Greetings from Costa Rica

FincaPerlitas · 06-23-2008, 04:52 AM

Hi,

I've just joined the forum and want to introduce myself. Originally from Florida, I've been a full-time resident of Costa Rica for the past eight years. My wife is Costa Rican and I have 2 young adult stepdaughters who live at home with us in the San Jose area (the capital city). We also have a 15 acre horse ranch about 2 hours away where we spend most weekends.

All of us ride but are still novices. Although I've always loved horses and have been riding off and on since childhood, I always lived in the city and until recently never owned horses of my own. We bought our acreage a couple of years ago and initially bought a couple of horses to ride on the weekends.

My Costa Rican family found that they enjoyed horses as much as I do (well, almost as much anyway), and we soon began taking riding lessons here in San Jose and getting involved with other horse people. It's been a great experience for the whole family and has become an important part of our lives.

At the moment we have two horses stabled in San Jose which we ride during the week and for local events, and have another four adult horses which we ride at the ranch, as well as three young horses - ranging from 4 to 18 months of age.

To keep my post short, I won't go in to detail about the horse scene here but it's very active with many excellent breeders and horses, and lots of opportunities to ride, exhibit and socialize.

I look forward to participating in the forums. Perhaps another time I can post more information about horses in Costa Rica.

oldhorsehome · 06-23-2008, 04:54 AM

Welcome to HGS!! We'd love to see pictures.

FincaPerlitas · 06-23-2008, 05:49 AM

Here's a photo of me with some friends at a recent cabalgata (organized trail ride) in the mountains. I'm the guy left of center with my arm raised,

riding my gaited Costa Rican Criollo gelding, Viajero (Traveller).

sorrell · 06-23-2008, 05:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FincaPerlitas

Here's a photo of me with some friends at a recent cabalgata (organized trail ride) in the mountains. I'm the guy left of center with my arm raised,

riding my gaited Costa Rican Criollo gelding, Viajero (Traveller).

Wow, nice horses, a few look Andalusian in build.
Welcome to the forum!

FincaPerlitas · 06-23-2008, 09:49 AM

Thanks Sorrell,

All of the horses in the photo except mine are either P.R.E. (Andalusian) or Iberoamericano, which is a registered breed here, originally created by selective crossbreeding of P.R.E. horses with Costarican Paso horses (another registered breed).

Arco · 06-23-2008, 09:53 AM

Hello and welcome to HGS. We love photos here so I'm sure I speak for all of us when I say we'd love to see pictures of your other horses too

FincaPerlitas · 06-23-2008, 10:45 AM

I'm not much of a photographer, unfortunately, but here's a photo of my newest foal, born Feb. 23rd. She was about 4 hours old when the photo was taken. She's pinto like her mom but doesn't show much color. She's happy and healthy and growing nicely. I was out of country when she was born and had to board her mom in a temporary stall at a nearby stable, which was pretty rustic but served its purpose until I could take them to the finca (ranch).

horseyfrk145 · 06-23-2008, 01:22 PM

Welcome to HGS!

Lacys Mom · 06-23-2008, 02:54 PM

Hi and welcome to HGS

Would love to hear more about your horses and the others that you know. Hope you'll enjoy the forum!

MissBlue · 06-24-2008, 06:59 AM

Welcome to HGS!! Your horse Traveller looks very handsome.

