Our Pony Girl…
I always adored horses as a child… I was pretty much your average horse-obsessed little girl.
Of course, I was lucky enough to actually be able to HAVE my own horse from an early age – one which I was expected to care for and to help out with the mustering on. It involved many early mornings, plenty of busters, chafed calves and thighs and wind-burned cheeks in winter months. For a horse-mad kid, it was a pretty good deal.
My memories of Minnie the dapple grey mare who liked to steal weet-bix from my hand, Twinkle the bay mare who loved to roll when you least expected it, gentle Eve who I got to break in when I was just twelve, are a very special (and large) part of my childhood recollections.
My father adores horses – and both his parents were notoriously horse-mad and outstanding riders. I think Violet might be cut from the same cloth as her grandpa and great-grandparents.
A couple of days ago, after school (when I though she was feeding her ducks) our daughter was actually catching and saddling her horse BY HERSELF. Apparently Callum discovered her activities before she climbed aboard, and tightened her girth properly (thank goodness) before my husband called me outside to watch this*…
IS THIS THE RIGHT LEAD, DADDY?
(Yes Violet, that’s right).
AM I GALLOPING YET, DADDY?
(Close enough – no need to go ANY quicker than that!)
WHEEEEEE!!!!!
(Check out the JOY on that face!)
The girl ADORES riding. Would do it seven days a week if she could.
There is a campdraft next weekend which she is desperate to compete in. I am thankful that Sandy, while an outstanding riding and mustering horse for her, is not madly ‘cowy’ (i.e. wants to chase a cow HARD). He will go where she asks him to, and not take over. Not that my heart won’t be completely in my mouth the entire time she is competing. It’s a Mama thing.
What is it about horses that makes us love them so?
The unique horse aroma? The gorgeous proportions? The individual personalities? The ability to feel like you are flying when you ride? All those things.
I also love their eyes …
This is Sandy’s eye – amber and flecked and multi-layered and kind and heavily fringed with ginger lashes…
I cannot imagine a more beautiful thing…
Especially when he takes care of our Violet so beautifully.
♥
*I know those riding boots are wrong – we have had a big talk about wearing the right boots (that can come off if the rider gets their foot stuck in the stirrup). And that whip – purely decorative. I don’t think she used it once!
11 Comments
Helen Gardner
I can feel Violet’s joy vicariously through your photos. As far back as I can remember (getting my first pair of boots for my 3rd birthday) I was and still am horse crazy. I was born and raised in the city and I never have had a horse so I live through folks like you who share…
Thank you for Violet’s thrilling and joyful ride and Sandy’s beauty…
Elizabeth
As a kid, I had both the wheeled and non-wheeled version of the palomino pictured on this page: http://www.modelhorsegallery.info/m/Marx/MHCs_Marx.html
LOVE watching Violet ride!
Jaki
When we were up north my daughter would get ready for school by saddling up and riding to the donga via the cattle yards and let her pony go at the school door! We have moved and times have changed, she now gets home from school and saddles up waiting for me to come home from work!
I look at the joy and concentration on Violets face and think every child should have a pony and feel the confidence that goes with riding and the unconditional love of a best friend…thanks for sharing Violet’s Joy
Colin Huggins
Well if the look of determination is the core issue from these fantastic photos, Violet is the junior champion camp-drafter already.
Violet sure is a lucky girl to have a palomino pony. I was intensively jealous of kids at the pony club week who had a palomino to ride. The boys at this week of learning, training and all associated horse riding and grooming/caring were
billeted in the sheep pavilion. The girls were in far better quarters, a pavilion for produce etc. Great days indeed, I wonder do Pony Club weeks still exist these days??
Still I did love my “dappled grey mare, Twilight” but had always at these annual meets the jealous streak, why can’t she change colour.
Go Violet, I expect you to win. Stop worrying Amanda, Violet will make you and “Mr. I” proud. Will Dash be showing off
his horsemanship also?
jeanie
You missed Jingles – or didn’t you get her? – and I know you missed out on Sardine, poor you. The latter was excellent in curing any latent horse-mad moments I might have encountered.
Violet looks so happy – that is wonderful!!! Is she going to compete on the weekend? Now I know why you are so torn.
Kelly
She looks like a natural! Hope she has a fun, safe time at the competition.
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Jayne
Oh my god, I was transported back to the age of 10 and riding my first pony at the riding school – FABulous feeling!
Love how much joy is on that face! 🙂
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KAddy
Ha – I didn’t notice the crop or the boots – I was too busy taking in the joy on her little face and wishing it was me. x
Sucks to be a grown up sometimes 😉
Bill
It makes me smile
Leenie
Joy to watch her ride, fear to watch her ride, sad to see her growing up so fast. Yep, mixed emotions.
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debby
Pickles has beautiful eyes, but the eyes that captivated me are Violet’s eager eyes in picture two. God bless her little cotton socks.
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