Friday, February 27, 2009

Riding Lesson

The other evening Big Cowpoke had the very first riding lesson in our new, almost finished arena. I was so excited. Big cowpoke? Not so much. He kept telling me he didn't feel well. But I gave him some Motrin and a sweatshirt and tossed him up on Peanut. They practiced the pole pattern at a walk. They went through it a bunch of times. I have been trying to get Big Cowpoke to ride the poles with two hands, and he just wouldn't. But his teacher got him to do it. I was proud of him for doing it even though he did not feel well. I still think Peanut has to be half Arabian. There is no doubt in my mind. His teacher is riding for a barrel racing association down here. She just started college and is working on riding her four horses. She loves rodeo and barrels. She comes out to my house and gives my Cowpoke a riding lesson for 15 dollars an hour! Can you believe that!! That is amazingly cheap! She lives about four miles away from me, so she isn't too far away. She is really nice and great with the kids too. Big Cowpoke said he likes her better than me! Big Cowpoke also worked on sliding his hands down his reins for the end turns. I love how patient Peanut is with Big Cowpoke. They even managed to trot through the pole pattern once. Big Cowpoke did much better with using two hands for the weaving in and out of the poles.Just look at that two handed action! I know, how many pictures can one person take of one boy and his horse doing the pole pattern? But really, I deleted a lot of them. I just think it's such a sweet thing when a horse and a child get along so well. It makes my heart melt. She makes me melt too. She watched the lesson and watched some more. Then if you ask her if she wants to ride, she gets all excited. "Who me?" "Heck yeah I want to ride!!" She gets so excited about riding. But she didn't get a chance to ride. Sorry Cowpokette. Next they worked on the barrels. This is where Big Cowpoke went the wrong way around the first barrel at the rodeoThis time he got it right. I think Peanut is really good at barrels because of all the really slow walking my Cowpokes do with him around the pattern. I think they might trot the pattern once or twice a week. Other than that Mr. Cowboy or I will get on and just exercise Peanut.
The second barrel was looking great!
And the third barrel was fantastic. I really hope that Peanut will be super great, not that he already isn't wonderful, for Cowpokette when she gets a bit older. They tried it a bit faster and I only got one picture. I was really impressed with Big Cowpoke's skills. The riding instructor also rode Ozzie. Ozzie was an angel. I don't know why I get so dang nervous to ride him. But I do. I was thinking of maybe having Mr. Cowboy ride him this afternoon and then I might get on him for some walking and trotting around. I really want to!! I am also going to set up an obstacle coarse in the arena for my Cowpokes to ride through. Just something different for them to do besides drilling them on the rodeo patterns. I am going to have a gate to open, some poles to walk over, barrels to circle, cones to weave through, and if Peanut likes tarps, a tarp to walk over. Ozzie loves to walk over the tarp, se we will see how Peanut likes it. I will take pictures of my obstacle coarse!! And a big Thank You to everyone's birthday wishes!! I really had a great birthday, thanks!!

15 comments:

Danielle Michelle said...

I just noticed something.

Your little girl is turing into a big girl! She looks quite grown up in those pictures! She'll be turning barrels in no time!

Amazing how sometimes it takes somebody else to drive a lesson home with your own kids eh? lol
I can remember doing that to my own mom!

Anonymous said...

15 dollars seems like a steal and he looks great on the horse...

Nuzzling Muzzles said...

Did he feel better after his ride? $15 an hour is amazing. I pay $50 an hour, and that is at a discount! It's also great to have an instructor how comes to you. It can be such a hassle to have to load your horse into a trailer to get him to a lesson.

Wendy said...

lydia looks adorable, she reminds me a little of Julie's little girl with her white hair and big blue eyes.

Tiffany said...

I love all the pictures. I read your blog to get my horse fix. LOL I haven't had a horse since I was a kid and I want one SOOO bad. Maybe one day.

d2cmom said...

2 questions..
1. Do you think your instructor would come to my house in central Texas for $15? :)
2. How cold has it been there? We have been in the 70s, and down to maybe 50 at night.

Marilyn said...

They look GREAT!
How exciting :)

Leah Fry said...

Thanks for visiting my blog. Your kids are probably better riders than I am. Rank amateur is a kind way to state my level of expertise, but I have a good time.

Nice to meet you!

BrownEyed Cowgirl said...

Awww-that is so awesome that you are willing to pay someone else to come and give lessons. I used to "trade" kids with friends of mine, because kids NEVER listen to their parents. Or I would help other kids and just have Megan riding around with us. I tried not to direct things to her, but she would pick them up by watching the kid I was helping. Gotta out think those little smarties.;)

So nice to see little ones getting good instruction right off the bat-those good habits will always stick with them.

Hey, maybe if you ride Ozzie at the same time, it would relieve some of your nervousness?? I know, I like to ride young horses when other people are around. Takes my mind of worrying they might do something and also provides someone to dial 911 for me(I kid!!).

TjandMark/AKA PearlandHawkeye said...

What a wonderful idea to hire an instructor for your kids. I traded with a friend, like Brown Eyed Cowgirls, when my daughter rode and showed at the 4-H level. It always helps to have an outsider, especially if they are cute like yours looks to be.

Pony Girl said...

Those are great pics! I definitely think Peanut has some Arab blood. I noticed his head is often set a little, too. He had some good training at one point.
Cowpokette looks darling in purple! Do you think she'll rodeo one day? I can just see her in the purple bling bling, LOL! :)
Glad my birthday buddy had a great day, too!

Paula said...

Those Cowpoke kids are adorable! Congrats on the almost finished arena - so good to enjoy something you've worked so hard on!

Melanie said...

First off...happy belated birthday, Andrea!!!! Sorry that I missed it, and that published blog/book is an amazing gift!! What a great idea. :)

Peanut??? Definitely has an upright, Arab-like headset, and he appears to be setting it as well. He is a cute little guy, and so is your Cowpoke!!! Just look at him up there!!!

And Ozzie??? I wouldn't ride him either, so don't feel like a big scaredy cat...lol!!!

Anonymous said...

He looks great. Love the horse, great looker.

Laughing Orca Ranch said...

Another Hapy Birthday wish for you Andrea!

I swear, when Peanut is focused and working he is just stunning. The way he collects his head and bends at the poll and the shape of his back as he collects himself is amazing! He's had some good training in the past, for sure, and he returns to it, even for your little 'un's lessons, too.

Those are some great pics. I truly enjoyed them.

Your little cowgirl is just precious in her pigtails. So cute!

~Lisa