About Caribe Horse
Caribe Horse has been operating since 2007, built on ethical horseback riding in Costa Rica, professional expertise and a genuine commitment to horse welfare.
We are a family-run project built on more than 40 years of experience, combining structured academic education in Europe with hands-on technical knowledge in equine behavior, Natural Horsemanship, communication and care, all grounded in scientific and pedagogical principles.
We're the only project in the area with a dedicated physical structure for managing, caring for and rehabilitating horses, which lets us keep consistent standards in welfare, training and daily management. Every horse gets the attention, space and care its physical and psychological well-being needs.
Our four-legged friends are rescued horses who came from neglect or mistreatment. At Caribe Horse they're part of our family and partners in this project, and our work restores their balance, dignity and quality of life through long-term care, including for those who are retired or no longer able to take part in activities.
Our ethical horseback riding experiences in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica are for people who want more than a simple tour. Every ride is guided by professionals and built on respect, communication and a real understanding of the horse, a safe and honest way to explore the Caribbean beaches and rainforest.
In addition to our tours, we offer horseback riding lessons based on communication, balance and correct interaction with the horse, always adapted to the level and needs of each rider.
The tropical environment of the Caribbean coast makes proper horse care particularly complex and demanding. High-quality nutrition, veterinary care and specialized equipment require constant investment and management. For this reason, our tours and the support we receive are essential to sustain the welfare of our horses.
Our commitment goes beyond our own herd. We actively support horses in difficulty in the local community: guidance, assistance and, when needed, direct help like food, basic veterinary care and practical support. Every tour and every contribution helps us look after the horses who live with us and extend that support to others who need it.
Alongside our tours, we are developing educational programs, clinics and volunteering opportunities focused on ethical horsemanship and horse-human communication, always grounded in professionalism and respect.
Recognized by TripAdvisor's Travelers' Choice and named a Zicasso Top Travel Specialist, Caribe Horse has built its reputation on the quality of its experiences and the care its team gives every horse.
Our approach combines European academic education, equine psychology, Natural Horsemanship and more than 40 years of practical experience, always adapted to the individual needs of each horse.
Oriana & Jimmy
The two people who run Caribe Horse day to day.
Oriana
Co-founder
Oriana co-founded Caribe Horse and has worked with horses for more than 40 years. Her background combines structured academic education in Europe with a lifetime of practical experience: she holds a university degree in psychopedagogy and has worked extensively in education, behavioral processes and animal-assisted approaches. She has also trained and practiced in veterinary medicine, which grounds her day-to-day understanding of each horse's health and welfare. Her riding is shaped by classical European equestrian culture, particularly the teachings of Caprilli and Oliveira, and by a deep understanding of equine behavior, learning and emotional balance drawn from scientific and psychological principles. At Caribe Horse, she leads ethical horseback riding experiences in Puerto Viejo built on trust, communication and respect between horse and rider, a different starting point from a conventional riding tour. Much of her work centers on rehabilitating rescued horses, many of whom arrive with a difficult past, and helping them find their physical and psychological balance again. She's also behind Caribe Horse's equine education, volunteering and clinic work on horse-human communication.
Jimmy
Co-founder
Jimmy is co-founder of Caribe Horse and a Costa Rican native, born and raised on the Caribbean coast, with a lifelong connection to nature and deep knowledge of the local environment. He played football at a competitive level before building solid experience in tourism, where he came to understand what visitors need and expect. His Afro-Caribbean heritage shapes everything he shares with guests: the area's natural beauty, its history, its traditions and its local way of life. At Caribe Horse, Jimmy pairs his knowledge of the territory with a growing expertise in horse handling and training. He has trained in natural horsemanship and keeps developing his skills around communication, respect and horse welfare. He leads the riding experiences himself, guiding guests through the beaches and rainforest of Puerto Viejo in a way that stays genuinely connected to nature.
Our welfare philosophy
At Caribe Horse, our four-legged friends are not tools for an activity, but partners, individuals and part of our family. Each horse has a unique identity, personality and history that deserves to be respected, understood and protected.
Many of our rescued horses come from backgrounds where their ability to express themselves, communicate and be understood was suppressed through coercive and incorrect training systems. For us, the first step is to restore their confidence and allow them to rediscover their voice, their needs and their natural behavior.
Our approach is based on structured academic knowledge: psychopedagogy, equine behavior and principles rooted in classical European horsemanship. We work with communication, learning processes and emotional balance, using methods grounded in scientific understanding rather than empirical or force-based techniques.
The relationship with our horses is built on trust, clarity and mutual respect. They do not work for us, we work together with them, as partners in a shared project. Every activity is carefully managed to ensure balance between physical effort, rest and psychological well-being, always respecting the limits and needs of each individual horse.
Our horses live in conditions that allow freedom of movement, social interaction and protection from the tropical environment. Daily care includes proper nutrition, veterinary support, hoof care, and continuous observation of their physical and emotional state.
Some of our horses, because of age or past conditions, no longer take part in activities. They live freely under our full care, with everything they need for a peaceful, dignified life.
Our commitment extends beyond our own horses. We actively support the local community by sharing knowledge, offering guidance and, when needed, providing basic veterinary support and essential resources to improve the welfare of other horses in the area.
Our ethical horseback riding experiences in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica are designed to respect both our horses and the environment. Riding is a low-impact way to connect with nature, and gives a closer, more honest look at the Caribbean landscape and culture.
At Caribe Horse, every tour and every contribution becomes part of this mission. By joining us or supporting the project, you actively participate in improving the lives of our horses and helping us extend this work to others in need.
Our horses
At Caribe Horse, our rescued horses are not just part of the project, they are our family and our true partners. Each one of them comes from a past that required care, attention and a second chance. Today, they are co-partners in everything we do.
Our ethical horseback riding experiences in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica are designed with one clear purpose: to sustain their well-being. Every tour directly supports their daily care, nutrition, rehabilitation and long-term protection, especially for those who can no longer participate in activities and live peacefully under our full care.
We currently care for a group of rescued horses of different ages and backgrounds. Each horse is treated as an individual, with specific needs, limits and rhythms. For this reason, we assign different weight limits and working conditions to each one, always prioritizing their physical and psychological balance.
Those who are older, more sensitive or with more complex past experiences live freely in our protected space, where they receive continuous care, respect and a peaceful environment.
Our work goes beyond our own horses. We actively collaborate with the local community, offering support, guidance and practical help to improve the living conditions of other horses in the area. This may include sharing knowledge, assisting owners, providing basic veterinary support and, when needed, contributing directly with food and essential resources.
That's why both joining a tour and giving external support matter: our tours cover the horses' daily needs, and extra support lets us reach more horses and people who need help.
At Caribe Horse, every experience is built on respect, responsibility and a real commitment to our horses' future.