Laney and horses

Laney started her horseback riding lessons last Monday, and she loves it!  (obviously)  Laney at a horse ranch is like a fat kid in a candy store.  She'll be learning both Western and English riding styles.  The first lesson was made up of watching a video on helmet safety, grooming her horse, saddling, and learning to rein (or steer, or whatever it's called) her horse - Pepper was the horse she rode at her 1st lesson.  When we signed her up, we were told that she wouldn't actually be getting on the horse at her first lesson, so we were pleasantly surprised.  I seriously think it was because the girl could tell that Laney wasn't nervous around the horse.  at all.   She picked up on everything very quickly.  It just comes second nature to her, for some reason.  Again, put a fat kid in a candy store, and I'm sure he'd memorize the entire Jelly Belly wall of flavors pretty fast.   

Last night was her second lesson - my mom and Mike's mom were able to go with us!  Laney groomed the horse (named Frog :D) by herself, remembering the order of the brushes, and helped her instructor saddle and bridle the horse.  She rode for probably a straight 40 or 45 minutes, and did an amazing job -  guiding the horse exactly where the instructor told her to, and walking her horse over a little bridge (after working with him for a while...he was hesitant to do it. :))  She was able to trot for a little bit, with the instructor leading the horse.  We think she'll be able to trot by herself after the next one or two lessons. 

It's so fun to watch her do exactly what she loves.  Last night, she was riding close to the fence where I was standing, and I asked her something.  She answered me with a quick, one-word reply - she was so focused on what she was doing.  I'm so proud of her!!!


These pics are all from last night.  The video at the bottom is from her first lesson.