Holiday Happenings, Part Two: The Horse Thief

I have a darling 13 year old second cousin, Cousin C. She came with my parents and I to the Painted Creek Farm the day after Christmas.

Wait. Did I say 13? Why ever would I think that? She's only 7 years old! Going on 13. And, she is horse crazy!


Our first stop was to take Paint Girl lunch at the stable she works at. There, Cousin C got to see a plethora of beautiful horses- the kind of horses she'll see prancing in her dreams for weeks to come.


After we watched Paint Girl turn out horses, we left her to finish her chores and drove to the Painted Creek.

Which was a frosty winter wonderland. Before Cousin C was barely out of the car, she had found her way out back near the horse pastures.



I brought My Boy out to the arena, took off his blanket, and groomed him. Cousin C has no fear when it comes to horses. She is not afraid to approach them at all.



I'm a worrywart. It's been a couple of years since My Boy has been around children. The ground was crunchy frozen dirt and had an unstable feeling under his hooves, and he did not want to walk out. So longing the kinks out of him before letting her ride was out of the question. We'd also forgotten to bring up a helmet.



I decided to have my mom side-walk with her and hold her leg. My Boy is fine ridden bareback. But a little one tends to wiggle and put her cowgirl boots in places a pony isn't used to.


Not that she doesn't know how to ride. Oh goodness, did she set me straight! Every time I mentioned that once she learned to ride......"I KNOW HOW TO RIDE ALREADY! I know how to do everything! I am just too short to put the saddle on!"

I put my trust in my horse, that he would take good care of her. I know that he's a nice boy. I needn't have worried.


My Boy was really good with her, even when she snuggled up to his belly. I think sometimes horses treat the little humans nicer than us big humans! It's like they sense they are young and precious.


The family had a great time outside with the horses, the dogs, and the goats.


With frozen toes, we went inside next to the wood stove, had pizza, then opened gifts. Paint Girl got Cousin C a real Breyer Mustang! I see how you're thinking sis....get her to love Mustangs now....so she'll want to adopt one when she gets her first horse!



After a night at the Painted Creek, this little lady was even more determined to have her own horse. In fact, she did not want to leave the farm and proclaimed that "Real cowgirls have horses" and that she would "NEVER have a horse. I GIVE UP."

I hope Cousin C doesn't give up her dreams of a horse of her own. I know Paint Girl and I never did.

She wanted to say goodbye to the horses on Sunday when we were getting ready to leave. Once again, she tromped out of the house to the pastures.



She refused to come back when my mom called for her. My mom had to trek out with her coat to get her. Cousin C reluctantly dragged her booted feet on the icy grass the whole way back.


Leaving the farm and the horses was not something she wanted to do. That's okay. At least she made it off the property without my
"appa-paloosa" in her back pocket.

Uh-oh.

Back at my parents' stable, she found a new horse to attempt to thieve.



Hang on to your Stardust pony, mom!