Giddy Up!

For those of you that don't know, Meagan loves, lives, breathes horses. I can't even remember how it all got started but it has been Meagan's "thing" forever. She has always been a huge animal lover. I don't care what it is (I have pictures of her with baby racoons), she absolutely thinks animals are the coolest thing in the world. For the most part, Meagan is always my big smiler, but you put her with a horse and that's it. At about 3, she got some cowgirl boots and a few toy horses. Then it turned into getting a toy barn and about 30 more horses. When Aunt Jessica comes over, they have to get the whole set up out and it takes up my whole living room.

For Christmas, Santa got her a red lead rope and a harness. He's already getting her equipment because he knows some day we will probably end up with the hay burners. We've already cleared about an acre's worth of trees out back. Just can't afford the darn things right now.

So we have been going to Ms. Pat's for about a year. Ms. Pat says that lots of kids like horses but that Meagan has the "itch". It's not ever going to go away. LOL. Ms. Pat and Meagan are buddies. She gives Meagan lessons about every two weeks for a very reasonable price. $15/hr. They usually end up going riding together. Ms. Pat sits behind Meagan and then lets her control whichever horse they take out. When we get back, she usually lets Meagan have some arena time.

We now have begun going to Ravenna (I know... don't even say it) for their monthly auctions.

First, you never buy a horse from an auction. We just go to have a look. Some of them are truly beautiful. I was tempted enough to actually get a number last time. Do you think they will let me post date a check for 2 years?

Second, Meagan thinks it is work because if she brings her helmet, at some point Ms. Pat might put her on a pony out in the middle of the ring to try and help sell the horse. She literally says that it is her job.

What's sad is that Shawn has now become obsessed. One Sat. we had no kids and figured we would have a date night. It's been forever. Where did we end up? Ravenna. Somehow I feel I got the raw end on that deal!

Meagan's whole room is horses and if you look at our couch, there is one poor spot that she puts her Pooh blanket on (it's supposed to be a saddle blanket. She then puts her lead rope and harness up there. And notice the helmet sitting on the couch. She rides the stinken couch like she is running a race. And if you are actually watching the Kentucky Derby...forget it! Poor couch. This is actually how she left it tonight when she went to bed.

Here are some pictures of this week's riding lesson.

Meagan in the arena. She loves to have control of the horse on her own...if only she would stop laughing to actually do so. I swear she gives Ms. Pat a heart attack.





She gets to laughing so hard, I swear she is going to fall off.

Katelyn gets to go about once a month so she can learn how to take care of them as well. She didn't have her lesson this week, but wanted in on the photo op.

Ms. Pat showing Camanche some love.

PS. We had someone walk through our other house that's for sale and she really liked it. She is calling on Monday to check on financing. Pray for us Wish us luck!