Wednesday, December 30, 2009

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!

34 comments:

  1. What a great story! Your little cousin is going to totally treasure the memories of those horsey visits and getting to "ride" your boy. Hopefully she can start taking lessons and soon be able to ride with the big girls!

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  2. Hi. I am new in blog land and ended up here via TLC. What a great find, indeed! Isn't it something how girls naturally adore horses? I became a 'pony girl' when I was your cousins age and my parents finally gave in and got me a horse when I was 9 -- old enough to be a 4H member! I enjoyed reading through your posts today and will be returning.
    Wishing you a happy, healthy new year!

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  3. My Appy was the same way with kids. Her whole personality/attitude changed when there were kids around. If one was leading her she would slow her steps down to match them, or if one was on her back she would take good care of them... happy appy trails.

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  4. Wonderful pictures and a grand story. I hope she doesn't give up either. Somewhere out there is an appa-paloosa waiting for Cousin C to find it.

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  5. Your entire family is horse crazy and I will never be surprised when Cousin C. has her own pony and joins the Stampede. Great photos! I am sure she and her parents will treasure those forever. You will always treasure the ones of Your Boy being so gentle. You can totally see his understanding about her size. It is so obvious that he is taking care of her. Thanks for a great post!!!!

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  6. Aww... first pony love. There's nothin' quite like it! Your Boy is such a gem... not all horses are like that. We have a palomino gelding who is quiet as a lamb. But try putting a little one on his back and he completely freaks out!

    Great pics as always...
    :-)
    BB

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  7. Doesn't it make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside when your horsie lets a kid snuggle up to them and do everything ever so carefully with the little one.

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  8. What a very gentle Boy you have there. We once had an old appy, named Domino, who also had that ability to take care of the little ones. Great post!

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  9. She's adorable. I wish I had her fearlessness!

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  10. There is something about little girls and horses! Your boy was a gentleman ...of course. One day I hope you post a pic of "cousin C with her very own horse. That is my wish for her

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  11. Oh man Cousin C is just TOO CUTE!!! I hope that if I have a little girl she's just like her...a tad stubborn and a lot horse crazy! The utter joy on her face is adorable. Your boy did excellent with her...I think you're right...they totally know when they need to be good and take care of the little ones. Looks like a great day for you all and your appa-paloosa! :) :)

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  12. Your story and pictures pretty much describe the soul in each one of us. I love the one where's she's laying with her head on MB's neck.

    Jaz genuinely enjoys children. Poco doesn't like them at all.

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  13. Lovely pics, and I feel for Cousin C. I was obsessed with horses from the age of 3 and had to wait until I was 19 for my first riding lesson. But it was so worth waiting for!

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  14. Oh my goodness, that is too sweet. You really caught her with those pictures!!! I have a heart for horse crazy girls--I remember it so well!!! I hope she gets her horse someday.

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  15. Your cousin definitely has horses in her future - I've seen that look before!

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  16. Aww, she looks like she loves horses very much. My Boy is being so good with her too!

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  17. I had a similar experience. A five year old boy wanted to ride at our place one day. I decided to let him ride one of our horses bareback, leading him in the round pen. Actually I kind of wanted the brat to fall off to teach him a lesson (the sand in the round pen is deep). My horse was the perfect gentleman. I ended up leading him all around our place and the horse never took a wrong step. He knew to behave carrying an inexperienced child. I tied a rope around the horse's neck, loose enough that the boy had something to hold onto and could sit up and stay balanced. It worked really well.

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  18. I love Cousin C's red cowboy boots! They are great. And that picture of her on Your Boy's barevback is so sweet--it looks like she's hugging him with great love! You better be careful! She might sneak back and make off with your spotted app! She looks clever enough to do anything!!!!!!!
    It is always so fun to see another cowgirl in the making!

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  19. Loved this Pony Girl! How fun to read about your little horse loving cousin. I was about her age when I first fell in love with horses. I got my first big girl horse when I was 10, a huge palamino named Goldie. I had an appy when I first got married and then hubby and I got interested in cutting horses. I had my appy until she was very old, she will always be my fave.
    hugs

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  20. Awwww, I loved seeing Cousin C laying on MB's back cuddling him! That was just so precious! I doubt Baby Doll would do that. She's tolerant of Jenna, but not much interested in her, like MB seemed to be.
    How lucky Cousin C is to have a fmaily overflowing with special horses to visit and thieve. lol!

    ~Lisa

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  21. Very cute post Pony Girl! I would watch out for your cousin C...she could make off with one of the family equines! I have always found that my horses also know they have precious cargo about and behave beautifully! So happy to see all of you Xmas day...Lokk forward to some summer rides with you all!

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  22. It's not hard to see that the Pony Cousin legacy will live on. And what is it with the littlest cousins, specifically Cowgirljlynn's grand daughters, that makes them predisposed to be pony thieves? I remember incidents at the Saddle Up Weekend at Desert Rose's barn where we had pony stealing issues. I dont suppose it would surprise anyone with knowledge of our forebears that there would be a specific family gene involved. Great photos, Pony Girl. Those are gonna be heirlooms.

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  23. Cousin C was too funny. I couldn't believe that she didn't want to leave here! Nothing but horses for that little girl!
    Yes, you figured out why I got her the Mustang breyer horse! Some day she will want a Mustang of her own, I remember her saying that her favorite horse was Chance!! But that's probably because she's a baby horse!

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  24. That is awesome. I love the pictures...probably be her favorite pics when she grows up. Girl after my own heart.

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  25. Those pictures of your cousin with MyBoy are so precious. I can relate to not wanting to come away from the paddock. You were kind to let her ride even when the circumstances weren't ideal - she will remember that day forever.

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  26. I hope her dream is someday fullfilled. And I do believe horses are different for kids. When my dad trained racehorces, we had one that would act absolutely stupid except with me. He was really a great horse. The owner finally gave him to me when he retired him because he saw the bond we had.

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  27. What a doll! I can relate to those childhood dreams...I hope she doesn't give up either...we have all gone through those moments where horses seemed so far away - and look at us now!

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  28. Looks like you've had great fun during the holidays! The pictures are beautiful. I hope that you and your family and your spotted one have a wonderful New Year ahead of you!

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  29. Why wouldn't your cousin be horse crazy? It runs in the family, doesn't it? She is adorable and I hope she never outgrows her equine passion. I love the photos of her and MB.

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  30. Your stories you told us were so funny. To actually LIVE it, not so much. She is one very unique child for certain. Hope you have a Happy New Year and don't suffer any ill effects tomorrow! Hugs to you Cousin!

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  31. Very cute. And dare I say...way to go, Paint Girl with the gift!

    Happy New Year!

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