Written to discoverpuntadeleste by Florence Sader

A country on horseback.

There are few things that give a sense of freedom similar to that of galloping down a deserted beach.

The horizon, the noise of the sea, the breath of the animal, the wind in the face and that feeling that the horse is an extension of yours, that one is a kind of centaur that flies light through the sand. Fortunately, Punta del Este is still one of those places in the world where one can ride, both on the beach, in the mountains or in the countryside.
The horse is not a luxury reserved only for a few, as it is in the big cities.

Just take a walk around Maldonado or San Carlos, to meet gauchos herding cattle, with their penguin and their faithful harrier, or entire families steeped on their way to a Criolla, all on horseback. Weekend riders or professional riders training their horses to enduro.
Horses like lawnmowers on wasteland. Horses that take children to their rural schools. Horses everywhere.

The horse and the beach are essential elements of Uruguayan identity. They define us as a country and a nation.
The two concepts united are a virtually irresistible combo. I recommend you try it, you will not regret it. In Punta del Este there are several places where you can rent horses. I highly recommend my friends of Haras Godiva in José Ignacio for an unforgettable experience. This equestrian center, owned by Carolin Mallmann, is rapidly becoming a national benchmark.
With a closed riding for dressage that has nothing to envy of first world, this equestrian club specializes in horseback riding on the beach and the countryside, riding lessons for children and adults and horse training.