That first ride....

[TikusMom]

Do any of you horsie folks remember the very first time horseback?

This was mine:
We lived in the city when I was a kid, so I didn't have my own horse. Not for lack of trying, mind you, but the whole "Welsh ponies are small, mom, and we have a great big back yard with lots of grass! I'll get up early to feed him and I can even ride him to school" logic didn't work with mom.

Mom had a few tricks up her sleeve though, and she had a friend with horses, so when I was about 6 she took me over for my first ever horseback ride! I was elated. Mom and I rode double on a big appy mare, and mom's friend was on an other horse just ahead of us. We were riding in the pasture, and we went down into a little ditch. Mom's friend turned around and said "Careful, she might give a buck coming up this side!" Yup. She did! Mom and I went off...and I landed on mom! LOL! We climbed back on, and finished our ride. I was NOT ready to quit but it was getting late...like I cared that it was dark! LOL! That very first ride solidified in my heart that my love for horses and all things horse would endure for the rest of my life. And so it has!

I finally got my very first horse about 7 years later and we boarded him. He was my ever steady huntseat horse, Joe (Calypso Joe in the show ring). Joe would jump anything. All I had to do was point him at a jump, log, fence, whatever. He never hesitated. When I finally was able to bring him home after we moved to the country, Joe was the most bomb proof trail horse. He's also the one who dumped me on my sorry butt for carelessly riding bareback with only a halter and lead rope the day I broke my collar bone. He was the BEST first horse anyone could ask for and taught me how to be responsible when I ride!

[Halo]

I don't remember my first time.... I used to visit my aunt and uncle in Oklahoma during the summers and I would ride their horse, Squirrely.

I remember my first all my own horse though. I was visiting them when I was 13 I think and they bought me a welsh pony and had her all decked out in ribbons and her name was Ribbon too I loved her so much. She's still on their farm as far as I know and is now ridden by my nephews.

[TikusMom]

That's too cool Halo! I love the name Ribbon, too...what a neat story! I think it's wonderful that she's still bringing happiness to the young'uns!
See, my mom shoulda listened to me about the Welsh pony thing! LOL!
God Bless

[Halo]

LOL She is a good horse. She taught me a lot about riding... especially when I would try to take her down the road and she'd run as fast as she could in the other direction