Yup, that's what I thought. This is what keeps you up at night, isn't it? Let me help you. Spoiler: Yes, you should definitely volunteer on a ranch in Chile.
- It's a new experience.Especially when you, like me, believe that you got this after 7 riding lessons.
- It keeps you fit. According to my calculations, one horse shits one wheel barrel per day. Imagine what your biceps could look like!
- You learn a lot. For example that one horse produces a wheel barrel full of poop every day.
- Your ass will get juicy. Nah, just joking. But it will feel like it is, since you barely rode horses before and now do it on the daily.
- You will get to know your limits. By working daily with animals that want to run from anything and at the same time having to make sure that neither you nor one of them dies.
- You get to try new sports. Not only is there poop shoveling, but downhill-bush-sprinting (remember: fucking instincts!), hiking (why do those animals always have to be on the far end of the paddock) and "carry-the-weekly-groceries-for-400-m-through-pure-mud" are also part of your daily business.
- Your immune system will become invincible. No matter if a horse bites you in the lower lip (not all of them like ear scratches), if you're attacked by a herd of wasps or if you simply decide (on day 2) that there's no point in washing your hands before eating.
- You get to see new places. In your (little) free time you not only get to catch up on your lack of sleep, you can also visit the same small town for the 7th time and then probably inevitably go on the ride with the tourists anyway.
- You meet friends for life. Until life on the ranch is over 6 weeks later.
- You learn Spanish. Chilean Spanish, that nobody else understands. And words like saddle, hoof pick and THOSEFUCKINGWASPS. But Spanish.
Bonus: Start saving. You'll want to return.
Booked your flight yet?
