Here i go...

Shrink time!

Giddyap!!

Horseback riding for Sam's 14th birthday!!

We had a great time riding this morning!  It's a beautiful fall day here, still warm but not too hot.  Drove out to this horse farm where they give lessons, trail rides, and board horses, too.    We got a quick lesson in the ring, then the 4 of us, (me, Sam & 2 guides) hit the trails around the property.  Up and down through tobacco and bean fields, past a pond and rushing streams, a few old deserted farmhouses, and all accompanied by 2 very lively, friendly dogs! 

 I loved these dogs!  They seemed to be in control of the whole operation; from being the first to welcome us at the barn, to trotting alongside of the owner's horse and then checking back on the rest of us in the line to make sure we were all coming along ok.  They were some kind of mutts, one had the shape of a corgi, but maybe they had some sheepdog in them, the way they were so good at "herding" us along.  They loved water, and stopped a couple times, once to lay on their bellies in a big mud puddle formed by a tractor tire in a harvested tobacco field, and then to jump in the pond to cool off.

ok, more about the horses!  I rode Gypsy, and Sam rode "Miss Tough", I think it was.  It had been years since I'd been in a saddle, but it didn't take long to relax and enjoy the swaying motion and to get my posture right so I could control the horse and keep myself from flapping up and down too much if she started to trot!  Heidi, I can see why you love riding so much!

Sam had a good experience, too.  She said she'd like to do it again sometime.  I'd love for her to take advantage of their volunteer program, where you can ride for free in exchange for working at the farm now and then, shoveling horse manure and stuff like that.  

Time to get busy and bake Sam's cake!!!  

love, jenner