Flying Solo

Saturday began with horesy baths ----

lots of scrubbing, brushing, combing.

Once both horses were clean, they rested for a short while.

Then they got loaded into a trailer,
which was loaned to us

 by dear friends, just for the occasion.

We drove our horses to R.B. Equestrian Center

for a playdate --- 

it was the first time our family flew "solo" -- 

loading, hauling, and and attending an event
with our own horses.

It went GREAT !!
Smoother than we dared to even hope.

(Thanks to the G family for prepping us so well !)

Cinnamon tried on her

pretty pink sparkly halter while

she and Cherub 2 practiced

some "in hand"

skills in the arena.

SunnySocks visited an arena

for the very first time ...

she was a little spooked when

some other horses/riders

were going round and round,

but DadToCherubs and Cinnamon

helped her calm down and collect herself.

After the arena time, Sunny and DadToCherubs

hung out by the horse trailer.

Sunny watched Cinnamon and Cherub 2,

and munched some yummy hay.

She did soooo well for her first trip !!

Meanwhile, Cinnamon and Cherub 2 "tooled around"

on the Trail Course together, trying various "skills".

After a short while, Cinnamon and Cherub 2

headed down to the arena for a bit more riding ...

and Sunny watched them from the hillside.

Although it's not a good photo, you can clearly

see the JOY in Cherub 2's face ... 

a girl and her horse ...

in the arena, riding for the first time.

What fun !!

Cherub 2 on Cinnamon, and their teacher/trainer

Ms. R on Kodak, riding in the arena together.

Don't they look so pleased just to be together ?

They tooled around a bit more on the trail course

while Sunny watched -- Sunny did sooooo well,

patiently waiting and watching (and munching !).

After spending about 2 hours at R.B.,

both horses and humans alike were so pleased.
Everything was going even better than we'd hoped.
So, while all was going so well,
we packed up our beautiful horses and

headed home.

It was a fantastic day !!

Sunny did really well, especially for
her very first time

at an official "arena"
with all of the new horses,
new people, new sights, new smells

... it was a great start for her future.

And of course Cinnamon and Cherub 2

had a lovely time working together.
This was their first official "outing"
together too.

Now they are looking forward to

possibly showing together for

the first time this fall.

Thanks to Dumma for coming

along with us.

And thanks G family for

making our first solo trip such

a special day,

for helping us succeed,

and to Ms. R for being such

a patient and dedicated teacher.

We appreciate you all !!