Surfing Waves with Horses

Alternative Surf Craft

Anytime you show up at an "Alternative Surf Craft" session, you never know what's going to paddle past you. There I was, waiting to catch my next tasty barrel... I turn to my left and there's a horse! No, not the cowboy riding horse, a Caballito de Totora, which translated in English, means "little reed horse".  I'm not so sure where the little part came from either.

This traditional Peruvian watercraft, made from water grass-type reeds, is about 11 feet tall and over 60 pounds. For close to 3,000 years the, handmade Caballito de Totora has been used by Peruvian fisherman in order to navigate diverse waterways while collecting and transporting fish.

Even in modern times, these ancient crafts are still used daily in Huanchaco Beach, Peru by the fisherman.  Like a surfer, success depended upon "having complete knowledge of the waves and the ocean". Horse, handboard, paddleboard or surfboard, it's your choice! Just slyde into the wisdom of the water!