Back in the Saddle

I have made it a tradition to give my daughter horseback riding lessons for her birthday each year.  We have come to look forward to spending time together around horses in a peaceful setting outside the busy city every spring.  This year her lessons were held at the same farm where we held her 7th birthday party. 

Horses running home for dinner sounds like rolling thunder.

Photo taken by the 7-year-old who sneaked off with my camera

We had not been there since because it was so far from our previous house.  We thought it would be closer to our new home, but it took me over an hour to drive there because I made the mistake of scheduling her lessons right after rush hour.  The traffic was horrendous, and my nerves were fried when we arrived for our first lesson, but there is just something about a horse farm that soothes my nerves (when I am able to tune out the odors and flies buzzing all around).  Perhaps scheduling a lesson during rush hour wasn't such a mistake after all because the sun set during her ride rendering a gorgeous painting on the canvas sky. 

Riding off into the sunset

It was so pretty, we scheduled her next lesson just a little bit later to miss at least some of the traffic while getting there in time to watch the sun set.  The sky was gorgeous then too.

Our son is the cutest farm hand ever!

 

Here are some photos from her spring riding sessions this year.

Off to fetch a horse after two failed attempts by farm hands, for horses can be feisty!

Without regular "pedicures", Elmer could go lame.

Good old Elmer - too old to make a fuss

The horse who likes to stick his tongue out at you.

Grooming Elmer

Setting up for her first ride in over a year

See ya later, partner!

Eat my dust!