Riding horses is my passion and my career. Why not begin to train internationally?
As three months would have been way too long for me to go without riding a horse, I decided to bubble wrap my saddle, bring it aboard my flight, and ride in Spain! It’s one of the best ideas I have had because riding here has been an amazing experience. I ride at Club Hípico Jaizubia in Irun, Spain. It’s outstanding.
My trainer, Xavi, is a wonderful trainer. All of my training is done in Spanish (I’m the only one who speaks English there) and I’m learning the Spanish-style of riding. I never would have thought it would be so different than “America-style”, but it is! Actually, pretty funny, Xavi told me “tú montas muy americana,” claro. I am American, and I have been riding in America for 16 years now! But, now he says my riding is becoming very good and I’m learning the Spanish-style very well. Hopefully that isn’t a bad thing, because I really like it!
Since no one speaks English, I’ve had to learn all of the horse terminology the hard way, getting lost and confused. But no worries, or in Spanish we say no pasa nada, because I think I have done quite well! Here is some of the “equestrian” vocabulary in Spanish:
Paso – walk
Trote – trot
Alope – canter
Fuera el pie – dropping stirrups
Cambia el mano – change direction
Culo – haunches
Gambas – splint boots
Silla de montar – saddle
Trancos – strides
Reinas – reins
Pisa – corners
Espuelas – spurs
Saltar – jump
Cambia el pie – change lead
Levanta – lift
Colecta – collect
Recoje – bring back, shorten
These are only some of the words, but I think you get the gist of it! A lot of it is self explanatory, but when you’re in the moment of riding and getting these words thrown at you, it can be difficult to understand. But I absolutely love it!
I ride a different horse just about every time but my three favorites are Villa, Bruma, and Espina. They are all so wonderful!
I have also made great friends and met some very nice people. I ride with a girl, Selene, just about every time and her and her family are so sweet! Her boyfriend takes pictures every lesson and brings me discs of the photos he’s taken of me. Selene and I also go on beautiful trail rides through the river after every lesson, it is beautiful! One of the nicest families I have met, they help me with so much!
I can’t thank my family here in Hendaye enough for helping me with this opportunity to ride. They drive me every time to Irun for my 20:30 lesson, bring the dogs and watch me. They are the best!!
Club Hípico Jiazubia has been an amazing barn and with school done and 10 days left here in Hendaye, France, I am so excited to ride everyday before I fly back to California. I am so blessed and thankful for the best life ever!
Lisa Beach 