Horses and children, I often think, have a lot of the good sense there is in the world.
~Josephine Demott Robinson
~Josephine Demott Robinson
Life: Since summer allows more evening hours and less homework, Ladybug has had the opportunity to work with our horse, Toby a bit more than usual. Unfortunately, we don't get to ride our horses very much due to our busy schedules, but on this morning Brian and Ladybug were very excited to work with him again.
It has been about 3 months since anyone has ridden Toby, so Brian got on first to let Toby get the jitters out before Ladybug got on. Thank God he did, because before he knew it, Toby bucked him off! Brian was uninjured besides sore ribs and some scratches, and he was proud of the fact that he was able to hold onto the reins and got right back on him. All went well from that time on.
After wearing Toby out a bit by working him on the hills, Ladybug took her turn. We took her into our newly fenced off "ring" and she walked him. She is at an awkward stage right now where her legs aren't long enough to use our saddle, but they are a bit too long for the child insert, so her legs look really funky here. Her form looks horrible because of that, but she was only walking and so I wasn't too concerned about it. She did a fabulous job working with him making complete stops and making him wait to go on a click.
After the exercise, Brian took him into the barn to take off the tack and brush him down. Ladybug and he both gave him a treat for his good work. I love the last picture, it looks posed, doesn't it? It wasn't! None of the pictures were! I just kept snapping and I caught a really sweet moment where LB and Brian were watching Toby eating his treat! The one where Toby is shaking his head is funny too because LB just asked him if he wanted a treat and it looked like he was shaking his head "yes" which is why she has a funny look on her face! She was like, "Wow! He answered me!"
About the Pictures: Taken with Canon 5D. The top 4 were taken with fill flash to help even out the shadows. Some converted to black and white while others are layered...a color copy and a black and white copy blended together.
Weigh In: Who are your special animal friends? If you have kids, how do they get along with your pets?
Another great quote to go with these wonderful pics! Where do you find them all?
ReplyDeleteMy grandchildren adore my cat and dog...but the cat and dog are old fuddy-duddys and do not adore the grandchildren..so they run and hide when the kids come to visit...
We've got the brute squad... Maddie and Cassie the Chihuahuas and Fiona the half Chihuahua. They're great companions for TOG who is home during the day and for the girls and I who are home in the evenings.
ReplyDeleteThe brute squad is especially theraputic for our youngest daughter whose disability impacts her personal relationships. Through her interaction with them she has become more nurturing and more confident.
*Phew* Glad Brian was ok! Yikes, that sounded scary.
ReplyDeleteAwww - I have four beloved animal friends at the moment: two cats and two birds. When J and I met, we soon learned that neither of us had the desire to have children...but we both longed to have a house full of animals.
And that's what we got :-) I contributed the 2 cats and he contributed 2 birds. One of those birds passed on, and we have since "adopted" a parrot that needed a home. So the animal population stands at 4 :-) I would love to have a dog sometime, but right now I don't have the time to devote to a dog. *sigh* One of these days!
What a great morning for LB and Brian!
ReplyDeleteRight now it just the kitty's and the girls adore them. Me...I miss having a dog.
We don't have pets, our life style does not fit with having a pet. Our kids all have pets and so we do have exposure to their dogs n cats.
ReplyDeleteOh my youngest loves horses. She is so great with animals. SHe would be so jealous.
ReplyDeleteWe have tons of pets and the kids love them. We have a huge black Lab, Marshal; a little creamy white kitten, Marble; a black bunny, Licorice; 5 goats Anna, Tink, Cotton, Rocket and Comet; and 12 chickens (food remains nameless here). We love them all, each for various and sundry reasons.
ReplyDeleteThe pictures are great. I like the effect of blending a b/w with a color photo. Going to have to try that if I ever find a minute to sit down at the computer and mess around with Photoshop again.
ReplyDeleteI have ridden horses a few times and always find it to be so much fun. LB is a lucky girl!
Glad Brian was ok from getting thrown off the horse!
Toby looks almost as happy as Ladybug! We had a pony when the kids were little and they dang thing did not like me, but he was good with the kids. ;0)
ReplyDeleteGlad Brian was not seriously hurt. I have a fear of horses. Only rode a horse twice in my lifetime. Both times my horse seemed to have a mind of his own and wandered off trail!
ReplyDeleteI hope she gets to ride a lot more this summer! Toby obviously needs the exercise - to get rid of that bucking energy! ha ha
ReplyDeleteGreat photos! I would have to say our most beloved by everyone pet is our yellow lab. He is a character.
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