again she rides...

there was some reason, unknown to me, my horseloving daughter wanted nothing to do with riding lessons. i did not openly object to her, but discussed it with her instructor, and agreed that while she may not want to ride, it is best to keep her around horses. she loves them. she wants a future with them. why the aversion to riding? i don't know.

today was our first saturday at the barn. her favorite horse was being led out to the arena by someone else. she went to visit her other favorite horse, and we heard about a cancellation in the instructor's schedule.

i'd had the idea that perhaps even if they weren't formal lessons, my girl could just tack up and ride her favorite horse just for fun. why not? who says lessons have to be all seriousness. can't they just be fun?

so, my girl is leading the other horse to the barn for a wash and i suggest to her she ride her favorite horse but not for a lesson.

she says,

sure. sounds good.

and i ask the instructor if it can go down that way. she was grateful, a cancellation is no bueno for her.

so, we get an hour riding time, and let it begin with me up in the barn mucking stalls. and when i finally wind my way down to the arena, my girl is looking like she's having a blast.

when she had tacked up barney, she looked at him with this grin that was what i was waiting for. it was this relief, satisifaction type of look that i hadn't seen in quite some time.

she rode, and i took pictures, ever the dutiful mom (actually, i was just goofing around with my new phone and it works really well. i should upload those photos, but i'm too tired. maybe later).

so, she's riding again.

what a relief. i told her instructor,

i knew she wasn't done, but she had to know she wasn't done.

.
her instructor smiled and said,

i thought she'd need some time to get her sea legs back, but look at her, she's like an old pro.

.
my girl has aged. matured. three years have passed since she started riding. she looked like an older girl. it was nice to see. i'm grateful to have seen it.

all this fun, and i was a half hour late to work. my bad. too much fun with the horsies.

ah well...