This afternoon I (Anna), Alex, Vicki and Alexis took the ponies on a trail ride. Living next to Pachaug State Forest really has its advantages. It was a perfect not too cold December day for a trail ride. The ponies were all feeling good and walking through the brooks and puddles from the recent rains. We went a little faster too…and everyone stayed on. It’s kinda fun now that the kids are older and can stay with their ponies a bit better and handle the occasional frisky moment. Fresh air, the sound of rustling leaves, filtered sunlight, really can’t beat it. Now with two 9-10 year olds it wasn’t quiet but enjoyable.
Today was Vicki’s 9th birthday. She left with Anna early this morning to go to the Big E in Springfield MA for a dog show with Turbo. There was a special 4-H class: Vicki got 4th in 8-10 year old showmanship. They got to participate in an AKC agility clinic and a junior handling clinic. They also watched some showing, obedience, and agility trials.
After she got home, it was time for presents. Dinner was her favorite: venison steak and mashed potatoes. And of course cake for dessert! Enjoy the pictures
Last fall Vicki met Alexis on her school bus. It was kind of an accident as Vicki had been left off the schedule for some reason and ended up riding the #10 Jewett City bus. Alexis was a fourth grader and Vicki was sitting in the back of the bus with all the older kids…As always Vicki makes friends easily and about a month later she was invited to go to six flags with Alexis’ family. At six flags Vicki had some spending money and bought a beanie baby shire horse or maybe a clydesdale. Alexis did too. They called them Hershey and Kisses. Since then whenever they play together the ponies come with them. They are pretty worn at this point both feature stitches and have been debeaned and washed multiple times. Today the ponies went swimming at Hopeville Pond.
This morning Vicki and I headed out on a trail ride. Vicki was excited because Alex had given her permission to ride Dakota. I could tell she was a little apprehensive when she was grooming Dakota and said: “Mom, he’s big”. I rode King. He was as always great. We trotted and cantered down the roads of Pachaug and Vicki said she loved the pony. On the way home Dakota suddenly started head tossing and acting like he was going to run off with Vicki. She was freaking out. Dakota was upset by her freaking out and the bugs that were attacking his sweaty body. We stopped and calmed down and while Vicki was still a bit worried coming home, all went well. Note to self, Vicki does best trail riding for about an hour, then she is toast. Maybe hunter paces will have to wait a year or two for her.
But, we had a good time and covered 6-7 miles in an hour and a half. Pretty good work out. Now I just need me some bug shields.
Sunday May 11 2014 was Mother’s Day. I spent the day at the Pony Club games rally with my kids. Well, sort of, because parents aren’t allowed in the horse management area. We arrived at 7.30 ish. That meant we left home around 6.45. The rally was at Mitchell farm in Salem, CT. We helped the kids set up the pop up tent and chairs for the day, left a cooler of food, a cooler of water, and helped get their tack room stuff and horse management kits. Their C rated pony club advisor for the day was Grace Perkins who volunteered (!!!) to head up the walk trot grasshopper games team Pony Pals. 5 kids 10 and under, and five ponies for a full day, ending with awards at 6 pm. After the briefing at 8.30 parents were banned from the horse area. The kids had jog outs to check for soundness and later a formal inspection for turn out of horse and rider. There were horse management judges asking questions and doing inspections. Then they played games against the other grasshopper team ” the runaways”. Throughout the day they killed dead time around the trailer, reading, eating and playing games ( board games). At six pm the day concluded with awards. The Pony Pals came home with double blue ribbons, one for horse management and one for the riding portion. They were all exhausted. Rob volunteered for 4 hours on the field helping out with the games play. I watched Amanda and spent money at the food truck, while watching the games play and chatting with other parents. Amanda fell asleep in the afternoon.
Overall it was a good Mother’s day with great weather.
As a child I loved to read. I would go to the library and come home with lots of books on the newest topic of interest, or some novels to read. I spent many nights up late reading. Then I would sleep late. I am still a night owl and I am trying to get back into pleasure reading but I am so darn tired I always fall asleep when trying to read at night.
Today I took my kids down to the library. They love to go and immediately disappear in search of their next read. Alex goes upstairs to the young adult section because he’s read most of what interests him downstairs in the juvenile section. Vicki goes off in search of her next horse book or Nancy Drew. Amanda picks out two books quickly and then plays quietly. The library volunteers and the youth librarian recognizes us. In a town with a school the size of Griswold’s this is pretty sad. We go once a week on average, because my kids read a lot. Alex devours books. Vicki will not go to bed most nights without finishing the book she is reading. Amanda insists on two stories before bed. I strongly believe that video games and TV are rotting our children’s brains. Alex reports that is all the boys in his class talk about.
So why do you wonder do I not buy a kindle or nook instead of constantly going to the library? Well we had a tablet with a Kindle reader on it and Alex was a fan, but the kids broke the screen, and we refuse to replace it until they’ve earned the money back. I just don’t want their eyes staring at a screen for hours. The feel of a real book and the library experience is important. The unusual quiet that enters the house after a library trip is priceless.
This morning we headed out to the 4H textile arts show in Gales Ferry at the St David’s church. Vicki brought a toy horse blanket she made from potholder squares. The kids made concrete tile stepping stones, paper flower balls and felt bracelets. There was also a fashion revue.
This afternoon Alex and I went trail riding. I rode King, and Alex rode Dakota. Alex grumbled a little for making him leave his game on the computer but then went to tack up his pony. After we crossed the water behind out barn we picked up a trot. We rode for an hour, trotting and even cantering, walking only when necessary, crossing water, going down majorly washed out rocky trails and zig zaging through downed trees. Dakota was such a rock star, no spook, no stop, climbing up and down and over stuff without jostling Alex out of his saddle. He even carefully climbed over a two foot log. King, who recently has been a handful jigging back to the barn was a pleasure to ride today, albeit a little out of shape. Recently Rob and I watched an 80s outdated endurance dvd about conditioning and one of the veterinarians stated “if your horse is fretful, you are not giving him enough exercise”. Apparently, horses are related to my husband and require exercise to mellow…
I really am looking forward to taking my family of riders to some hunter paces this year.
