Learning to Ride

The kids were looking forward to learning to ride a horse this year.  Obviously they won't become proficient riders in just a few weeks, but I wanted them to be comfortable on a horse and at least know the basics.  They started out with my parents leading the horses around with just a halter on.   There were rows of round hay bales in the arena and my parents would lead the horses through the rows like a maze.  The kids loved it!  They decided to play hide-and-seek in the arena and had a great time trying to "hide" from each other.  Boo and Granddad had a bit of an advantage since Boo was riding Bullseye and he's much smaller than the horse Mr. R was riding. 

Mr. R riding Pappy

Mr. R trying to "hide" in between the hay bales

Granddad leading Boo around

After several days of being led around, Mr. R decided that he wanted some reins.  We put the kids in one of the horse pens, put a bridle on the horses and let them do their own thing.  Well, almost.  Apparently Bullseye will follow Granddad anywhere.  All he had to do was walk around the pen and Bullseye would follow him.  It was a great confidence builder for Boo because she thought she had control of the horse but really my dad controlled where the horse would go and when he stopped.

Mr. R had a lot of fun making Bullseye go where he wanted to go.  He really enjoyed having the reins and riding by himself.  He told me he can't wait until his next visit so he can ride all by himself and trot.

After a ride playing on the hay bales is a must