's description of halal - 'It is agreed upon by all Muslims that for the meat of a land animal to be Halal it must be slaughtered by a Muslim who pronounces the Name of Allah before killing the animal by cutting its throat.' And so they did. After the lambs were properly killed and bled one of the horse guys finished dressing them.

So we had a barbecue - asado Chilean style - with food prepared halal. (isn't it fantastic to see the mix of cultures!) Pepsi and juice for the non-drinkers, wine and beer for the locals. Much of the group went back to bed at a reasonable time - especially the still jet lagged travellers. The rest of us stayed on. My spanish is getting better, but it was still rather comical trying to communicate beyond the basics. But enough wine and 'pesco' (though I never did figure out exactly what pesco was) - and somehow the communication became easier! I sat by the fire (it was cold!!) chewed on a bone and chatted with the grooms, they were fascinated to talk with an American - a gringa - and it was great fun.

The next day would be the final trial of the horses, and trotouts, and last minute preparation. Laily's horse still hadn't arrived and she was getting a little nervous! more phone calls, yes the mare is coming - don't worry! There was still no venue - no ride camp per se - just our group of horses and trucks, and a couple other rigs with horses, and the metal skeleton of what would be the restaurant was being erected at the edge of the field.. but that was all so far. We were wondering just a little bit if this was the right place, but no problem said Ruben, it will happen tomorrow. not to worry.

-later -

Steph

(only one more part, I promise!)


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