No Spills!

Well, I just had to write and let everyone know that I made it through my second riding lesson with NO FALLS!!!

HALLELUJAH!!

I came, I trotted, I stayed on.

It might not have been professional looking but I didn't eat dirt. I actually had a great time, gained a lot of confidence back and didn't get worn out during the one hour lesson... I was worn out by the time we got home, though!

Maybe in a few weeks I will have Lg video me and I MIGHT post it. Depends on how I look!!!

This should be me in a few weeks... okay, not really!!

Unscheduled Dismount

Yes, literally, I have a sore booty...

TMI?? Maybe, butt I have no idea why I feel like this story needs to precede all the other posts and I been telling myself I need to write. Posts like:

1) Dry River Fun with Grandma and Grandpa
2) Lauragale's Horse Show Appearance
3) Aaaahhhh, That Used Car Smell!

and most excitingly...

4) Our New Foster Child, "???".

Yes, out of all those enticing options, I have chosen to write a few lines about my sore rear!

"How did it happen?", you ask... Well, that is what you get when you hop on a horse for the first time in 22 years and think you can just ride that boy like you're 13 again!!

The long story is that I decided that it would be uber-cool to join my daughter in English riding lessons. Yes, it has been FOREVER since I was on a horse, but hey, you've gotta chase those lions!

Tuesday was my first lesson and I was not doing too darn bad if I do say so myself! I had good form, was keeping my heels down like a pro, hugging the horse with my legs and keeping good control of lazy Durango.

Since I was preforming like a pro, my trainer thought we just needed to go ahead and move on to a trot... I agreed! Well, my body did not!

I got overly confident, asked Durango to trot, leaned too far forward, lost my balance fairly quickly and began to take a header. Durango could feel me falling, so the sweet dear he is, he tried to help by stopping. That sent my whole body, head first, over his neck, into a FULL SOMERSAULT and onto the ground flat on my back.

I banged my head pretty good, butt I was wearing my pretty purple helmet. Therefore, my buttocks was the area that was throbbing the most. I swear I have MORE than enough padding to take a tumble from a full-grown Morgan, butt my black-n-blue flesh says differently.

Well, countless Advil, 5 ice packs and 1 trip to the chiropractor, and I am feeling a bit better. I think the worst part was having my 7 year old daughter witness the graceless accident, not to mention having to put up with the repetitive chuckles from my oh-so-coordinated, NOT, husband. He is joking to anyone who will listen that it would be safer and more affordable for me to move on to Sit and be Fit lessons and leave Durango and Lauragale in the dust.



I left them in the dust alright... the dust that was thrown up when my booty hit the ground Tuesday. Butt like they say you should, I did get back on the horse! Only to fall off again during my graceful dismount at the end of the lesson.

Did I mention that I DID look cute in my outfit with coordinating lilac saddle pad? Well, I did.

Saturday at the GO Show

I know it's Sunday but I am writing about Saturday anyway!

Yesterday we decided to go by the fairgrounds and watch some of the GO Spring Horse Show. We thought Lauragale would enjoy watching some older kids and adults participating in the Hunter and Jumper divisions at the show. It was such a nice day to be out and we cracked-ourselves-up at how ignorant we were of the show circuit!! We were actually sitting in the stands during the jumper competitions using Curt's cell phone to Google all the different terms we didn't understand and trying to answer all our questions about the competition that we were ignorant of.

I tell you, this is a learning process... and an intimidating one at that! Just going through the barn and admiring all the beautiful horses was intimidating... as we made our way from one end of the barn to the other, we were noticing all the tack and other paraphernalia that is needed to care for and show a horse. I am pretty sure I was walking around with my bottom jaw dragging the ground.
Curt and I were still trying to get past the price that will need to be paid just to keep a horse, then we were struck by all the other costs that go along. Needless to say, using a school horse as LONG as possible is our top priority!! I think we can make it a few more years without that investment. I don't know about Curt, but I need to know that Lg will love that equine more than anything else that breathes and is LOVING riding about as much as breathing!! haha Anybody want to be her Sponsor????

Update on the foster-care thing: Curt and I are excited! We start our 9 weeks of required Wednesday classes next week (May 7th). No in-home study yet, but that is ok. We have some safety-proofing to do and we need to start working on the bedroom for the new addition to the fam. I will keep updating as it is necessary.

PS Ok, while we were at the park for Lg's pictures, Noah fell in a mud puddle and soaked his clothes. Here is a picture of him on our drive home. Enjoy!!

Horse Show

Just call me CRAZY LADY!!! I am posting TWICE in one day!! Don't get used to it, it will probably never happen again!

Just wanted to brag about my first-born, Lauragale. Since September she has been taking English-Saddle riding lessons. She LOVES it and this weekend was her first "competition". (Now bear with me, we have only been in the horse community for about 7 months now, so we are still learning the ropes.) Well, Saturday was a school show hosted by the stables where she takes lessons. It was the perfect show to be her first. She was familiar with the arena and the people and it was really casual and low key.

Now don't call me a bad mom, but I was not able to be at the show because I had already committed to helping at our church's women's retreat on the same day. Fortunately, Lauragale could really care less. My parents and my sis, along with her hubby and my TOTALLY ADORABLE niece were there to cheer her on with Curt and Noah so she was pretty much in heaven...

She competed in two divisions, Equitation (judging her) and Under Saddle (judging her horse). They are both "flat" classes so she never left the ground! Jumping can wait until the second show! She was supposed to be in the "Short Stirrup" division (younger kiddos) but for some unknown reason she ended up in "Long Stirrup"... sooooooo, her competiton was a 10 year old, two 16 year olds and a 40 year old!! Welllllll, the girl was amazing! (proud momma talk) She came in fifth in Under Saddle (the horse was too feisty, Curt said.. yeah, it's Tony's fault!) but made THIRD in Equitation!!!

I was sitting at the retreat recieving text, picture and video messages just BEAMING!!!!!!! But you know, no matter how she did, I knew she was having so much fun and I was sooooo proud of her hard work and effort! Love you Lg!

Bragging now over...