Living out in the country as we do, horses are all around us. Many of our friends live on farms and own horses, cattle, chicken and other livestock. What I’m getting at is, that in these parts, climbing up on a horse before you know your times tables is considered normal.
My husband and I grew up in very different places, me the DC suburbs (PG County - holla!) and him in California and later Hawaii. Neither of us had much experience with horses so when our 6 year old daughter began begging for riding lessons, we were afraid. Very afraid.
“How about ballet? Art class? Soccer? Tee-ball? Macramé?”, we pleaded.
No dice. She wanted to ride.
My baby, my youngest, the last of my children got up on her first pony one month after she turned 7 years old. It was “the best day of her life”, she later told us.
And yes, we made her wait a year. We had to be sure she was serious. This is a dangerous and expensive hobby, for goodness sakes! Besides, her wacked parents needed the proper time to envision and stress over all of the horrific things that could possibly go wrong.
Luckily, the lesson went well and the next year passed blissfully riding without incident.
That was until she fell off.
She fell forward over the pony in slow motion and landed on her side. I can still see it in my head all these months later.
Thank God she was alright. Thank God she was wearing a helmet. Thank God it wasn’t a bad fall. Thank God she landed safely in the sand. Thank God the pony didn’t freak and step on her. So many Thank Gods…
Now as a mother, when something like this happens, what do you do? Of course, you grab your child from the ground, cradle them in your arms, run like hell to the car and speed off out of sight, never to be seen around anything ever again that can harm a hair on your child’s head. Right? Am I right here?
That’s what I wanted to do and I was half way there when the instructor pulled me aside.
“She needs to get back up.”
“What? You mean on the pony? The pony that just THREW HER OFF? The pony that just tried to KILL her?”
“Kimberly, it wasn’t the pony’s fault and your daughter isn’t hurt. She lost her balance and tumbled off. It happens. If she doesn’t get right back up there, she may not ever want to again. I’ve seen it ruin riders.”
I tried to breath deeply. I tried not to well up as I looked at my daughter, my baby, and asked her what she wanted to do. Surely, she was ready to go home? We could snuggle on the couch and watch television…where it was safe.
“I want to try again, Mom”, she said as she wiped the tears of fear from her cheeks.
My courageous, tiny daughter was bound and determined to do something she was passionate about so she mounted that damn pony and rode again. I was never more proud of her in all of her 8 years than on that day. And never more frightened.
My daughter went on to show the pony last summer. Here you see her clutching her many ribbons while I communicate the look that only a mother would recognize.
Don’t you dare fuck with my kid. Understand me?
Where do you draw the line?
Cross posted @ DC Metro Moms Blog
Love that look. LOL.
I’m glad she got back on that pony. When I was 11 I was thrown from an Arabian and then stomped on. I was unable to get back in the saddle immediately because there was the small problem of having my head squished like a grape, blood oozing out all my pores and the paramedics not thinking it was safe…
It was weeks before I was well enough to even attempt getting on the horse again, but I was too scared too.
I’m just now conquering my fears, now that the kids are starting their lessons.
Redneck Mommy’s last blog post..Nightmare on Redneck Road
Well, growing up in Texas having horses is very normal - and almost expected if you live outside a large metro area like Houston or Dallas. Which we did - I grew up about an hour north of Houston. My first horse was a roping horse before I got her. So the first time I got on her and was ready to run her she took off like a bolt of lightening. And no matter how hard I pulled on the reigns and yelled “whoa” she wouldn’t stop. Then she took off thru the woods. She was going over logs and under tree limbs trying to knock me off. Finally when she got back into the pasture I bailed off. Then she stopped right where I fell. My dad was telling me that was the sign of a good horse and at that point I didn’t care! What was she earlier when she was acting possessed? And, yes…I had to get back on her. I didn’t want to, but I did it and after that we were ok. We did western riding, not english. So we competed in the poles, barrel racing and western pleasure riding. Unfortunately she didn’t do so well against other horses that were professionally trained for those events with a 4 year old rider siting in the saddle that only had to hang on - the horse knew exactly what to do with out any instruction from the rider. But we had fun anyway. I have a bunch of other funny horse stories but I don’t want to take up all your space here. I guess the most important thing is that your daughter is enjoying it.
