So Ya Like Horses Hay ...

I know. Any excuse for a pun. LOL

Well, Wednesday just gone saw us head out to the farm of some very dear friends of ours. They are animal trainers and Z is a trick rider. Amazing people with the most generous, caring natures.

About to leave home

It was discussed on Monday how much our Schmooey loves horses and agreed that they should go for a horse ride out on the farm while our friends are home - they don't stick around for long these days sadly - so off we headed, the girls all dressed and ready for their big adventure.

Ready to ride

AJ decided that she was brave enough to ride solo so Schmoo got to go riding with daddy - thank heavens that daddy can ride a horse because there is NO way you're getting me on one - and Z and her son, C, led the way on their horse.

I took the Wee One down to their house and just watched a bit of TV but, for some reason, I was being drawn back outside. I could see them off yonder and Schmoo being put off the horse for a quick wee stop and went back into the house.

Wee stop

Still again, I was drawn back to where they had left us so I decided to take the Wee One back up for a walk. The Wee One was throwing yet another tantrum on the grass so I left her there feeling an urgency to get back up to the stables. Then I heard AJ screaming.

And the next thing I see is Z's horse galloping past sans the two riders previously on his back. And then of course, the screams from my poor miss AJ - Z had been leading AJ's horse - commanding the horse to stop and yelling for daddy to come and save her. CJ came next trying to catch up to AJ's horse and pluck her off.

My first instinct was to worry about Z and her son being that they were the ones off their horse and then I saw Z walking up the hill with both Schmoo and C. Apparently Z's horse had got spooked and started bucking so Z - thank goodness she is a trick rider is all I can say - thought quickly and bundled up C and rolled off the horse, taking the impact of the fall on her shoulder and side but protecting her son the whole time.

AJ and Avatar getting

along just fine before the event

Apparently, AJ's horse then took off so CJ, also thinking quick, dropped Schmoo off the side of his horse - good thing he's got some long arms on him - so that he could catch up to AJ and grab her. Poor old Schmooey rolled down the hill and was rescued by Z and C.

AJ's horse finally slowed down just as Z's husband came around the front on the quad bike and CJ was alongside AJ managing to grab her and put on the horse with him.

Luckily nobody was injured and Z's husband grabbed the runaway horse and rode him back to the stables. Poor horse looked like he knew he'd done the wrong thing. Everybody was a little shaken and I think even Z managed to get away with just a couple of bruises.

The brave kids coming back up the hill

But what amazes me even more than the adults and their quick thinking and staying calm in a crisis was the fact that all three kids got back on their horses and kept riding! I am in awe of their bravery. There is NO way I would be getting back on a horse after that.

The Wee One thinks horse

riding's not so bad with Daddy

Then on Thursday night I asked Schmoo if she wanted to go riding with Z again and she replied, ever so casually, "Yeah, but I really want to stand on a horse like C did in that photo!"

I'm guessing she's not giving up on her horse obsession any time soon which makes me so grateful that we have so many friends with horses because I'm not buying one any time soon.

Schmoo on Tokolosh

the cranky Shetland

So very proud of those kids!!!