Saddle-Up Saturday

Well, this was a different kind of Saturday morning than the last several...Daddy wasn't with us, but Marmie was - she came in just to see Gracie ride and help me with a little yard work - when we got there, nobody but Ms. Robin was around. Ms. Kacey had hurt her leg the day before and so Ms. Robin called all of the older girls that she usually teaches while Ms. Kacey teaches Gracie and moved them to the next hour - we had the whole place to ourselves and Grace got to ride in the big arena this time! Not only that, she buckled all of her tack, cleaned Pal's feet, brought Pal up and back and had full control with no "security tie" to Ms. Robin- Pal was ALL hers! She was over the moon -

Ms. Kacey did come and show us her ribbon that she got last weekend for placing 6th in her division last competition season out of 50 girls. We're gonna send her a "get well" card this week and hopefully she'll be better by next lesson...
Gracie bringing Pal up from the pasture -

Doing all of the "front work" before saddling up -
The technical stuff - where to put her thumbs when holding her reins...
...how to sit up straight...
...how to get in jump position...
...with your head UP...
"good job" - smiles all around!
...changing leads...
Grace is getting the lesson, but Pal and Ms. Robin are getting the work-out!
See? no security tie - it's just Grace, Pal and the wind... about 30 seconds after this was taken, Pal was spooked by some dogs on the road. I was looking at the dogs, but Marmie saw...she and Ms. Robin both said that Pal's front feet came OFF the ground and that girl - she STAYED ON!!! Ms. Robin was so proud! And, I didn't have a heart attack. Yikes.
My buddy and me...
Pal and Grace in the "home stretch" -
Marmie couldn't stand it - she had to love on my buddy, too!
As always...some action shots...




I think it's supposed to rain tomorrow, but I hope you guys have a happy Monday anyway! Maybe it will send this insane wind that we've had for the past several days on it's merry way -