I Made A Girls Day!

Last Saturday our friend J, brought his 6 yr old daughter A, and his girlfriend B, with her 4 yr old son little B over for a pony ride! We had been planning this day since October, but with me being gone for 2 months out of the last 5 months and our never ending rain, it just hasn't worked out. The weather report for last Saturday was to be sunny and in the mid 50's so we gave it a go. They arrived around 12:00 and the kids ate their lunch on the back patio while I went to get Brandy. I groomed and saddled her then we headed up to the arena.

I lunged Brandy first. Wow. She was full of it! She just wanted to run full speed and she was bucking like crazy, which is normal for her. She loves to buck on the lunge line! I had to tell the kids that this was normal, I didn't want them to get scared and not want to ride! I then jumped on Brandy for about 10 minutes to make sure her head was in the right place. She hasn't been ridden since September, so I wanted to make sure before I put a 6 yr old on her, even though I would only be leading A around. Once I knew Brandy was in the right frame of mind, I put A up on Brandy. While I was leading her around the arena, I asked her if she had ever ridden a horse. She said she had only been on pony rides at the fair. So this was the first time she had been on a "big" horse and a "white" horse too (her words)! Kids are so cute! I asked A if she wanted to trot, and she said "NO!" so we continued walking. I showed her how to turn and stop Brandy and I had her do it so she could see how we control a horse. Then as we were walking A says "Ok, I want to go faster now!". So I told her to hold on tight and I had Brandy trot. She loved it! She wanted to go faster, but I was getting tired running next to them! After about 20 minutes, I had B's son, little B come into the arena. I put him up with A on Brandy. I led them around at the walk then we trotted a little too. He was loving it! I took little B off, and A's dad J got on with his daughter. I led them around. J has never been on a horse, and he had told me awhile ago that he would never get on one. Well, he did!

I didn't think I was ever going to get A off of Brandy. I told A that Brandy was out of shape and tired so we needed to put her away. She wanted to ride Brandy back to the house, so I led her back. She was smiling from ear to ear the entire time. I told her that this summer when the weather is nicer, that she can come back out and ride again. She did really good and looked like a natural on a horse!! B took a ton of pictures so they can put a scrapbook together for A. Hopefully it will be something that she will remember forever. I know that before I got my own pony, anytime someone put me on a horse and led me around, I still remember that.

It is so rewarding to make a little girls dream come true, and to see the excitement and joy from one horseback ride!