| Horse Riding |
beautifulyoo.com  |
| Horse
riding western style with Calamity Jane in Alora, Malaga, inland
Andalucia, Spain
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| Jane’s
mother always used to ask her little daughter why she kept watching
the same black and white western movies over an over on the television. “It’s not the story I’m interested in,” was her reply, “I am watching the way the cowboys handle their horses.” Talking to me at her stables near Alora in Spain, a dream come true for Jane, she said to me: “I wanted to be a carriage rider just like Calamity Jane. It was my favourite film. I also used to watch Hop Along Cassidy when I was about six years old and I wanted to be a cowboy.” Roy Rogers and his guitar didn’t make much of an impression on the young Jane, who preferred the adventures of the Lone Ranger. Jane started riding horses herself at the age of 9 and years later went to America to ride horses ‘western style’. Showing me examples of both a western saddle and an English one at her ranch in Spain, she explained that there was a great deal of difference between the two. “I have always preferred the western saddle,” she said, “and that is what I use for my riding customers here. The Western saddle, although heavier than an English one, for me is more comfortable, like sitting in an armchair, but still allowing you to feel all the horses body movements beneath you. These days they are even lighter – the old ones used to weigh 44 pounds and the new ones about 16.” “How come anyone uses English saddles?” I asked. “They are better for show jumping,” she said, “but when it comes to riding in the country it is not only more comfortable to use a western saddle, but it is easier to communicate with the horse, the slightest movement being enough to tell it what you want it to do.” Jane has four horses now, a Spanish Mustang type called Rebejito, and three English horses, Talon, Tess and Lottie, and also a Welsh pony called Kelly. She has worked very hard to set up her stables, where she offers horse-riding, both to absolute beginners and more experienced riders, and she has learned an incredible amount about communicating with the animals. “People talk about breaking in horses,” she said, “but I don’t really believe in that.” “Do you use a more gentle form of coaxing?” I asked. “No, it isn’t coaxing,” she replied, “it’s more a way of communicating.” “What, like horse whispering?” I asked, having read about that somewhere. “Well, no,” she said again. “You can talk to the horses if it makes you feel better,” she went on, “but they don’t understand any of it. I have learned from being with them and watching how they communicate with each other. They use signals,” she explained, “for example the way they move their ears.” She laughed. “Obviously human ears are not big enough the move like theirs, so I imitate them with movements of my hands. All horses, like people, need to have their own space – if you infringe on that they have ways of warning you. First they look you directly in the face, then their ears go back and then they kick. When I have newcomers here I always warn them not to go too close to the back legs of the horses and if I have to walk behind the animals I gently prod their hindquarters with my fingertips just to let them know I am there.” Jane showed us how she tells the horses what she wants, with movements of her arms and hands. “It’s actually very simple,” she said, “although of course it has taken years of observation and patience to work it all out. In any group of horses it is the top mare who is in charge. If she stops grazing and looks up, then so do all the others. You have to be the top mare,” she said, “and then they will respect and obey you. It makes them feel more comfortable and it gives you control.” Recently Jane used these methods to train a local Spanish Donkey Stallion to pull a carriage for the forthcoming Romeria fiesta in Alora in September. “The Spanish owners were very impressed,” she said with satisfaction, “and I now have quite a lot of respect from the locals who talk to me a lot more about horses.” Jane’s horse riding customers come from both the local community and also tourists to the area, who could choose to stay in one of her two self-contained holiday cabañas. There is a swimming pool and barbecue area with wonderful views, for the perfect end to a perfect horse riding day. Outings depend on customer requirements, with absolute beginners starting out in the paddock, ‘with one hand on the reins and one on the horse’, while more experienced riders can enjoy the delights of cross-country adventures, with fabulous views along the way. While we were at the stables, two of her regular local riders, Faye, who has her own horse, and Antonia, were preparing for a trip along the ridge of the nearby El Hacho mountain, including a short ride through Alora and then another cross country hop to Faye’s home in the campo. “What do you like about horse riding?” I asked Antonia. “It’s just such good fun,” she said with a huge smile, “it’s so nice to be out there in the country and the views are wonderful. I just love it. I ride as often as I can.” And Faye? “I love horses,” she said, “they make me feel calm and they don’t expect anything from you, horse riding is such a nice thing to do.” As the three ladies mounted their horses, Jane showed us the method of neck-reining, using a double rein as used by the army. It’s a more sensitive way of telling the horse which way to turn,” she explained. The top rein pulls gently against the horse’s neck.” The ladies pulled the top reins, the horses turned obediently and they were off, leaving us to trudge up the hill behind them to our car as we watched them disappear into the distance. |
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| If
you would like to go horse riding with Jane and perhaps stay in
one of her lovely cabañas in Alora, please contact Sally
or Clive on +34 625 208 916 or email: info@beautifulyoo.com |
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September
2007