Giddy Up!

With only 3 1/2 weeks left in Egypt, I feel the need to do everything just one . . . more . . . time. Why, oh why do I listen to myself? Sometimes, I really don't know. We started a new Enrichment activity called Tour & Explore. I thought, well, why not? The first excursion was horseback riding in the desert near the Pyramids. First off, it was an amazing trip up there because I didn't have to drive. A friend's driver drove my vehicle and it was heaven! Everything was organized wonderfully. Then we got our horses. The horse dudes asked if we knew how to ride. Well, yeah, I've ridden before, but not for about 12 years. Ok, you get a good horse. Well I'd hope so!! Madonna the horse was bestowed upon me. Yeah, they like to name the horses some pretty interesting names. Michael Jackson, Sugar and Coke were among a few of the monikers.



We started out toward the desert by way of back streets full of garbage, mud, and other camels & horses awaiting assignment. Madonna kind of had a mind of her own, but I didn't mind. She really responded to the reigns and some of my posting lessons were coming back. She didn't really canter; there was plodding or prancing. For now. Once we hit the desert, Madonna, Michael and Coke decided to race each other. Yeah. With all of us (barely) hanging on. I yanked back on the reigns, not really ready to break out and run yet. The other horses began picking up speed and once again, we were all going along at a full gallop. We were actually getting into a beautiful rhythm, the wind was blowing, the Pyramids whizzing past, it was exhilarating! Then my right stirrup broke. Great. I scramble to switch my reigns from right to left and grab the flapping straps at my knee. So I'm holding onto the stirrup with my right hand and trying to control the reigns with my left. Not easy or comfortable. Just scary. We made it to our destination on the bluff overlooking Giza.



Picture taking was done by all, my stirrup repaired and we all saddled up again. Oh, did I mention that my horse was stick skinny and had no withers whatsoever? Withers are basically the ridge between a horse's shoulder blades. Good withers on a horse keep your saddle from shifting and/or falling off. My horse's withers were nonexistent. So that meant my saddle would creep up her neck. And the more you lean forward on a horse, the faster she thinks you want to go. Think horse jockeys at the races. Another tidbit, once some horses know they're headed home or for the barn, they become very unresponsive and just want to go back. Barn sour is another term. (sorry, for some reason they don't have that in wikipedia.) Madonna was about as barn sour as they come. She would break into a full gallop, I would reign her in, turn her in a circle (to show her who was boss) and then we would continue on and she'd begin the gallop once again. All. The. Way. Back.

Since I'm here writing this, I obviously survived. Barely. What with the stirrups all turned around, a saddle that was too small and a crazy horse, I am in pain to say the least. I've got huge matching bruises on the insides of my thighs (sorry people, no pictures of that) where I was squeezing the tiny saddle to keep it in place. And when I do anything with my right arm, it shakes like a geriatric parkinsonian patient. Will I do that again? Obviously not since One: I'm not that crazy and Two: We won't be here long enough for me to forget and do it again. **Disclaimer** This was the first time I had tried these stables. Other horse desert adventures weren't as exciting as this one.