06-23-2008, 04:52 AM	#1
FincaPerlitas Full Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: San Jose, Costa Rica, Central America Posts: 136 Images: 8	Greetings from Costa Rica Hi, I've just joined the forum and want to introduce myself. Originally from Florida, I've been a full-time resident of Costa Rica for the past eight years. My wife is Costa Rican and I have 2 young adult stepdaughters who live at home with us in the San Jose area (the capital city). We also have a 15 acre horse ranch about 2 hours away where we spend most weekends. All of us ride but are still novices. Although I've always loved horses and have been riding off and on since childhood, I always lived in the city and until recently never owned horses of my own. We bought our acreage a couple of years ago and initially bought a couple of horses to ride on the weekends. My Costa Rican family found that they enjoyed horses as much as I do (well, almost as much anyway), and we soon began taking riding lessons here in San Jose and getting involved with other horse people. It's been a great experience for the whole family and has become an important part of our lives. At the moment we have two horses stabled in San Jose which we ride during the week and for local events, and have another four adult horses which we ride at the ranch, as well as three young horses - ranging from 4 to 18 months of age. To keep my post short, I won't go in to detail about the horse scene here but it's very active with many excellent breeders and horses, and lots of opportunities to ride, exhibit and socialize. I look forward to participating in the forums. Perhaps another time I can post more information about horses in Costa Rica. Last edited by FincaPerlitas; 06-23-2008 at 04:56 AM. Reason: grammar error

06-23-2008, 04:54 AM	#2
oldhorsehome Senior Member+ Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 1,722 Images: 283 Blog Entries: 7	Welcome to HGS!! We'd love to see pictures. __________________ Bumper sticker of the year: "If you can read this, thank a Teacher and, since it's in English, thank a Soldier!!! "I've been Goosed!" Member COL Club- hand over the Oil of Olay and nobody gets hurt!

06-23-2008, 09:53 AM	#6
Arco Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Hampshire, UK Posts: 1,473 Images: 21	Hello and welcome to HGS. We love photos here so I'm sure I speak for all of us when I say we'd love to see pictures of your other horses too __________________ When you're young and you fall off a horse, you may break something. When you're my age, you splatter. ~Roy Rogers A woman needs two animals - the horse of her dreams and a jack a-ss to pay for it. ~Author Unknown

06-23-2008, 01:22 PM	#8
horseyfrk145 Senior Member+ Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: H'ville, NC Posts: 5,666 Images: 23	Welcome to HGS! __________________ "Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment." John 7:24 ~BECCA <3 Riley and LuLu!

06-23-2008, 02:54 PM	#9
Lacys Mom Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: VA, USA Posts: 2,331 Images: 4	Hi and welcome to HGS Would love to hear more about your horses and the others that you know. Hope you'll enjoy the forum! __________________ Mom to Lacy, Hingie, Fids, Lil' Dude, Brandon, Dandelion & Stormy. I miss you, Keelie & JJ! *Proud member of FFFL, the Tiffany Fan Club,* & COL Club- hand over the Oil of Olay and nobody gets hurt! "The best things in life aren't things."--Art Buchwald

06-23-2008, 05:49 AM	#3
FincaPerlitas Full Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: San Jose, Costa Rica, Central America Posts: 136 Images: 8	Here's a photo of me with some friends at a recent cabalgata (organized trail ride) in the mountains. I'm the guy left of center with my arm raised, riding my gaited Costa Rican Criollo gelding, Viajero (Traveller).

06-23-2008, 09:49 AM	#5
FincaPerlitas Full Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: San Jose, Costa Rica, Central America Posts: 136 Images: 8	Thanks Sorrell, All of the horses in the photo except mine are either P.R.E. (Andalusian) or Iberoamericano, which is a registered breed here, originally created by selective crossbreeding of P.R.E. horses with Costarican Paso horses (another registered breed).

06-23-2008, 10:45 AM	#7
FincaPerlitas Full Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: San Jose, Costa Rica, Central America Posts: 136 Images: 8	I'm not much of a photographer, unfortunately, but here's a photo of my newest foal, born Feb. 23rd. She was about 4 hours old when the photo was taken. She's pinto like her mom but doesn't show much color. She's happy and healthy and growing nicely. I was out of country when she was born and had to board her mom in a temporary stall at a nearby stable, which was pretty rustic but served its purpose until I could take them to the finca (ranch).

06-24-2008, 06:59 AM	#10
MissBlue Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: U.S.A Posts: 700 Images: 2	Welcome to HGS!! Your horse Traveller looks very handsome. __________________ *The wind of heaven is that which blows between a horse's ears.*