[Gocamino] Horses from le puy

[Rebekah Scott]

There's a full-blown guidebook available to riding the Camino, complete with lists of blacksmiths, farms, and the difficult bits for horses, available here: http://www.elcaminoacaballo.com/.. The English version is on the right side of the image. 
   
  I rode a long section of the Via de la Plata in 1997 with an outfitter from Avila. It was extremely strenuous; I am a seasoned rider but I think I'd have been less tired had I walked it myself!  Definitely not for beginning riders or someone out for a fun little holiday; also the horse needs to be bomb-proof calm and in good shape to take on the long hard hike; it also must be hobble-trained, as some hostels require hobbles. I would think twice about going over and purchasing a horse at the start, although this is often done with donkeys.  
  (oats are not required in summertime, but an animal taking on such a difficult trip benefits from some grain feed in addition to graze/hay every day; getting him enough water in summer can be a real consideration, esp. up in the mountains where water gets short.) 
   
  When I was hospitalera at Rabanal in 2003 we hosted horses and several donkeys, and even a couple of traveling goats.(and a few two-legged asses too!) One little group of donkey-packers said they bought their donkey in Perpignan at a livestock sale and just walked from there. They did have some trouble finding animal hospitality in cities; they had to skirt Burgos entirely for lack of a place to stable. Logistics on this kind of trip can be a nightmare as things are constantly changing, but everybody adores four-legged pilgrims and villagers often go out of their way to find places for you and your animals to stay.   
   I know there's a "pilgrimage by horseback" outfitter near Santiago that takes care of everything, but the ride's not long enough to qualify for a Compostela. 
   
  Vaya con caballos!
  Rebekah  


Rebekah Scott, periodista
Westmoreland County bureau
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette USA
		
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