Hiatus, Ponies, and Five-year-olds

It is no secret that we adored our time at the ocean this summer. Apparently, this love ran so deep that it gave Christina block from uploading anything after that fact, so that we could virtually stay at the shore for two months. We apologize for the hiatus here. Although we do not plan to continue this blog indefinitely we did not mean to stop so abruptly, nor quite yet. So - let us pick up with some of our life as we've lived it these last few months!

Shortly after we returned from Oregon it was Elena's and Clara's fifth birthday.  We celebrated the actual day of their birth much like we did last year - by going for private lessons at the local pony farm.  Suzy knows these girls so well by now - she set them each up with a favorite pony, and they got to groom the pony, pick its' hooves, and saddle it up.  Then, they hopped upon their steeds!

The first part of the ride involves a stop by the stable to see their reflection in the mirror - this was the first time they saw themselves be five!

Then they picked the path they wanted to take for their trail ride up the mountainside.

The big excitement this time was that Suzy decided that the girls were ready to learn rein work.  She had previously guided the horses along, but today the Clara and Elena learned the basics of commanding a pony/horse.

 

 

 

Have you ever seen such proud faces??

From that point on in the ride the girls were completely in charge of their ponies.  Suzy would tell them which direction to turn, and the girls reliably could move the ponies that way.  It was incredible to witness - our little babies, able to control and work with creatures of several hundred pounds!

There were many lessons along the ride - in terms of posture at first, then pacing with the other person. Suzy is grooming them to go to shows and do formation riding.

It was a wonderful, beautiful, awe-inspiring ride.  We were out for an hour and a half, and we really gave those ponies a workout! 

Back at the ranch it was time to thank those good ponies - and both girls have such an affinity for them that the ponies truly seemed to enjoy the thanks.

We were so darn proud of our five year olds!