Back in the Saddle.....

I think I came into this world with a love for horses. For as long as I can remember I have been infatuated with them. I was one of those little girls who had a small collection of plastic play horses and several books about horses. I even remember going to a place called Bit and Spur Riding Camp when I was about 9 years old. I STILL have the little t-shirt I got from that week at camp, the horse books and my plastic horses. My love for horses was rekindled when I attended Judson College. They have an equine (horse) science program there also. I began taking riding lessons as a sophomore and by the time I had graduated I had competed in several local shows and won several ribbons....which I also still have. I'm not bragging, I'm just saying. I actually graduated with a minor in equine science. Not that I was going to use it, but you just never know.

Today we were invited by friends to visit them at the barn while their girls were riding. You know I was all over that, as well as my kids. The little princess said, "I like horses mommy because you rode them." So we spent a couple of hours at the barn watching our friends' ride and after their lesson they gave the kids an opportunity to ride. After each of them took a couple of turns riding, we walked around the barn and looked at all the horses. We even got a biology lesson when one of the horses relieved himself while we were standing beside him. The princess ducked and looked under the horse and said, "eeeewwwww, what's he doing?" Nice. Thanks Mr. Ed, your timing couldn't have been any better. And the son got a HUGE 3rd grade boy kick out of the horse pooting loudly while running around in the pasture. Fabulous. That will be lunchroom conversation tomorrow. Guaranteed.

Of course, now the princess has her mind set on riding horses like mommy did. We'll see what Dave Ramsey has to say about that!

Here's a few photos of our fun day at the barn and a bonus video of the princess riding.



She coordinated her t-shirt just for the occasion:


My new friend Gus, the dalmatian that thinks he's a chihuahua:


First time alone on a horse and she refused to walk, she insisted on trotting!