No Worries, Mate!

FINALLY! Missy has experienced her first trail ride! Well, we haven't ridden her outside of the roundpen, except for Friday, when I led her around with my mom, neice, and nephew taking turns sitting on her. So yesterday, our farm's owner was warming up Chico in the roundpen for a lesson later, and Doug tacked Missy up outside. Before we knew it, Angela was out there with us, with her young son riding double, ready for a ride down to the bridge. Doug informed her that he and Missy were going to tail along, and then Stacey got in on the action, bridling up April and jumping on bareback! They rode along the minis' pasture down the driveway, and I, now horseless, watched every move. Missy was terrific! They turned and walked up the road, pausing as a pickup truck driver stopped to talk to Angela about selling her some hay. I felt so happy (and a little bit jealous, too!) as I watched Missy, the tallest, most beautiful horse in the bunch, walk soundly and steadily with and in front of the other horses. The breeze-blown stalks of corn and two other cars passing were no threat to my beloved mare. She was so incredible! Needless to say, Doug was elated when he got back. Since we are trusting Missy more and more these days, I offered the reins to Stacey, who has been in love with Missy since the first time we brought her to her new home. Of course, Missy behaved well. Then I rode her up to the freshly-baled hayfield, where the kids were playing nearby, shadows were cast far and wide, and smoke was blowing from a trash barrel beside the driveway, and I had to wait for Doug to rescue me because Missy forgot how to walk straight, and she was stepping sideways or not at all. So he walked ahead, and Missy followed him, right down the hill.

What a great day! And to think, the rest of my life will probably be filled with them now! I love having my own horse.