Pre-Veterinary & Equine Care Internship in Costa Rica

I spent three weeks at Rancho Ventura in July 2025 with my then 14-year-old niece, and we had a wonderful experience. The whole team—Chrissy and her husband Roberto, Carmen the cook, and the three grooms, Ramon, Rudi, and Lleyner—were fantastic. They made us feel very welcome from the moment we arrived and treated us like family throughout our stay.
The ranch is quite isolated, so without your own transportation there isn’t really anywhere to go on your own. However, Chrissy was very kind and took us to nearby towns, a beautiful waterfall, and a sugarcane farm. We also occasionally went out for meals, although we were more than happy to enjoy Carmen’s delicious home cooking at the ranch.
The peaceful, remote setting is actually part of the charm of Rancho Ventura, and the warmth and hospitality of the whole team made our three-week stay very special.
Our tasks mainly involved helping with the horses—feeding, grooming, and working with them. We also had the opportunity to attend classes with the vets, which was a great learning experience. One of the highlights was being able to observe a horse during an artificial insemination procedure.
Riding was limited to the arena, as the surrounding terrain is not particularly suitable for trail riding. Chrissy is an accomplished rider and gave us lessons in classical dressage and jumping. She was patient and encouraging, while always challenging us to improve and get the most out of each lesson.
I also want to highlight Chrissy’s strong commitment to the local community. She regularly invited children from the nearby orphanage to spend the day at the farm and also tutored children from the neighborhood. Her passion, generosity, and dedication to both the horses and the community are truly admirable.