Horseback Riding

Have I told you about Cayla's horseback riding lessons? Probably not, since I barely tell you about anything anymore. But, I have a philosophy paper due at midnight, so it seems the perfect opportunity to blog! And, really the horseback riding lessons just snuck up on us and have completely captivated our daughter.

Last August we spend more hours than I wish to admit deciding what classes/teams/activities we would be sending Cayla and Collin off to in the fall. We had a hard, fast rule that they would each only participate in ONE thing. Just one. More than one is too much for them, too much for us, and way too expensive. And, then we promptly broke it. Everyone's on the school soccer team, music class is a must, the kids love ice hockey (they really do, Collin's first pick by far), everyone needs to know how to swim - they are almost 7 for goodness sake, gymnastics looks like so much fun, dance, you gotta have art, oh and BrainGym, since we're all so darn stressed and they were preemies. What is BrainGym? Another post, another day.

You will notice that there is no mention of horseback riding. Of course not. Who takes horseback riding lessons? But, Cayla loves animals. And, it can be very therapeutic for kids with disabilities. But, she is already on the school soccer team (so that she can hang out with all her buddies now that she is in a self-contained class, even though she doesn't give a hoot about soccer), and we had found a cool art class, or maybe a dance class (she loves those tap shoes), or a music class (her true language). When offered the choice of soccer, music, dance, or art she looked at us blankly, shrugged her shoulders, and went on playing. We drew little pictures of soccer balls and people dancing and pots of paint to make the choice visual. Same reaction. Then Flannery happened to find an affordable horse class 30 minutes away from us and we mentioned that. And, her ears perked up, and she smiled and I called the stable.

The stables didn't want to sign her up for the class until they had met her. It was important that kids could follow directions and stay focused . . . . Well, the "met her" really meant a private lesson, so we shelled out the amount of dough that would cover an entire month of dance classes for a 30 minute private lesson. Well, of course she loved it and it was wonderful and she was happy as a clam and she actually led her horse ON HER OWN around the ring. They still didn't think she was ready for the class and suggested a few more private lessons. Sure, no problem. Oh, and you can't just take those lessons once a month, you have to pick a weekly time slot and commit to it for an entire year (well, just to June).

Um. Never mind. That's too much for her. That's too much for us. That's too expensive.

NOT!

So, Cayla, the kid who has no interest in soccer, art, dance, gymnastics, swimming, floor hockey, music, or Spanish is now taking private horseback riding lessons on a weekly basis from now until June. The price is ridiculous - the experience is priceless.

Flannery says that she is absolutely giddy with joy when she is up on the horse. When she trots, she bounces all over the place giggling uncontrollably. Three lessons in, she can guide the horse in and out of cones. She can walk the horse around the ring without her teacher beside her. When she forgets to lead, the horse stops and the trainer reminds her to kick "Buddy" to get him going again. Priceless I tell you.

Now, I know this post needs a photo or video. But, alas we don't have any. Flannery, who has taken her each time has failed to produce a single photo or video for me (and you). Prod, prod. Prod, prod.

Now excuse me while I wrap up my letter to Aristotle.