On Sunday April 10 I took the first stride on a journey of 8 000 kms.
As I swung my leg over my brand-new Wade saddle, I felt a peace I had not felt in a long time. It was like I was finally home. Safe. Happy.
My mares danced from side to side nonstop, nervous and irritated with the sound-truck blasting Brazilian country songs in front of us. Hundreds of people on foot and atop horses and mules sat dispersed all around. Everyone wanted to take photos and shake my hand. It was quite the chaotic scene. Much to Life and Doll’s displeasure.
We were about to ride out of Barretos, Sao Paulo en route to the End of the World – Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. I should have been freaking out inside. Nervous like my girls. On my last departure from the Calgary Stampede, I couldn’t stop crying or shaking.
But this time, tranquility is all I felt.
Before we began the celebratory ride through the city, someone brought an image of Mother Mary for me. I stepped down from the saddle, knelt in the hot asphalt, raised my hand to touch the saint’s image and dropped my head.
“Please look after my mares and I on this journey. Please guide me to green pasture and water. May we all return healthy and alive,” I whispered these words next to my beautiful mares.
From downtown Barretos, where the old Rodeo grounds stand, the large convoy of horses, people and cars made its way to the Cancer Hospital where I received their flag and took a few photos. I took in the energy from that amazing facility in and continued on.
A delicious lunch was prepared at the city’s Train Station where I chatted with friends and family who came to see me ride out. It was so comforting to have them all around me for a final goodbye. Just before we continued our ride to the new rodeo ground, where we would spend the night, I made a horrible discovery. Life stepped on a piece of metal wire and it pierced the side of her frog. She was now lame on her front right hoof.
“Oh God, with this many horses why did my mare have to step on that wire,” I said almost in tears as I pulled the wire out from her hoof.
I found a truck to take Life to the rodeo grounds and continued the ride just with Doll. Just after 4 pm we arrived where Latin America’s largest rodeo is held and where I rode into on my last ride. I immediately untacked Doll and began treating Life.
I put her leg in a bucked full of ice water for 45 minutes and gave her an anti-inflammatory injection. Praying for her to awake better.
After giving my family a final hug before they drove back to my hometown, I set up camp and drank a couple of beers with my friends who would accompany me the next day.
