Go Go Gonzo!!! . . . . .photo link here .....

As part of our tour to Cape Trib we decided to add an activity and the only one we hadn't done was horse trekking.

I've never been on a horse before, and have the opinion that if they can paralyze Superman they're pretty damn powerful and should be treated with caution!
We'd heard about a horse called Gonzo who was for beginners, really slow, always at the back of the line, but a real character . . . some how I just knew this was going to be my horse.

I watched the girls bringing the horses out and saw one of them literally being dragged out, and out came a little brown horse with short legs and a big attitude. The legend that is Gonzo.

The guide told us not to let the horse eat grass, show them whose in charge from the beginning and hopefully you won't have any troubles. So, I jumped on the milk crate (coz I'm short as well) and sat on Gonzo, who immediately put his head down and chewed on the grass, typical. Next thing a huge horse behind me does something to Gonzo which made him jump and shoot off. Luckily there was a fence right infront of us so he couldn't go anywhere, but oh my god!!!! 10 seconds of being on a horse and that happens! My heart was in my mouth!!!!

Gonzo's best mate in the whle world is Popeye, and wherever he goes Gonzo goes, and if Popeye goes out without him Gonzo cries and sulks until he returns. Today was Gonzo's lucky day, another beginner was out so we could follow Popeye all morning.

We set off for a little walk, me and Gonzo at the back of course and I though 'ahh, this is so easy, actually nice and relaxing too just strolling through the fields. We were a little slow but nevermind I could deal with it. As we headed into the rainforest Gonzo decided to do a quick right and took me right into the trees. the guides were screaming at him and I just sat helpless just laughing and trying to make him turn back. Little ratbag!

As we got deeper into the rainforest there were branches and stones along the muddy pathway and for some reason every tiny little thing Gonzo tripped over so I had to pretty much steer him around every little bump! It was pretty damn scary as we crossed a stream, tripping over all the stones. At one point I wanted to get off and give him a piggy back across so he wouldn't fall and kill the both of us!!!

Finally we hit the beach which was georgeous and I saw a few stingray along the shore line. George told me to give Gonzo a big kick in the ribs as he was starting to dawdle so i did a few times, and we just about caught up. We stopped for a few snaps and headed back along the beach. I started to get a little too confident with the old kick in the ribs at this point, and I'm not really sure wha happened, maybe I booted him a little too hard but the next thing he decided to gallop after the other horses. I absolutley crapped myself!!!! I grabed his reigns and almost yanked his head off screaming Woah woah! Well thats what I've seen em do on TV! didn't really want to kick him again after that, especially as there were a few low branchs that I might have ended up dangling off!!!

The girls then showed us positions to get ourselves into to trot and canter, which to me now means run and run faster! So while they gave the demo Gonzo decided to turn his back and go for a pee! I could hardly see the demo so wasn't that conident on what I was meant to be doing, but how hard can it be to ride a horse . . . . . .

Anyways, she handed me a 'go go Gonzo' stick to smack him with and make him run faster. We got in position???!! . . and when she called we would give the horses a uge kick! :-/ and we would all trot which means a nice gentle jog that looks easy!

So . . 1, 2, 3 off we went . . .OH MY GOD!!!! I've never held on to anything as tight in all my life! Gonzo from somewhere had this incredibe spurt and we ended up by Helen and Yogi. We just looked at each other, jaws dropped in fear and is belief. Then of course came the fits of laughter. I had gripped my stick so tightly too that it had snapped so i had to get another.

'This time we're going to canter. Give the horse a big kick like you mean it, egg them on, giddy up, yah yah and all that'

They told me that so long as I had my heels down and legs straight I wouldn't fall of so . . . of course you have to lean slightly forward to kick backwards and bend your knees to kick . . and the horse knows whats coming anyways as they do this every day . . so, 1, 2, went to kick . . . but Gonzo is off already. I hung on for dear life (again) trying to lean back and point my heels down and Gonzo was flying, trying to overtake and all that again. Sod the Gonzo stick I just let it go so I could grab hold tighter as I boinged away in the seat! I have to admit its one of the scariest things I've done ever!!!

We had a few more go's which were just as scary and came to a creek for a swim, minus the horse!

I jumped off Gonzo and my legs were like jelly. It was so funny. We jumped in the creek to cool off.

'. . . Right, lets do some more cantering and we have a nice long stretch to get home' Great, not quite sure how I felt about that.

So, I jumped on Gonzo, without the crate, which was a lot easier than i thought and off we went for more cantering, YEEHAA!!

The first time was a nightmare, the second was almost a disaster!!!

We walked along and I saw a branch on the ground infront of us and I just knew what was coming. . . . 1, 2, 3, off we shot just as Gonzo tripped over the damn branch. He almost landed in a heap but somehow he managed to find his feet and I've never been so relieved in all my life. I thought I was about to get a broken leg for sure!!!

The final canter started just as Gonzo was grabbing some grass so he almost choked, typical male grabbing all the food he can.

I was so relieved to get off the horse. I'm not sure I'll ever do it again as its not really my thing but certainly was up there with the fear factor!!!