Rancho Washikemba Bonaire owns 10 horses of several breeds, both mares and geldings. An introduction:
– Il Tigretto, a.k.a. Hank the Tank (1.72m), a Royal Dutch Sporthorse (KWPN) gelding, born in the Netherlands and dressage champion. The only Dutch and the biggest horse on Bonaire!
– Allwreckdup, a.k.a. Tango (1.63m), an American Thoroughbred gelding, born in Maryland USA, perfectly for dressage, jumping and trail riding.
– Blondy Studebaker (1.43m), a crossbred Paso Fino mare, born on Curacao with the gaits of a Paso Fino, the best trail horse.
– Marybell (1.43m), a Paso Fino mare, born on Bonaire, ridden English style in the arena.
– Scarlet (1.52m), an Arabian mare, born in the USA but lived for a long time on Curacao, in the arena perfect for dressage and jumping lessons, for the more experienced rider on trail rides.
– Blaze’s Joseph (1.68m), an American Thoroughbred gelding, born in Florida USA, perfect for dressage and trail riding.
– Poco Blonde Princess (1.58m), a Quarter Horse mare, born in Florida USA, trained western style, very sweet for (childrens) lessons and a very good trail horse.
– Lady (1.22m), a Welsh pony mare, born on Curacao, very sweet for little children.
– Sombra (1.44m), a Paso Fino gelding, born in Colombia, young and wild but very sweet and the best swimmer.
– Sophia First of July (1.45m), a Paso Fino mare, daughter of Marybell and born at our ranch, still growing up and learning (she is already more white then on this picture!)
Of course they are all healthy and tame and like their job carrying people!
Twice a day, we feed Ration Biks from Dommelsche Watermolen to our horses, as well as several products from grass drier Hartog, including mixed grass, lucerne and high-density grass, all imported from the Netherlands. The horses also get Dutch or Venezuelan meadow hay. Although there is a well with brackish water on our land, our horses only drink fresh water.
For your comfort, we equip the horses with an English or a western saddle and, dependent on the horse and on the rider’s experience, either a hackemore or a bit. Some of our horses wear metal horseshoes or leather hoofboots of Cavallo.