Our adventure today stemmed from Memorial Day weekend when the mother and daughter owners of a horse farm showed up at our garage sale and left a business card. Ever since, Miss A's Mom and myself have just been waiting for the ideal day to come along. Today was that day. We had nothing planned and the weather was overcast and a bit on the cool side. So we loaded up the Girls and some carrots and headed out.
We never could've guessed what awaited us. After traveling down a dirt road and parking at the base of a large ramp, we discovered a bridge at the top of the ramp. A long, seemingly rickety and very shaky bridge. When I asked the Girls what they thought, the Girl with hesitation written all over her face was quick to reply, "I
don't think so!" Her feet were cemented to the platform at the top of the ramp and she had no
intention of crossing that bridge. Miss A, who is most often the more adventurous of the two, wasted no time in grabbing the Girl's hand and coaxing her, one baby-step at a time, out onto the wobbly surface formed by the weathered 2x4's and the chain link fencing. With every step, Miss A had an encouraging word to cheer her friend onward and though the Girl continued to move slowly and cautiously it was
clear that the further she went, the better she began to feel about the situation. As for us Moms, we were proud to see the true qualities of
friendship emerge and more than a little amused at the Girl's grannie-esque stance and walk. Once over the bridge we headed toward the
farm's ramshackle little office where Colleen, the owner, intercepted us and graciously stepped out of a day camp to take us to the barn and introduce us to the likes of Sundance, Gambler, Trail King, Chaparrel, Shenandoah and Spirit, all of which gladly accepted the carrots we offered. Despite the excitement and enthusiasm the Girl and Miss A exhibited on our way to the farm, try as we might, we could not
get either of them to feed the horses carrots. Initially they didn't even want to pet them but by the time Miss A's Mom had gone through
two bags of carrots, the Girl warmed up to the idea of stroking the silky soft nose of a few of the horses. Then we marched out of the barn to
watch the day camp riders practicing for a show. We were met by the sounds of some old school honkey tonk country tunes and
these little lasses just couldn't resist the urge to
dance. Hands planted firmly on hips, they started their own line dance of sorts in beat to the music. Oblivious to the riders and horses practicing their routine just a stones throw away in the riding corral. I dare say the show that these Girls were putting on at the very least, rivaled if not exceeded the entertainment and amusement quality of the other show.
Especially when they dropped the line dancing in favor of their own moves.
And so they danced.
And danced.
And danced.
Baby Sister joined in the dancing for a while and then she and I spent some time looking at the horses. She much preferred watching the horses from the distance afforded by the open air and the fenced corral versus the tight quarters of the barn and the close proximity of the stalls. But even so, when any of the horses got too close she would tighten her grip on my arm and point over my shoulder as if to say, "Back up lady!"
With 37 horses on the farm and at least 5 dogs and 2 cats, there was plenty to look at.
After the Girls tired of dancing they moved on to other creative pursuits.
And adorned each other's hair with 'flowers.'
It was a fun adventure and the Girls left vowing that next time they'd ride a horse.
Our adventure today stemmed from Memorial Day weekend when the mother and daughter owners of a horse farm showed up at our garage sale and left a business card. Ever since, Miss A's Mom and myself have just been waiting for the ideal day to come along. Today was that day. We had nothing planned and the weather was overcast and a bit on the cool side. So we loaded up the Girls and some carrots and headed out.
We never could've guessed what awaited us. After traveling down a dirt road and parking at the base of a large ramp, we discovered a bridge at the top of the ramp. A long, seemingly rickety and very shaky bridge. When I asked the Girls what they thought, the Girl with hesitation written all over her face was quick to reply, "I don't think so!" Her feet were cemented to the platform at the top of the ramp and she had no
intention of crossing that bridge. Miss A, who is most often the more adventurous of the two, wasted no time in grabbing the Girl's hand and coaxing her, one baby-step at a time, out onto the wobbly surface formed by the weathered 2x4's and the chain link fencing. With every step, Miss A had an encouraging word to cheer her friend onward and though the Girl continued to move slowly and cautiously it was
clear that the further she went, the better she began to feel about the situation. As for us Moms, we were proud to see the true qualities of
friendship emerge and more than a little amused at the Girl's grannie-esque stance and walk. Once over the bridge we headed toward the
farm's ramshackle little office where Colleen, the owner, intercepted us and graciously stepped out of a day camp to take us to the barn and introduce us to the likes of Sundance, Gambler, Trail King, Chaparrel, Shenandoah and Spirit, all of which gladly accepted the carrots we offered. Despite the excitement and enthusiasm the Girl and Miss A exhibited on our way to the farm, try as we might, we could not
get either of them to feed the horses carrots. Initially they didn't even want to pet them but by the time Miss A's Mom had gone through
two bags of carrots, the Girl warmed up to the idea of stroking the silky soft nose of a few of the horses. Then we marched out of the barn to
watch the day camp riders practicing for a show. We were met by the sounds of some old school honkey tonk country tunes and
these little lasses just couldn't resist the urge to dance. Hands planted firmly on hips, they started their own line dance of sorts in beat to the music. Oblivious to the riders and horses practicing their routine just a stones throw away in the riding corral. I dare say the show that these Girls were putting on at the very least, rivaled if not exceeded the entertainment and amusement quality of the other show.
Especially when they dropped the line dancing in favor of their own moves.
And so they danced.
And danced.
And danced.
Baby Sister joined in the dancing for a while and then she and I spent some time looking at the horses. She much preferred watching the horses from the distance afforded by the open air and the fenced corral versus the tight quarters of the barn and the close proximity of the stalls. But even so, when any of the horses got too close she would tighten her grip on my arm and point over my shoulder as if to say, "Back up lady!"
With 37 horses on the farm and at least 5 dogs and 2 cats, there was plenty to look at.
After the Girls tired of dancing they moved on to other creative pursuits.
And adorned each other's hair with 'flowers.'
It was a fun adventure and the Girls left vowing that next time they'd ride a horse.
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