After a beautiful rest in Rio Dulce, it’s time to make the last push for Honduras. The horses and I are well-rested and ready to take on the 5th country of our trip. Before we cross one more imaginary line, we have a 2 day ride in southern Guatemala.
Every country I have crossed thus far has been full of helpful people who take time out of their lives to help the horses and I. Some of those people go the extra mile and end up adopting me into their family! In the USA I belong to the Hardy family. In Mexico the Vidal and Reye’s familia. Here in Guatemala, I am Filipe Morales.
Rafael, Melva and their children Isabel and Flavio Morales live in Morales (what are the chances), Guatemala. They are the perfect family and have been working with cattle and horses for several generations.
“I learned to ride from my dad and now my own son is learning from me,” Rafael told me as his father’s last cowboy hat sat in a glass case next to him.
Flavio, only 12-years-old, rides better than many grown man I know. He spends his summers at the families farm roping calves and doctoring cattle.
“I get up early, help milk the cows, tack up my horse and go out riding all day,” Flavio described a regular day for him at the farm.
During my time in Rio Dulce the family took me out for dinner, to visit Livingston by boat and to their home on several occasions. Slowly but surely, I became a part of their family.
“You are like one of our sons now and I hope you wear this to keep you safe,” Melva said as she gave me a rosary.
The weekend before I rode from Rio Dulce to Morales, Rafael managed to convince his good friend and Guatemala’s best horse vet to come check my ponies. I can’t thank him enough for this because my horses health is the most important thing in the world! So to get a good vet to check them makes me feel great. Special thanks to the amazing vet Rafael Molina for driving out from the capital just to look at Frenchie, Dude & Bruiser 🙂
The morning I rode out of Rio Dulce to Rafael’s house in Morales he trailered Frenchie and Bruiser ahead for me so I only had to ride one horse.
“Today we are going to have a dinner here in Morales with some of the influential ranchers in the area,” Rafael told me as I arrived.
In a beautiful country club on the outskirts of Morales, I met some great cowboys who treated me like a king. We ate a delicious steak dinner and exchanged stories all night. The next morning I made my last full ride in the country. Only a 20 km day to Playitas and my brother Flavio joined me!
With the biggest smile ever on his face, he led our march through the downtown of Morales.
“Wow, I feel famous,” he said as people stared at the cowboys and their horses.
Just after 2pm we arrived at the ranch where the horses would rest their final night in Guatemala. Rafael introduced me to the owner of the ranch who immediately set up my first night’s stay in Honduras.
That night I said goodbye to my Guatemalan family and fought back the tears as we parted ways. I don’t know when I will see the Morales family next, but I know we will meet again soon! Muchas gracias por todo Rafael, Melva, Flavio and Isabel!
Honduras here we come!
