My last few days in Acayucan were stressful. After a month off, getting back on the road meant getting everything back into order.

Clean saddle blankets, wash clothes, prepare equipment, give horses a bath – the list went on and on. And to make things worst, during my trip to Cancún, my iPhone was stolen. This meant I had to buy a new phone and get it up and working before I left.

After two days of running around like a chicken with no head, I was finally ready. As I played with the Reyes boys’ baseball team one last time, I could see people arriving at the ranch. I was so involved in our game, I didn’t think anything of it.

“Filipe, come with me,” my Mexican mother Araceli Márquez de Jesus yelled out as we finished up.

Alongside her, Pitchi and Alvaro, my brothers from Veracruz, I walked into my surprise going away party. Oh boy, was I surprised.

As I looked around, there were all of the people from Acayucan I had met and became friends with. With smiles on their faces they clapped and began chanting my name. In good Filipe-fashion, I started to cry.

“We are very happy to have met you Filipe,” Alfredo Reyes said to me as we hugged.

I was so emotional. After everything they had already done for the horses and me, I should be the one throwing them a party.

With a musician singing Roberto Carlos songs (famous Brazilian Singer), the family brought out a surprise I will never forget.

“The entire family pitched in to have this cake made for you,” Araceli said as I stared at it with my jaw on the floor.

There I was with my three ponies, drawn on a delicious cake. I couldn’t believe they had gone through all of this trouble. In México it is tradition to take a bite from the cake before everyone eats it. As an adopted son of this beautiful country, I had to bite the bullet!

I cant thank the Reyes family and all of the Acayucans enough for the love and respect they treated me with. I feel so blessed to have met such amazing folks. I will never forget this magical place and its beautiful people.