BIRTHDAY RIDE
BIG ISLAND WAIPIO VALLEY RIDE
June 4, 2004
TRADITION
Camille’s first horseback ride was a gift from her Mom and Dad for her seventh birthday in 1961. The new jeans and cowboy hat were part of the package. Mom and Dad spirited Camille across the City Island bridge into the Bronx for a lesson with this patient instructor on his gentle school horse. Little did they know that by doing so they had created an insatiable love for horses in their daughter.
A SMART MAN. . .
takes his wife riding on her birthday. A smart man also does not give his horse the opportunity to pull any tricks. Bob’s pinto gelding, Ikaika has a reputation for untying knots, opening gates and taking off his own bridle. Ikaika, pronounced ‘ee-ka-ee-ka’ means strong in Hawaiian. Camille is riding a chestnut mare named Hoku (hoe-coo is Hawaiian for star.) Hoku likes to play in the water and will sometimes try to submerge herself.
Waipio Valley
Two views; from above at the overlook and from the valley floor on horseback.
BROUGHT TO YOU BY OUR GUIDES
A horseback riding experience is only as good as its wranglers. Mounted on a gray horse, Keoni, (kay-own-ee) which is Hawaiian for Johnny, talks story with a passing bicyclist. Mahina (mah-hee-na) poses on her bay horse Kea (kay-a, meaning white) at the gate to the valley floor. Kea has a striking white eyelash.
PHOTO OP
Every tour has a great spot in which to capture the memory with a picture. Waipio (why-pee-oh) Valley is so named because the water (wai) turns back upon itself (pio.)
YOU CAN LEAD A HORSE TO WATER
But can you make him cross it? These horses were used to this maneuver which can be a challenge with a horse that isn’t comfortable stepping into the unknown. This stream reminded us of Barton Creek in Belize which we forded often both on horseback and with the Isuzu Trooper.
TROUTS
SWIMMING UPSTREAM
Thanks to Keoni, we came home with lots of superb photographs of our Waipio Valley adventure. Although these horses are small, they come from the hardy stock that Hawaiian ranches are famous for. The first horses were brought to Hawaii in 1803 by Captain Cleveland from Spanish California as a gift to King Kamehameha I. Today a herd of 50 wild horses from the original Spanish and Arabian stock roam the Waipio Valley.
HAPPY AS A CLAM
COMING AND GOING
Notice Ikaika’s wet legs and the puddles on the road. A fine mist kept everyone cool and the horses were dripping water from our stream crossings.
SMARTY
He wasn’t bad but he had bad intentions. Here Ikaika attempts to catch the shaft of his hackamore in his mouth so he can flip one of his reins over his nose.
HOME AGAIN, HOME AGAIN, JIGGITY JIG
Mahina and Bob bring up the rear of the string on the way home.
BACK AT THE RANCH
This little cute mule colt waits for us back at the barn with his bright eyes and striking shoulder stripe. There are a couple of legends which link Jesus with this marking.
MORE HORSE STORIES:
[Judy’s World – 2015, North Carolina]
[Riding with Paula – 2015, North Carolina]
[Camille’s 59th Birthday – June 2013, Ghana]
[Green Ranch – February 2013, Ghana]
[The Green Ranch – July 2012, Ghana]
[Riding – 2012, North Carolina]
[Riding – 2011, North Carolina]
[Riding Lessons at Heads Up – 2009, North Carolina]
[Lisa’s Ponies – 2009, North Carolina]
[Heads Up – 2009 North Carolina]
[Our Last Days at Quiet Meadow Farms – 2008, North Carolina]
[Trail Riding at Heads Up – 2008, North Carolina]
[Heads Up Pony Gallery – 2008, North Carolina]
[The Family Farm – 2006, Colorado]
[Tenorio’s First Birthday Party – 2006, Colorado]
[Cheryl’s Ponies – 2006, Colorado]
[Sharyl’s Horses, Spring Cleaning – 2006, Colorado]
[A Visit with Jesse – 2005, Colorado]
[Camille’s Birthday Ride – 2004, Big Island, Hawai’i]
[Pi’iholo Ranch Wrangler – 2003, Maui, Hawai’i]
[All the Pretty Hawaiian Horses, 1999–2004, Hawai’i]
[Camp Smith Stables, – 1999, O’ahu, Hawai’i]
[Horsing Around on Guam – 1999]
[Horsing Around in China – 1998]
[Mountain Equestrian Trails – 1997, Belize]
[Jesse the Wonder Horse – 1980s and ’90s, Colorado & Virginia]