TexasGal’s last blog post..How Old Should You Be…
I wouldn’t mess with you if you gave me that look. :-)
Heather’s last blog post..want and need
That picture is hilarious. Horses scare the crap out of me. Just saying.
Miz S’s last blog post..Really I should be in bed.
I still remember the first time I fell off. Knocked the wind right out of me…but my dad made me get back on, too.
Your girl is brave, she did good.
And do you remember what happened to my kid on horseback?
http://tinyurl.com/yvjncy
aka_monty’s last blog post..Because it’s friday and because I can.
That 1st picture is just too damn cute!
I don’t think there is a sport too dangerous. The kids have been fighting a lot lately, so I have signed Ashton up for knife throwing lessons, and we have Kaiden up on the wheel!
She’s one brave and determined cookie! I fell off my pony when I was 12 and never got back on one. Good for her!
Diane Mandy’s last blog post..Back in the USA
I had a horse and two ponies when I was little - we grew up in the country and my parents bought them without thinking twice. We moved from the city and that’s what Nana wanted to do - switch from one world to the one she always wanted to be a part of. I got bucked into the side of a barn, thrown into trees - and I didn’t ever wear a helmet, I did crazy things out in the country with no supervision. I can’t believe I lived. That being said, the thought of putting Faith on a horse turns my stomach - I completely understand your fears.
You’re going about it the sensible way, with an instructor who will teach her the right way to ride. The chances of something bad happening are about nil compared to me going wild as a child on a retired racehorse. Think about it.
Be happy she has the opportunity to do something most girls can only dream about while they play “My Pretty Pony.” You’re a good mommy.
xo
holli’s last blog post..March Madness Giveaway - week 2.
I grew up around horses, it seems like most of my friends had them. I didn’t… too much work, according to my father. But it’s imperative to get back on. You were wise to let her.
But, it wouldn’t surprise me one bit if that pony DID try to kill her. They’re a cantankerous lot, not to be trusted!
And getting thrown is difficult. But having a pony run you through the sage brush to knock you off or decapitate you, he doesn’t care which just as long as you end up OFF, is ever so glorious. Danm ponies.
HORSES are so much better.
I’m glad she’s OK. I’m glad you are too.
Wende’s last blog post..Flash Back
I love that she got back on the horse.
I’d guess there were some droppings behind that horse after you gave him that look.
My almost-7 year old wants to take riding lessons. I’m going to have to learn to take a lot of deep breaths. And maybe wear a blindfold.
Jennifer H’s last blog post..Abandon hope…sort of
oops.
*pony
Jennifer H’s last blog post..Abandon hope…sort of
I learned to ride when I was 5. My horse always put me in a mud puddle… I think landing in the sand sounds pretty darned good since she was dry when she got back on. I was always wet and dirty.
LLB was an ice skater. My fear was that LLB was going to be sliced in half by the bigger kids’ blades. LLB fell hard on her chest and had the wind knocked out of her once. That was almost enough for me. I looked cool and calm, but I was freaking!!!
Anyway, now she does a safe sport - ballet. From there she will move on to marching band.. another safe sport. Then, she wants to swim - you can only drown doing that, so that’s okay. As long as she doesn’t want to try javelin, shot put, or discus, we’ll be fine!!
xoxo
LBC
Ladybug Crossing’s last blog post..I’m off!
Playing the violin? That would be good.
magpie’s last blog post..The Lure of the Limerick
I grew up in a wrestling family, as did my husband. So ever since my son was very young I have watched him wrestle - just like I did my brothers. It rips your heart out watching them in pain sometimes.
Miss Britt’s last blog post..An ode to Britt’s first love…
I grew up in Potomac (Monkey Co. holla back!) which was still horse country back then and really don’t remember when I wasn’t on a horse. However, with a son who plays football I SO hear you. Every time the ambulance drives out on the field I die a little inside.
TX Poppet’s last blog post..Why I Am a Proud Feminist #2
I don’t really think of either of my kid’s hobbies/sports as dangerous but maybe I’m just kidding myself…
hockey and archery.
see? nothing dangerous about skate blades, checking, flying rubber discs, bow & arrows…
actually, we know a few kids who’ve gotten hurt playing hockey, nothing major but seeing a child lying on that ice after slamming into the boards…your stomach just drops.
that being said…one of the most important lessons in hockey is getting back up after you fall. And everyone falls.
jenny’s last blog post..4:45 a.m.
I love it! You crack me up.