BIRTHDAY RIDE

NA'ALAPA STABLES BIG ISLAND WAIPIO VALLEY RIDE

June 4, 2004

TRADITION

Camille's first horseback ride was a gift from her Mom and Dad for her seventh birthday in 1961.  The new jeans  and cowboy hat were part of the package.  Mom and Dad spirited Camille across the City Island bridge into the Bronx for a lesson with this patient instructor on his gentle school horse.  Little did they know that by doing so they had created an insatiable love for horses in their daughter.

 

A SMART MAN. . .

takes his wife riding on her birthday.  A smart man also does not give his horse the opportunity to pull any tricks.  Bob's pinto gelding, Ikaika has a reputation for untying knots, opening gates and taking off his own bridle.   Ikaika, pronounced 'ee-ka-ee-ka' means strong in Hawaiian.  Camille is riding a chestnut mare named Hoku (hoe-coo is Hawaiian for star.)  Hoku likes to play in the water and will sometimes try to submerge herself.

 

Waipio Valley

 

Two views; from above at the overlook and from the valley floor on horseback.

 

BROUGHT TO YOU BY OUR GUIDES

 

A horseback riding experience is only as good as its wranglers.  Mounted on a gray horse, Keoni, (kay-own-ee) which is Hawaiian for Johnny, talks story with a passing bicyclist.  Mahina (mah-hee-na) poses on her bay horse Kea (kay-a, meaning white) at the gate to the valley floor.  Kea has a striking white eyelash.

 

PHOTO OP

Every tour has a great spot in which to capture the memory with a picture.  Waipio (why-pee-oh) Valley is so named because the water (wai) turns back upon itself (pio.)

 

YOU CAN LEAD A HORSE TO WATER

But can you make him cross it?  These horses were used to this maneuver which can be a challenge with a horse that isn't comfortable stepping into the unknown.  This stream reminded us of Barton Creek in Belize which we forded often both on horseback and with the Isuzu Trooper.

 

TROUTS

SWIMMING UPSTREAM

Thanks to Keoni, we came home with lots of superb photographs of our Waipio Valley adventure.  Although these horses are small, they come from the hardy stock that Hawaiian ranches are famous for.  The first horses were brought to Hawaii in 1803 by Captain Cleveland from Spanish California as a gift to King Kamehameha I.  Today a herd of 50 wild horses from the original Spanish and Arabian stock roam the Waipio Valley.

 

HAPPY AS A CLAM

 

COMING AND GOING

 

Notice Ikaika's wet legs and the puddles on the road.  A fine mist kept everyone cool and the horses dripped water from their stream crossings.

 

SMARTY

 

He wasn't bad but he had bad intentions.  Here Ikaika attempts to catch the shaft of his hackamore in his mouth so he can flip on of his reins over his nose.

 

HOME AGAIN, HOME AGAIN, JIGGITY JIG

Mahina and Bob bring up the rear of the string on the way home.

 

BACK AT THE RANCH

 

This little cute mule colt waits for us back at the barn with his bright eyes and striking shoulder stripe.   There are a couple of legends which link Jesus with this marking.  Click here to read one: Legend of the Donkey's Cross.

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