Get back on

Kelsea has gone a bit horse crazy - daily we hear about everything pony: what she wants to name one (Parmesan!), where it will live, what it will eat, when she'll start jumping, what gear she needs and so on. In supporting this interest we've been so grateful that my longtime friend Sheri welcomes us out to the barn on a weekly basis to ride and learn about horses. Kelsea started horseback riding at the beginning of the year and is doing quite well. She helps to groom and tack up, then rides on the leadline after I've warmed the horse up (and calmed it down). We started bareback until she got her balance, then added the saddle and then reins so that now she can walk, trot, hold the reins and has just started to learn to steer and stop. We talk about all of the body parts of the horse and how to communicate with them gently. She's learning so fast! Afterwards she helps to muck the stalls, clean the barn and get everyone fed for the night with an amazing, helpful attitude.

Tonight Kelsea fell off of a horse for the first time. We had talked before that this would happen at some point, it had happened to Mommy, and to Sheri, and it's why we wear helmets and ride with friends. Sometimes you get hurt, mostly it's surprising, and the best thing to do in most cases is to get right back on. Jordan was at a halt and spooked sideways as Kelsea was getting ready to dismount - Kelsea lost her balance and fell down bottom first, then onto her side. She stood right up, I asked her if she was hurt. No. Scared? Yes. After a moment she caught her breath and calmed down, so I asked her what she wanted to do next and "Get back on!" was her immediate reply. And so she did, riding for probably another fifteen minutes until she was ready to head back to the barn. Through this Jordan tossed her head, jumped sideways, and walked/jigged like she was getting ready to enter a race (Thanks to a brisk, cold wind and a neighbor putting strange cattle in a nearby pasture where they had never been before) and Kelsea sat calmly as could be, trying to talk to her in a soothing voice and tell her what a good girl she was.

I'm so proud of you tonight (as always) and blessed to get to share these times with you!

Love you Kelsea,

~Mommy