Buddy and Boots. Perfect for social distancing during Covid

Guest Post by Raquel

Through a series of events, unimagined and unplanned, my husband Paul and I found ourselves physical distancing at Big Sky Ranch this past March.  Like many all over the world, we spent the first month glued to the news, baking bread and planting gardens (we also got chickens).  By the time April came, I was ready to put a dream into action.

Rains made for amazing jungle treks in the Escamequita River

One of my early passions was horseback riding.  I had gone on trail rides often in my lifetime, felt comfortable on a horse, but never learned much beyond the very basics.  Of course one of the things that drew me to Big Sky was the riding, and I dreamed of one day owning a horse.  So here I was locked down in a horse lover’s paradise, during Covid  If I didn’t do it now, I never would.  I set myself the goal; learn everything I need to know to care for my own horse in 4 months. 

“I can’t believe that I can get on a horse and ride as far as I want in any direction, whenever I want, it is a whole new level of freedom”

Of course I turned to Claudia. 

Claudia is Big Sky’s horse angel.  She cares for and trains the horses at Big Sky.  Watching her work is magic.  I started taking lessons.  10 weeks later I could brush a horse, clean its hooves, saddle up, put in the bridle , walk, trot, canter, open the barbed wire gate on horseback (I still can’t close it), mount, dismount, I was ready to be a rider, I just needed practice.  Then I did the most wonderful thing ever invented, I leased a horse.  Not just any horse, Boots.  Boots is a beautiful, smart, gentle, energetic 12 year old, and I am in love. 

Riding here is like nothing in the world.  You can ride anywhere.  Somedays I ride through Escamequita and Las Parceles and greet everyone, beaming from ear to ear.  I visit friends, I go to the beach.  Some days I ride with my neighbor Bobette (also a student of Claudia). Today Blue joined us and we rode through Big Sky and the jungle up to look out over the ocean at the secret beach.  I was so happy I could have cried.  It’s all still so new to me.  I can’t believe that I can get on a horse and ride as far as I want in any direction, whenever I want, it is a whole new level of freedom and I want to keep doing it forever.   and I may just do that. RM