On our weekly trips to exercise and feed the horses, we hang around the stables.
We climb small hills and play in the trees.
We chat with the ladies that work there and occasionally watch jumping and training horses.
Miss Debbie brought a surprise for Emily, an old Palomino toy.
A heartfelt gift is always more precious than any other.

So last week our usual ponies were unavailable but the staff didn't want Emily 

to go home with out a ride so she had

her first horse lesson!

From leading, grooming, tacking to

throwing her  leg over and pulling herself onto the saddle...by herself.

Thankfully she knows her left and right so using the reins was easy.

She rode in the round pen like it was no big deal.

This girl is calm and strong.  

Holding the reins by herself as the trainer closed the gate,

Apollo, a huge black horse, 

started swinging his head and scaring me.

Emily remained calm, used her second hand to grab his harness.

He calmed down.  She didn't seem to notice she nearly fell over.

The trainer was also impressed 

so now Emily is allowed to walk him up and down the

stables by herself!

The trainer doesn't know Emily is only three and a half. 

I'll have to insist she needs a little more time before she should be

in charge of this huge beast.

All of this and I didn't bring my camera.  

Oh, well, there will plenty of lessons in the future.