Horsies

Today was Kara's first day of horse riding lessons.  We are blessed to have many places around here to choose from.  It was narrowed down to two places, equal distance from my house (20 mintues), and similar in price.  The one place was more about the riding lessons and ribbons and jumping and all the formality of doing it perfectly.  The other place is more about just being a farm, hanging out with the animals, learning about horses, and oh yeah, riding them too.  Ding ding ding!  We have a winner.  So we went out and got boots with a heel:

These boots are made for walkin'.....

 Ready with her helmet 

 (see how little the pony is?)

Over to the "mounting block" to have help up on those large animals

 The instructor, who is fantastic, helped her feet in the stirrups

 Ready, set, go!

 Pose for mommy!

 She's doing it!

 Cheese!!!!!

 They went round and round in a circle while Kara got experience on a horse, holding the reins.

 All the while they talked about horse vocabulary and practiced learning to stop the horse by pulling the reins.  Everyone knows that's what you do, but how many of us have gotten to do it?  So cool!

 After they rode, they explained the importance of cleaning the dirt and sweat off the horses when they're done (so they don't get saddle sores)

 Kara's turn.  She couldn't brush the horses hard enough to help at all, but that's what practice is for.  :-)

 Oh yeah, her pony's name is Strudel.

At the end, Kara got to take Strudel back to her home (she's so little, she lives with the donkies) and give her a treat

Kara is in love with Strudel, wants to ride horses every day, and thinks her instructor is SO COOL.  She wanted to text her all the way home.  lol!  I didn't have her number, so we couldn't, but I'm happy to hear she loved her.

Like I said, we're not trying to turn into a family who owns a horse and competes or anything, we just want to be around animals.  :-)