I had the best day today with my daughter

[oatmeal]

I don't know where this post goes, but we had just the most wonderful day today. The weather out here in Southern California couldn't be more perfect - dry clear sunny and 75F.

The horrible darkness of the holidays seems long gone.

I took dd with me out to see the horse I ride. I've had horses all my life until I got pg... being a single mother made it impossible to afford - but I advertised and found a woman who is too busy to ride her Thoroughbred - so I've been enjoying him for free for the past year. DD had ridden the little ponies at the farmer's market on her own a lot, but today was the first on the big horse - he's 17 hands or so. I put the western saddle on so she could hold the horn - and she did so great! She is a natural rider and I expect we will have a lot of fun with horses while she is growing up.

I took her in the ring and jumped in the saddle with her and we had a blast! It was like we didn't have a care in the world. She couldn't get over it and just keep laughing her head off and when it made her sound funny when we trotted she would laugh even harder. I felt so happy, it was just the best day ever. The lady who owns the stables told me people ride with their two year olds out on the trail all the time, tie them in the saddle then jump up behind them like I did and it's great. Next time we go out I'll take her out on the trail. I can't wait!

Plus the horse was so sweet with her. While we were getting him ready - dd was brushing his hooves because that's all she can reach - he would put his head down and smell her and she would just giggle with glee and look into his big nostrils. It was great.

[PuppyFluffer]

How awesome! That sounds like so much fun. What a beautiful day!!!

[village idiot]

Sounds like a perfect day! :thumb

[Mom4tot]

What a nice day...one you both enjoyed. I am so glad you are feeling better :)

[dallaschildren]

Sounds like something out of a movie...I'm jealous!!! I LOVE horses. You are making some wonderful memories for you two to share and that is priceless! Beautiful, just beautiful!:love

[momto l&a]

I am jealous!

We used to have 7 donkeys that we drove road and packed but about 2 years ago I sold them:crying because we just couldnt use them like we used to . Well a friend of mine started buying a few and has me come and help her train very week well she went and bought this french donkey and this family had a donkey they gave to us. So we are back in donkeys. Our girls just love to ride which I really think is important for them to have a hobby to help keep them out of trouble in their teen years.

[oatmeal]

Originally posted by momto l&a
I am jealous!
Our girls just love to ride which I really think is important for them to have a hobby to help keep them out of trouble in their teen years.

yeah momto - when we were driving home and she was peacefully snoozing in the back seat this afternoon I thought of that too. Riding is something she can do instead of all the rank stuff I hear about teenagers getting into these days, plus we can bond while we ride and talk about stuff. I saw this thing on 20/20 the other night about teenagers od - ing on this cold medicine Coricidin and I really vowed to keep dd out of that kind of thing hopefully for as long as it takes for her to mature enough to know how dumb it is.

Good point.

[rachdoll]

Sounds like such a perfect day! Reminds me of how much I loved riding as a kid. I'll have to call the stables around here and see what they charge . . .

[XM]

nak... what a great day... i sold my quarter horse when i left home 8 years ago and i still miss him. maybe once ds gets bigger i can find the time to ride...

i have to ask, though... wouldn't it be safer to secure dd to you then to the saddle? if you came off (either a fall or emergency dismount) she'd still be in the saddle, and that would be very bad if the horse bolted...

what an awesome thing to share with your dd... horses... *sigh*

[ja mama]

I am so jealous of your abitlity to enjoy it with abandon. I have a very close friend who owns a horse ranch (30 stalls). I've only been there once and I was so scared the whole time that the horse would step on ds's toes, that the horse would kick him, that ds would fall out of the saddle, that the horse would bite his little fingers as he tried to give the horse a treat..... I was aware at the time how uptight I was coming across to my boys, but I couldn't help it. And I rode horses in middle school and high school. I'm so glad you were able to share the enjoyment with your daughter. Write it in her babybook, you'll remember it forever.

[Viola]

:thumb Yay, that is wonderful, especially after the bleakness of the holidays.

[DaryLLL]

How smart of you to figure out how to ride a horse for free!

[Queen Gwen]

:thumb

[oatmeal]

Originally posted by DaryLLL
How smart of you to figure out how to ride a horse for free!

craigslist has blessed me more than once in this way.

Ja mama - many people are terrified of horses - the woman whose husband owns the place where my horse boards is terrified of them and she lives with them. There was another lady there yesterday who has the prettiest nicest mare and she can't ride outside of the ring becsue she's too scared - and this place is next to the most stunning park land with miles of trails...

I've been riding since I was about 4 or 5. Also, I've already been riding this particular horse for a year before dd ever met him, so I know him like Red knew Seabiscuit. That's why I can be confident in her being so close to him.

It's wise to be very careful with your kids aorund a horse or horses you don't know. It's also good to let kids get to know an animal. in childhood there is little else more precious than that. We took our dogs out for a run/walk last night after dinner and she was absolutely heartbroken when we had to come inside. She loves her animals so much! They really make her little spirit soar.

[tnrsmom]

Moving this to Parenting Issues.:hippie

[oatmeal]

Originally posted by DaryLLL
How smart of you to figure out how to ride a horse for free!

craigslist has blessed me more than once in this way.

Ja mama - many people are terrified of horses - the woman whose husband owns the place where my horse boards is terrified of them and she lives with them. There was another lady there yesterday who has the prettiest nicest mare and she can't ride outside of the ring becsue she's too scared - and this place is next to the most stunning park land with miles of trails...

I've been riding since I was about 4 or 5. Also, I've already been riding this particular horse for a year before dd ever met him, so I know him like Red knew Seabiscuit. That's why I can be confident in her being so close to him.

It's wise to be very careful with your kids aorund a horse or horses you don't know. It's also good to let kids get to know an animal. in childhood there is little else more precious than that. We took our dogs out for a run/walk last night after dinner and she was absolutely heartbroken when we had to come inside. She loves her animals so much! They really make her little spirit soar.

[Nicke]

Sounds like a wonderful day! And I am so happy to "hear" you are in better spirits. :)

[Piglet68]

It's lovely to hear such an upbeat post from you, oatmeal.

I rode extensively before having DD. I know very well how incredible a day at the stable can make me feel, even at my lowest. I am so looking forward to riding with my DD one day.

[And, not to be a nag but....I sure hope your DD wears an ASTM approved safety helmet (http://www.horse-sense.org/archives/2000063.phtml) when she rides! No horse is unpredictable!]