Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21
I planned three things to do on our staycation. One was the Mary Poppins Singalong which was great fun. One was the swim with the tigers which had mixed reviews. The third was Horse surfing which also had mixed reviews. I feel confident in riding at least one my own horse, but did not take into account that the horse surfing experience would be done without a saddle or stirrups. I did not realize how much I depend on them to stay balanced on the horse’s back. When the ride was to begin at Palma Sola Beach, and I first got on one of the horses, I was surprised at how unsteady I felt. When the woman in charge saw my reaction to having no place to hold on to, she took me off that horse and put me on a sweet Norwegian Fiord pony. The “pony” was a small horse but more suitable to me than the feisty Morgan that the teenage girl in our group rode cantering down the beach ahead of the rest of us who plodded along just trying desperately to hold on. I was sure that I was going to fall off at any moment. Husband had a nice big draft horse, just what he enjoys riding, but later, he confessed that he was also working hard at staying on the horse’s back. We walked down the beach for a while, then, entered the water. I never did fully relax and enjoy the experience though I figured if I was going to fall off at least I would be in the water and it would not hurt as much. The teenager with us was ready to try horse surfing and valiantly stood up on her horse’s back several times only to fall into the water when the horse made its first step. Those of us who weighed over 150 pounds had the option to “surf” by getting off, holding onto the horse’s tail and being pulled through the water, but I was afraid I would not be able to get back on and husband said he had been told all his life not to get behind a horse so we stayed where we were. We did get to ride on the horses while they swam for a few minutes which is what I had come to experience. It was much smoother than I expected it to be. The horses just glide through the water as they fill their lungs and float. I still held on for dear life, but next time I write about someone swimming on a horse’s back, I will know better how to describe it. Although swimming on a horse is something I have looked forward to for a long time, I was relieved when the ride was over. Sometimes, we envision something will be better than it actually is. I am not disappointed, just ready to check it off my list. Been there, done that. Didn’t get the T-shirt.
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