Missy, Superstar Extraordinaire? Maybe In The Future!

Finally! Missy has been doing wonderfully this whole week! After a small but worrisome buck with me riding on Monday, Doug went out to the farm for a riding lesson on another horse that night. On Tuesday evening he rode Missy with a crop for the first time. Whenever she stopped, he corrected her by tapping her on the rump. AND, he got her to TROT. Neither of us have EVER gotten her to trot before! So she trotted both ways, and walked, and although Doug is quite new to riding, he has a good seat and sits mostly straight and tall in the saddle, with mostly quiet hands. SO, he rode and rode, and we both praised her and I watched, and when he got off, he told me it was my turn! I just looked at him in shock. We are both big on ending on a good note, and they were so awesome together that there was no way that I could top that! I would ride her on Wednesday. So we went out and enjoyed a great dinner, and Wednesday we came back to the barn for more riding.

He had decided to try out a Western saddle that is for sale at our stable, so he put that on Missy, and again, had a great ride on her! I trotted her that day for the first time also. Thursday it rained all day, and FRIDAY...

Friday my mom finally came to visit, along with my neice and nephew, all of whom I had promised to let ride my NEW HORSE. I saddled her up and lunged her and she was terrible! She didn't want to work at all, and I was afraid I would have to cancel the little lead-line class after they had driven TWO hours! Kaitlyn kept badgering me. Can I ride her now? Now? Her helmet was in place, and finally I relented, after first instructing my mom to hold her leg the whole time in case something were to go wrong (which was looking likely, at the moment) so that Mom could immediately free the small girl from the horse's back. (I learned this from helping out at therapeutic riding). So we walked. When Mom ran over to keep Ethan (2 1/2 years) from going towards the barn, I panicked, realizing that I had no protection for Kaitlyn except for holding the horse's head. I don't think my mom realized that Missy has not been under saddle very long at all, and she is still untrustworthy. I tried to explain this to her as I (?calmly?) called her back over to us and told her NEVER to let go of Kaitlyn again! (Kaitlyn is my pride and joy) Finally, her excitement over the ride began to wane, and we threw Ethan up. Horses are usually gentle with children, and although Missy seemed to be behaving, I still insisted on a helmet and my mom's hand on his leg. Well, Ethan LOVED it!

Next, I asked my mom if she wanted to ride. Horses know the difference between adults and children, and Missy hasn't had anyone on her except Doug and me, and those rides have not all been wonderful. Of course I knew this, and was worried when my mom said "of course she wanted to ride Missy- but how do you get on an English saddle and what do you hang on to?" If I wasn't so nervous, it would have been funny!

I had her get on with a bucket, and Missy was a GOOD GIRL! We walked around several times, and I was really proud of my girl! My mom was elated, the kids couldn't get enough of the new horse, and it was really a good day.

Saturday Doug and I rode her in the roundpen, walking and trotting both ways. We use the whip now, whenever we ride, and so far things are going GREAT! Missy is going to be a superstar! What an awesome horse!