Riding Pedro

When the kids found out that Cassie was going to get to ride a horse they were a little upset. They wanted to ride, too. Now keep in mind, Zack has never rode before and Mackenzie has only ridden once before with her Girl Scout troop in Ohio. Patti & Kevin Frank have invited the kids over a couple of times to ride, but one thing or another has happened and we haven't been able to get them there.

Well, the Franks thought this would be a good opportunity and probably the last time for them to ride before the cold set in. So, everything was set the gang was probably going to get back from herding (see post below) between 5 & 6 p.m. so we were to go over when they called and eat some stew and let the kids ride. The herding went better than expected and they were done around 3 p.m. so Cassie called and said they were almost back to the house and Patti & Kevin thought it a better idea if we came earlier so the kids could ride in the daylight. So, we put our school stuff away, it was a slow and unorganized day since big sis was gone, and we got layered up to be outside.

The Franks have four horses, Rip, Cotton, Pedro & I can't remember the other one's name. Cassie had rode Pedro while herding because he is the more gentler one. Well, he was the one the kids rode, too.



Here Mackenzie is feeding Rip, ?, and Cotton. Can you figure out why he's called Cotton . . .



She wasn't afraid to get close to them.



They're just beautiful animals.



After Kevin got Pedro saddled, Zack was the first one in the ring, he was sooooo excited to ride a horse. Pedro is so easy going. At first, he went around the ring and then just stopped. Of course, Cassie & Patti were telling him to use his feet and kick him to get him going, but Zack was very timid at first but then he got the hang of it.



Then it was Mackenzie's turn. She wasn't too sure about it at first, but we convinced her it would be okay. Even though Pedro is pretty short, Mackenzie still needed help getting up!!



Mackenzie had Cassie lead Pedro instead of trying to get him going on her own.



Then we talked Jay into getting on and riding Pedro around the ring.



Of course, I needed a picture of Cassie on Pedro so she got on & then she got to leave the ring and trot around the yard on him. She was so excited to be riding again!!



Zack of course had to remind us he's a boy and climb all over the ring walls!!



Mackenzie really liked Cotton. She kept going into the stable so she could go out and pet him. Evidently he hasn't been broke yet so no one rides him.



Pedro had a busy day. So once the kids were done riding him, well actually once he was done being ridden - he got to the point where he'd just stand he wouldn't move for them - we took him into the stable and helped Patti take his saddle and bridle off so he could go out in the coral with the other horses.



Mackenzie really liked Pedro too. The kids had a blast riding Pedro and I'm sure Cassie's wanting for a horse is even greater now. Actually, we have learned that horses, at least around here, are fairly cheap. We've been told that you can get a young one for as little as $100 and of course we have the space for one in the 6 acres of pasture we have. So, we are thinking about it, but first we want to get through our first winter and then we'll decide about a horse!!

Oh yeah . . . this little guy was at the Franks too!! He looks pretty scary up close, but as we walked towards the gate he would actually back up, but we didn't want to test too much just in case he decided to charge.