The Hurricane Horses

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October 31st, 2016
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St. Maarten is a beautiful island tucked away in the Caribbean about 300 miles from Miami. It is owned by two different countries, France and the Netherlands.

During my two years there as a journalist, I had the opportunity to explore and enjoy the tropical paradise. I played poker and dined in gambling casinos, I cavorted in the ocean next to giant manta rays and dolphins, and I went horseback riding in the surf on the island's hurricane horses.

The horses were owned by the Lucky Stable operated by a charming Dutch couple. Here is the story they told me about how the horses won that nickname.

A hurricane was building up to the east of St. Maarten. All the merchants took precautions to protect their property from the powerful winds and rain. The stable owners did what they could to protect their office and corrals, then they freed the horses, figuring their chances of survival would be greater if they were on their own.

I learned about the Lucky Stable shortly after arriving on St. Maarten from St. Kitts and Nevis where I had been working until my government work permit expired. The Hollywood Casino is located on a hill above the stables.

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I was playing poker there one evening when my friend Jack Parker, who owns Peg Leg Pete's restaurant on the island, said to me, "You like horseback riding, don't you?' I assured him that I did. Jack was a transplant to St. Maarten from Scottsdale, AZ. where he had owned a restaurant.

He told me about the Lucky Stables and said I should visit the place.

'The owners have a story to tell," he said as he raised the pot. I called. "I think you'll enjoy them and they have some good horses to ride."

That Saturday I drove down to the Lucky Stables. As one of the wranglers saddled up my horse, she told me more about the hurricane horses. The hurricane struck the island and did a lot of damage, but most of the horses survived. After the winds left, the owner and his help began rounding up their horses. They found most of them, but not all. The remaining horses stayed in the hills and became wild. Mares conceived foals and the horses remained at large, eventually forming a herd of about 40 wild mustang horses that today live on the island.

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That day as we were riding, we found some of the horses. They stayed a safe distance from us.

The owner said, "I try to keep them well fed by furnishing them with water and hay. They come to the sites where I leave the provisions, but they'll run away if you try to approach them.'

After spotting the herd, we rode down to the ocean and our horses plunged into the water. It was a grand ride. As we came out of the surf, my horse suddenly rolled over in the sand, trapping my leg beneath it. I wasn't injured because of the soft sand, but I learned my lesson and kept my horse under control on future rides.

If you ever visit St. Maarten and you're a horseback rider, be sure to visit the Lucky Stables. Ask about the hurricane horses. It's a story worth hearing and experiencing.

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