Doña Isabel worked as a domestic servant in the big city of Santa Cruz for several years, before returning to the Cañón del Ingre to raise a family. Consequently, she speaks the best Spanish in Imi, and frequently helped me understand what was happening in the community. (I did pick up some Guaraní, but my accomplishment does not reflect my effort, and my efforts might have been greater if fewer people in Imi spoke Spanish.)

Her husband, Don Cruz, was the Imeño who was most interested in working with the horses. Most of the people in the community simply weren't very excited by the idea, and stuck to their azadones.

Crucito and I both started from near zero. I'd had a little training with an MCC worker in Ivo (Bolivia); he'd had some limited experience with oxen. I supplied the technical know-how, mostly from books; he supplied the enthusiasm, the persistence, and a magic touch with the caballitos. Together, we became pretty competent in all aspects of training and working with our horses, as well as taking care of them and the equipment.

The little guy at the bottom is Isabel and Crucito's son, Erasmo.