animal kingdom

an appointment

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Emma had another riding lesson this morning. She’s been taking lessons sporadically this summer from my cousin. It is the perfect opportunity for Emma to get a taste of riding from a cousin with whom she’s enamored. (I know so, after a lengthy love letter emma wrote to her this morning before the lesson). I knew this week’s lesson would be a little better than the others because yesterday Emma told me that she was going to walk and trot by herself without anyone walking her.

That’s how Emma operates. Everything proceeds on her own time, at her own pace. Like swimming. I couldn’t get her to wade past her waist at the beginning of the summer and now she’s doing cannonballs off the diving board without any flotation devices. But each step was her decision. She rarely responds to any prodding by her mother or father.

So this week, she rode most of the lesson alone. At least that was the report. I was asked to leave her by herself at lessons this week. "Mommy, could you do some errands while I ride this time?" So Mary and I left and wandered aimlessly around the grocery store–milk, some yogurt, cream cheese…obviously we didn’t make it past the dairy case.

We got back in time for me to catch a quick shot of my ‘rider’, riding all by herself, with no one leading her and heading back to the barn to un-tack, brush the horses and hand out much earned carrots to a lot of soft noses standing around the barn.

Thanks Lia, for a wonderful morning lesson. Thanks Vanity, for being such an old softie that you do exactly what you’re told and let a four year-old think she’s in complete control.

P1010006_2

P1010001_2

Emma had another riding lesson this morning. She’s been taking lessons sporadically this summer from my cousin. It is the perfect opportunity for Emma to get a taste of riding from a cousin with whom she’s enamored. (I know so, after a lengthy love letter emma wrote to her this morning before the lesson). I knew this week’s lesson would be a little better than the others because yesterday Emma told me that she was going to walk and trot by herself without anyone walking her.

That’s how Emma operates. Everything proceeds on her own time, at her own pace. Like swimming. I couldn’t get her to wade past her waist at the beginning of the summer and now she’s doing cannonballs off the diving board without any flotation devices. But each step was her decision. She rarely responds to any prodding by her mother or father.

So this week, she rode most of the lesson alone. At least that was the report. I was asked to leave her by herself at lessons this week. "Mommy, could you do some errands while I ride this time?" So Mary and I left and wandered aimlessly around the grocery store–milk, some yogurt, cream cheese…obviously we didn’t make it past the dairy case.

We got back in time for me to catch a quick shot of my ‘rider’, riding all by herself, with no one leading her and heading back to the barn to un-tack, brush the horses and hand out much earned carrots to a lot of soft noses standing around the barn.

Thanks Lia, for a wonderful morning lesson. Thanks Vanity, for being such an old softie that you do exactly what you’re told and let a four year-old think she’s in complete control.

19 comments on “an appointment”

  1. Man, I don’t even like horses, but that is one cute picture! One of my daughter’s favorite toys is a stuffed horse, and I’m afraid she might be a horse girl. Horses like to try to scrape me off on trees.

  2. That’s a great experience! My son is the same way, it’s on his schedule or not at all, doesn’t matter what mom or dad say. At least when he decides to do something himself, he’s all into it. I’ve been trying to get him to ride the ponies at the county fair, but so far it’s been a no-go.

  3. My 5 yr old daughter is peering over my shoulder. Here are her comments:

    Oh! Riding!

    (riding lessons start Thurs week at our house)

    How old is that girl? She’s pretty!

    She has a cute little sister! (pillowcase dress picture)

    She is brave! (jumping off the diving board)

    I wanted to tell you that this co, in Dothan AL, has a great reputation for quick shipping and has the kids’ riding kid (paddock boots, jods, hard hat and gloves) for $80, which is allegedly a great price.

  4. what a cute picture, Emma would be so jealous of your emma riding, she really wants to, but I don’t see it happening anytime soon. Ian operates the same way as your Emma, always has. When he’s ready, he’s ready, and there’s no getting him there any other way, it has to be his idea.

  5. Learning at your own pace is the best way to learn – I think your little girl has got quite a bit of wisdom about the matter. : )

  6. Cute picture,She looks very proud of herself.My daughter would love to have a cousin that could teach lessons, one of her Aunt & Uncles owns a horse but the just recently got him and the moms a little afraid of it herself so riding him is far and few. But we have rented almost every horse movie, know the horse section at the library and when we went to fair this year, a hour or so on rides and the rest was sitting watching the 4-H girls with the horse shows. We have the land and barn, even the previous owns left the grooming accessories for a horse, now all she needs is to keep adding to here horse bank account and a few more years…that shovel to heavy for a 7 year old to lift every week..LOL

  7. She looks so proud and much older than 4 too! That’s great that she’s learning to ride and especially be taught by someone she adores. Very sweet. 😎

  8. Wow she looks so confident. I started riding at 4 but now I have a child of my own I can’t believe it. Sadly my Son won’t go near a horse which is kind of hard for a horse loving Mum. As you say they do things on their own terms or not at all.

  9. She won’t take any prodding from “beloved 10 yr. old aunt Margaret” (aka. me)either. But she does love to ride!

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