Here we start out on a trail ride.

:: while over here we come back from the headlands on horseback to our Caribbean resort >

We are exceptionally fortunate here at our Caribbean Resort on the beach. We have horseback rides through the jungle, the forest, the seagrapes, and on the beach.

We are great horse lovers here.

Some of our owners keep jumpers and we have a jumping training ring right here in the resort.

But, more importantly, our neighbors, Michelle and Craig Barker have a stable of 20 fine horses and ponies.

Craig and Michelle are US imports to our life here. They arrived on our bay as surfer dudes of the real, hard-core "travel the world for a wave" variety. Craig lives for the wave. Michelle is, truth be told, happier watching from the cliffs.

Craig says earnestly when you're chatting with him at a picnic table under a dense shade tree by the stables, "Surf - we have the best there is here. Right here. No way could we leave."

Now we know why they stayed put but how does this get us into a stable and horses? Hold on.

Michelle loves horses so whatever beach the two have landed on, they search out local horse trail rides. This they did at our beach, here at Shacks and our headlands. The ride through the deserted almond forest, along the beach and up to the headlands was the best that they had ever been on.

They bought the stables.

Settled down. Started taking really good care of the horses that came with the stable, searched out more. Had children. Build a villa. Rebuilt the stables. Continued to care for their partners, their horses.

Our luck - all because of our surf breaks.

Now our guest are able to get the same experiences through the same jungle, forest, beach.

Thanks, Michelle and Craig,
Villa Montaña Team

:: on to part 2 of Caribbean horse ride >

:: plan a ride | a lesson >