HORSEBACK RIDING ON ST. CROIX

See St. Croix from a whole different angle... atop a horse!!

(click on each image to enlarge)

If you like seeing new places, especially off the beaten path, grab your camera and cowboy hat because we have an adventure for you. Experience St. Croix's tropical forest from the inside-out, eat fruit right off the trees, and see the ocean from atop a breezy hillside. Paul Wojcie and Jill Hurd, owners and managers of St. Croix's oldest and finest horseback riding stable, invite you to explore a different side of St. Croix.

Paul and Jill's Equestrian Stable and Farm is located 1 1/2 miles north of Frederiksted, off Rte. 63, close to St. Croix's Tropical Forest. Both beginner and expert are welcome. Trails criss-cross the valley of the tropical forest, winding across country pastures, or through a forest of indigenous trees. Some culminate on green hilltops, revealing the town of Frederiksted, the blue Caribbean waters, and a myriad of intriguing plants and trees.

Just relax and hold on to the reins. Let Paul and Jill (and a horse, of course) do the rest. Reining, trotting, and cantering lessons are included for beginners. If you haven't tried horseback riding before, now is your chance.

Which was just my argument, last week, when I tried to convince a friend, who had never even petted a horse, to join me for an afternoon at Paul and Jill's. After some preliminary hemming and hawing, and a brief phone call, we were on our way to Frederiksted. Arriving at Paul and Jill's Equestrian Stable, the sweet smell of ripe fruit wafted through the car windows and awakened my senses. Wearing jeans, a t-shirt, and sneakers, we parked the car, grabbed our camera and headed for the farm house.

We showed up a little early to allow my friend to get comfortable with the horses, but no one appeared. Where was Jill? Where were the horses? Where was the barn for the horses? We were at the right place, weren't we? After a few moments of self-doubt, we spied Jill, like a pied piper, leading a herd of her "big babies" up the driveway toward us. Paul showed up moments later to help saddle and otherwise prepare our horses.

They explained to us that since the horses are not kept in a barn or stable, but rather kept free in a huge pasture, Jill has to go through the mission of locating, haltering, and then bringing the horses up to the saddle room where Paul helps to get them ready for riders.

Introductions were made, business was done, other riders arrived and we were set up to go. We mounted up, got comfortable with our steeds (mine was "Mr. Macgregor") and made our way, single file, into the lush rainforest.

Jill, a life long resident of St. Croix, has an encyclopedic knowledge of the local flora & fauna. She pointed out a Tamarind tree, whose fruit is used in steak sauce and other seasonings. We rode under a rain tree, whose massive canopy of photosensitive leaves fold up at night and on rainy days. She pointed out Almond trees, Mahogany trees, and humongous termite nests.

And so, for the next hour and a half, we covered 4 or 5 miles of God's green earth, arriving back at the house by some mysterious circumnavigation. The fun and learning didn't stop when the trails did; we would soon find out that plenty more awaited us. After dismounting our horses, we followed Jill for a walk through the orchard. As she guided us through, she explained the common name, local name, medicinal uses, as well as other uses of the fruits. We even got to taste them!

We sampled Sugar Apples, Sour Sop, Custard Apples, Bread Fruit, Papaya, and Golden Apples. If you like Mangos, you will like Ambarilla, or locally known as, the Golden Apple. When ripe, it has firm, sweet flesh with a bright orange outer skin and one large seed in the center. Guava, one of my favorites, is commonly used throughout the Caribbean in jams and jellies.

The Carambola, or Star Fruit, is sweet and delicious.

As our stroll concluded, we thanked Jill for a day which saturated each of our senses and expanded our appreciation of St. Croix.

Paul and Jill's Equestrian Stable and Farm does require a reservation, so please call ahead of time to reserve your space, and have fun! For more information, please contact Paul and Jill directly at (340) 772-2880 or visit their website at www.PaulAndJills.com.

Pain Killer is a medicinal tree whose leaves are used for their painkilling properties and the fruit, known as Noni, is a cure-all used in a tonic, known as Noni juice.

text by Leslie Hillyer, photos by Tom Rodenhaver for © gotostcroix.com