(Photo by Shoji Kudaka/Stripes Okinawa)
Horseback riding can either be an exhilarating or intimidating experience for beginners like me. After watching local kids skillfully maneuvering horses in Nmaharashi, a type of Okinawan horse racing, I was motivated to give it another shot.
On a chilly day in January, I headed to Mihara Horse Riding Club, about a five-minute drive from Camp Courtney, for a 30-minute horse riding experience.
The equestrian club in Uruma City has a 30-year history and is home to 11 ponies and five thoroughbreds.
(Photo by Shoji Kudaka/Stripes Okinawa)
I’m a complete beginner who has spent time with a horse only a few times. The last time I tried was almost 10 years ago. I was looking forward to the opportunity, but I felt stiff with anxiousness under the cloudy winter sky.
As I approached the club’s stable, the resident watchdogs started barking. I was scared when one of them walked up to me. But instead of turning me away, the dog licked my hand, which made me relax a little.
(Photo by Shoji Kudaka/Stripes Okinawa)
Instructor Erisa Nakahara soon joined, handing me a helmet and body protector. She guided me to the stable where I met Mocha, a pony with a beautiful brown coat and sturdy legs who would be my company for the day.
To break the ice, I casually addressed the pony “Mocha-chan,” which is something similar to Little Mocha. The pony is 33 years old, Nakahara corrected me. Horses age three times faster than humans, so Mocha would be closer to 100 in human years. Not so young after all.
It was mind-boggling to see a pony of this age still at work. Maybe I should have called the pony Sir Mocha instead.
I followed Nakahara and the veteran pony to an outdoor arena about the size of a soccer field.
Walk it out
Holding the reins at a point close to Mocha’s muzzle, the lesson commenced with a side-by-side pony walk to warm up. It was supposed to be a pretty simple task to start, but I was surprised to see that Mocha’s walking pace was faster than mine. It was even a little bit of a struggle to keep up without stepping on his hooves.
Though I was tempted to look down to avoid stepping on the old pony, Nakahara said I should continue to look ahead. I felt awkward at first, but after several meters we reached a smooth pace. The veteran pony surely knew how to work with a beginner like me.
Howdy, cowboy!
After we accomplished a successful walk, it was time to mount the pony. Mocha is rather on the big side for a pony, so this part required a stepstool.
Height-wise, being on Mocha’s back was not much different from being on a standard horse.
Holding the reins in my hand, I tried to give the pony a cue by gently kicking his stomach with my heels, but the pony did not respond at all.
“You can do it more strongly,” Nakahara chimed in.
I hated causing any pain to the old pony, but there was no choice. Fortunately, Mocha began walking after my second kick, making me feel a bit like a cowboy in a western.
Once I started feeling a little more comfortable on the pony’s back, I released the reins while Mocha walked in circles. Following Nakahara’s lead, I threw my hands up, spread my arms, or stretched them forward. At one point, my back almost cramped as I struggled to keep my balance on the saddle. Fortunately, the exercise ended before that happened.
The highlight of the lesson came when I tried “posting trot,” a rhythmic riding technique where I was supposed to repeatedly sit up and down on the pony’s back while it was trotting.
At first, I did not understand why a rider would do such a move and had a hard time figuring out the timing for sitting and rising. I was often out of synch with Mocha, almost throwing myself off his back.
Once I was in tune with the pony’s rhythm, however, it all made sense. It even felt like I was meant to do so to be one with the gentle giant.
At the end of the lesson, once again, Mocha and I took a slow turn about the field. Just 30 minutes prior, my body had been stiff and I felt chilly, but now I was an easy rider.
‘Horse first’
On our last loop, Mocha stopped suddenly, refusing to restart. I was worried I might have done something wrong, but Nakahara said the pony probably wanted to enjoy the sunshine that was peeking through the previously cloud-covered sky.
Nakahara said the club’s policy is “horse first” and the club’s instructors require their students to understand that unexpected things, like sudden stops for loud noise or movements that can cause riders to fall, may occur.
“[Mocha] understands words. He understands instructions such as ‘walk’ and ‘trot.’ He has emotions and sometimes gets mad at me when his ears are turned back,” Nakahara said. She continued, explaining that she didn’t want to put too much burden on the old pony and wanted him to live a long life.
Back at the stable, Nakahara handed me three pieces of kokuto brown sugar treats for Mocha. These are a reward for a good run with a beginner cowboy like me.
As I watched the pony chomp on the Okinawan sweets, my heart melted.
Things to know
GPS Coordinates: 26.407170, 127.837062
Hours: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. (last admission at 4 p.m.) *Closed Tuesdays *Reservation through LINE app required a week in advance for horseback riding experience and pony ride. *Depending on the day, English-speaking instructor is available.
Fees:
Pony ride (10 minutes) costs 1,100 yen (approx. $7) for those between 4 years of age and middle school age, 1,650 yen for high school age and above. Horseback/pony riding experience (30 minutes) costs 5,500 yen plus rental fees for helmet, body protector and chaps.
For Horseback/pony riding experience/lesson, English-speaking instructors will coach English speakers.
Prior to my horseback riding lesson, I stopped for lunch at Asia Spicy Curry House, a 10-minute drive from Mihara Horse Riding Club. It turned out to be a great decision, especially as I wanted to have energy for the strenuous activity I had next.
The lunch menu has a variety of curries, including standards like chicken and pork and elaborate ones like Baingan, mutton, spinach shrimp. The lunch sets are reasonably priced between 1,000 and 1,250 yen.
I selected the set with the curry of the day, soup, salad, naan or rice and a drink for 1,000 yen (about $6.37). That day’s special was egg curry. It had a nice spice, and I didn’t miss the chicken or shrimp I usually have with my curry. The set came with lentil soup and it was well-seasoned with a touch of sweetness I enjoyed a lot.
Asia Spice Curry House (Photo by Shoji Kudaka/Stripes Okinawa)
The restaurant’s freshly baked soft and chewy naan went very well with the spicy curry sauce.
I should point out that seconds of rice or Naan were available for free. Although I did not take advantage of it this time, next time, another piece of naan will be a no-brainer.
Things to know:
GPS Coordinates: 26.377878, 127.851292
Hours: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. (lunch) 5 - 10 p.m. (dinner)
