Stuck in "Limbo"...Turks and Caicos

The back of my horse "Limbo's" head...swimming in the ocean in Provo, Turks and Caicos

I can still summon to mind the exact moment that I discovered that in Turks and Caicos, you can take a horse for a quick jaunt into the Caribbean Sea. Pure ELATION would be the best description for my response. Suddenly my obsession with meeting the swimming pigs in the Exuma Cays, (Bahamas) had been surpassed by this novel idea.

Swimming pigs in the Bahamas...courtesy of telegraph.co.uk

Since we were planning on having our wedding on the island in May I began planning our itinerary...first on the list: Provo Ponies!

After tallying up the list of friends who would be willing to take the plunge with me I hopped onto the website and made our reservations. Yippee! Plans for the dream excursion were now in full swing.

Unreal beauty of the Provo waters

Nearly ten minutes after booking the deposit on my credit card one of my girlfriends sent me a text saying that she'd like to be taken off the list. She had just received an uber-negative review about another of our friend's past experience on one of these sweet little ponies.

"Nonsense!" I exclaimed. "Nothing can happen to you on a pony ride in the ocean. That's ridiculous. Don't be such a chicken."

As the story goes, she decided to come along...and I got my wish....boy did I. Well, you know what they say...

A quick pose with my "Man of Honor" before my long-awaited fantasy ride

From the moment that I was paired up with my horse "Limbo" otherwise known as "Bossman" I knew that his name was no joke. As he began displaying major signs of unrest and what they called "excitement" I asked for a new horse...pretty please?...but my guide just assured me that he was "one of the best" and that I'd be "just fine".

The other girls getting prepped for the big event

"Oh wait...there are just a few things that we need to tell you about "Bossman" before we ride...he's kind of the leader and tends to get upset and will kick or bite if any of the other horses get too close. He also likes to be in front of the pack...just make sure that he gets what he wants and everything will be perfect."

The other sweet, calm, horses waiting to be mounted

Wait...what??!! Suddenly the happy visions dancing through my head became a terror-filled nightmare. I had never heard anything like this before. I'm BEGGING you to put me on a new horse!

"Oh no, not necessary at all. He's a wonderful horse. We put young children on him all of the time. Okay, everyone ready? Let's go! Giddyup!"

The butterflies in my stomach were turning into full-blown seagulls. I was absolutely certain that I was going to die...two days before my dream Caribbean wedding.

Everything...up until now...had been WAY too perfect. I now had a firm belief that this would be my ultimate demise.

As we traveled down the (excruciatingly long) dirt trail that had lead so many others to that oceanic escapade that I had once dreamed of...I became riddled with anxiety. The other horses kept coming too close to Bossman...and he did not like it.

Another added bonus was the stable dog that decided to embark upon the journey with us.

Alive and well...for now

It seems that this pooch had an insatiable lust for chasing cars...every car that would drive past us on this never-ending road. Each time this pup swerved in front of the car tires my stress levels went through the roof.

This fantasy joyride through the Caribbean Sea had become the expedition to hell.

I tried to convince myself that everything would be better if we could just reach the ocean. The open waters would enable us to have our space. Then we could float through the clear blue waters with no distractions from all of the other stallions and fillies.

Why is it taking SO LONG to get there? Will I survive long enough to make it?

Just when I thought my heart could take no more...thank you GOD...we spotted that almighty, boundless, and ethereal ocean! 

My saving grace...open waters!

As we plunged into the sea my fear began to melt away slowly. I could barely take in the beauty that was surrounding me.
I couldn't get my camera out of my fanny pack (yes we wore fanny packs for the ride) fast enough!

Smiling for the camera

But of course that couldn't last forever. Limbo made a quick decision to slip so deep into the ocean that he could barely touch down on the sand below. All of the others were sauntering through with only their calves submerged in the salty waters.

That's me with my arm up...disappearing into the deep blue

I on the other hand, was completely saturated almost waist high...wondering if my horse was going to make it out of this alive. He was panting, groaning, and making a loud choking sound. The guide assured me that THIS TOO was normal behavior for good old Limbo. Well, that's reassuring. At least he's not going to die today.

Great at faking it...taking a moment from my heart palpitations for another photo

When all was said and done I ended up with a boatload of gorgeous pictures. I guess it was worth it ;)

Yep...still sinking

Me on the far left...thinking "wouldn't it be nice to have a normal ride like the others"?