I Asked for the Fastest Horse

When we got to the horses in the hills of Costa Rica, I said I wanted the fastest one. I was half joking. My experience up to that point was the state fair, with somebody walking the horse for me, and whatever I picked up from movies.

My horse was antsy from the start, moving around while everyone else was still getting on. Once we started up the trail he made it clear he was leading the pack. It was steep with trees all around, and I was still figuring out how to sit on a horse going uphill, let alone one that wanted to run. Our guide stayed toward the back with the rest of the group, so I'm way out ahead, a little scared, but not showing it.

The only one keeping up was another rider from our group who had some experience, and our horses started playfully competing. What I didn't know was that these horses run this trail all the time. They knew exactly where we were headed, and on the last climb it turned into a race.

We came around a bend at the top and it opened up into a flat stretch with the whole valley below us. The horses are still racing, straight toward the edge, and I'm honestly getting ready to bail. Then he just stopped, right where he was supposed to.

We sat up there about five minutes waiting for everyone else to come around the bend, and that's when it really hit me. Green hills rolling out in every direction, the valley opening up underneath us, and it was quiet. My heart was still going, but I just took it all in.

It was scary and nerve wracking and I loved it. I also had the guide tie my horse to his for the ride down, and I'm not ashamed of that at all.

What stayed with me was the idea of taking the reins. This trip will stay with me forever. That ride, and a five mile uphill hike in the Costa Rican heat to reach a waterfall, really pushed me, and in the end showed me how worth it all was. It also helped me connect with myself, to stay steady in the hard moments and still be there for the people around me.

Austin, Costa Rica