Guatemala, Sunday, 6th of July 2008. To ensure maximum quality conditions of the competition, a Pretest of the route was executed by Silvia, Ignacio, Clarissa de Wit and Janio Johnston, with 4 horses and a bike! Indispensable to double check out the conditions of the area were The Mayan Adventure Ride 2008 - The Ingenio Magdalena Challenge 1st Edition, will take place, in La Gomera, Escuintla. They took off early in the morning, bringing the horses in their trailers to the wonderful luscious green Sugarcane plantation. The sugarcane plantation surrounds one of the biggest sugarcane processing plants in Guatemala, Ingenio Magdalena, special sponsor of the event.
Janio Johnston was riding one of his horses and hand leading another horse (what an effort!). Silvia and Clarissa de Wit with their horses and Ignacio de Wit with his bike AND his camera, went of to discover the precious landscape and tropical vegetation of the land of Ingenio Magdalena. What they found was a lush green route, with rivers to cross, and good footing for their horses, all documented by exquisite pictures Ignacio de Wit took on the route. Ignacio de Wit is the official photographer of the event. God luck Igancio, don't let the horses step on your bike.
The Costa Ricans have started their journey.
Guatemala, Thursday, 10th of July, 2008. Although there were still some pending issues regarding the paperwork for the transport and temporary importation of the horses into Guatemala, the Costa Rican counterpart felt they were ready to leave ... and left! Frenzy took over as the last part of the formalities was still to be finished, and so on this end of the journey, in Guatemala, everybody involved was very busy to bring the formal bureaucratic part to a happy end... Special Thanks to Nacho de Wit for his help! They will be coming in two trucks, bringing three of the Costa Rican horses and one separately, as they were leaving from different parts of the country of Costa Rica.
Fernando Paiz is in charge of coordinating with the Costa Rican Party about their stay in Guatemala. They have been in contact for several weeks now, and everything is ready for them to stay for the days necessary before and after the ride.
We wish them a bon voyage!
Preparing for the ride ?
Guatemala, Saturday, June 12, 2008. Janio Johnston, Uber Rodas and Fernando Paiz of Jinetes de Aventura Endurance, Organizer of the next FEI Ride in Guatemala, where on their way early the morning of June 12, to check out the definitive routes and base camp location at the Ingenio Magdalena, in La Gomera, Escuintla, Guatemala.
After discussing several options, we came to the decision that the best place would be at the Ingenio Magdalena, AND, that we would do the ride at night. Hopefully, with an almost full moon for best night vision depending on the climate conditions. Because this is the time of the rainy season we have a great chance of having rain, lots of rain! The weather conditions are very similar to those in Malaysia, hot and humid. That is also the reason for riding at night. To have less heat and the chance is better for the horses to pass.
We got the authorization to use the Sugar Mill´s airplane garages as hostel the horses. So at least they will be protected from all the rain we could possibly get. After the team checked it all out, they got themselves some hot fresh tortillas with Pollo Chapin and then headed home satisfied with the days work.
"When I admire the wonder of a sunset or the beauty of the moon, my soul expands in worship of the Creator" (Mahatma Gandhi)
The Costa Ricans and their horses have arrived!
Saturday, 12th of July 2008. Finally the first 3 Costa Rican Horses reached Guatemala after several days of travelling and lots of obstacles to overcome! That is Saladino, ridden by Julio C. Alfaro and Samuray, ridden by Diego Zamora, both owned by Marcial Zamora. And LFM Black Lady, ridden by Clarissa de Wit from Guatemala, owned by Lourdes de Miranda.
We are happy they made it, we will have all the expected horses for the classifying ride next Saturday night, when the big event will be held for Guatemala and Costa Rica to classify their teams for the participation in the World Endurance Championship in Malaysia coming November.
Compared to the travels and distances lots of riders do in the US for example, it may seem a short ride from Costa Rica to Guatemala, BUT, in between we have 3 border crossings, that need a lot of paperwork, coordination, cooperation and patience(!!) to be passed successfully.
Although the Central American countries have lots in common, there are still many requirements to be fulfilled to be able to pass from one country to another, not to mention, with SPORT HORSES! But they did it! And we want to congratulate all the people involved in this part of the adventure of bringing the horses half across the isthmus of Central America and tell them: GOOD JOB!
Today, at around 5 pm the horses arrived at the Equestrian Sports Centre in Guatemala City, Complejo Hipico LA AURORA, in zone 13 of Guatemala City. They had been escorted by Ignacio and Silvia de Wit, together with Marcial Zamora, the owner of two Costa Rican horses who had arrived in Guatemala 2 days earlier, from the salvadorenian border with Guatemala and brought to the equestrian facility in Guatemala City, where they will be staying until the horses will be moved close to the event site, in Escuintla.
The horses arrived well after the three days long journey and gave a good demonstration by giving a show of running and rolling on the ground at their destination delighting everybody present.
Tonight, everybody will have a good night sleep, hopefully.
photos Ignacio de Wit
