Just some good ol' boys... (horses, part 2)

Once in a while, all of those years of riding horses can pay off. When we were in Taubaté last week, we stopped in at Peter's friend Mauro's English school for a visit. While we were there, we met Pablo, one of his students. Pablo is finishing up his engineering degree at the Universidade de Taubaté and also works at the Ford plant.  Pablo invited us out to ride his horses, so Peter and I jumped in the car this morning and headed out to the horsey area outside of Taubaté to meet Pablo.

He brought his cousin Tafarel and another cousin Regis also met us there. The property is going to be a place where you can have catered parties and events to enjoy a little time in the country, but it is still under construction. It's going to be really nice and they plan to have everything finished by July.

Under construction, but it will be a great place for catered parties in the country. 

Me and the horses. I rode Harry (pronounced Are-ee).  He's Regis' horse. Pablo rode his mare Dama and Tafarel rode a little bay horse (can't remember its name).

Pablo on Dama (means "Lady" in English)

We just went up the road for a bit. Harry is a Mangalarga Paulista and they trot, while their cousins the Mangalarga Marchador do two types of ambling gaits -- one similar to a Peruvian Paso and the other is similar to a Paso Fino. Both are very comfortable.  While we were out, we ran into the neighbor Mauricio out on one of his purebred Mangalarga Marchador mares. We chatted for a bit (OK, not me, but Pablo chatted for a bit) and Mauricio invited us to stop by his farm on our way back. He has a national champion stallion named Albatroz, who is really beautiful. We also saw his other stallions, including a really pretty paint. I couldn't take a photo because of the way the stall was set up. We talked with Mauricio about his horses and then he offered to let me ride the mare he was on earlier. Pablo went with me on Harry for a little bit down the road. She was super smooth and very nice.

One of Mauricio's horses getting new shoes.

Mauricio holding Albatroz

 When we got back from the test drive, Mauricio had saddled up Albatroz, so I got to take him for a spin! He's a REALLY nice horse. Classic horse story: Pablo and I are down the road a quarter of a mile and I want Pablo to take a photo. He gets off to take a better photo. Harry's just eating grass when he realizes he's loose. OF COURSE he ran back to the barn. Tafarel comes flying back up the road thinking Pablo must have somehow fallen off. All was fine, Pablo just got to walk back while I rode the fancy horse.  Apparently horses are horses no matter what continent you're on.

Pablo on Albatroz

Pablo got to take a quick ride on him also and here's some video of Pablo on Albatroz. Watch Pablo's head and you will see how little he moves. This is a super smooth ride.

When we got back to where the horses live, Pablo and Tafarel cooked up some carne seca (salt-cured meat similar to corned beef and linguista (sausage). We drank some beers and hung out for a few hours.

Pablo at the outdoor grill.

I was admiring Tafarel's hat - it has a cool logo for nelore cattle. They look somewhat similar to a brahma with the big hump and the logo has a hump. Tafarel gave me the hat! Notice Pablo's Justin hat. I will find them some cool U.S. cowboy gear to send as presents for a great day with the horses.