First Beach Ride

I touched my English tack today. He even stood patiently at the mounting block waiting for me to throw a leg over. Bit of a rocket ship, may need to go down a girth size until the grass starts to grow because we're rocking a bit but none the less, only way to start my day.

Reason for all of a sudden hoping in the Bates today? Had another lesson the other day and the words spoken to me were, "I need to see you in your jump saddle... Make it happen." Well... #sayiwont

Here's a little video from our lesson: ... Technical Difficulties... Will post later.

Unfortunately, Wendy had to work this past Sunday so Brantley and I were planning on just sticking around the barn and doing some flatwork - maybe sneak out on the trails... But then I got a text from a boarder at the farm I was horse-sitting at. "I'll be there in 30 minutes, we're going to the beach."

Next thing you know Brantley and his new trail buddy Black Jack were on the trailer and headed over to Jamestown. JAMESTOWN! Ummm... Over the bridge... Where I live? Off the mainland? Well... Okay then...

"Ummm... What's going on?"

We parked in N's front yard right off the main street of town and the boys grazed while we got our stuff ready. Before you knew it we were tacked up and ready to go. I knew the roads we'd be riding down and how busy the beach would be so my initial thought was just to hand walk him to where we were headed...

CLOVER!

That didn't happen. I jumped right on ready for the challenge. We ran into traffic and bicycles flying up our butts. Dogs parking out car windows. Trash on the side of the road. Motorcycles. Umbrellas. Kids running around. Brantley was a complete rock star. I have faith in my horse but mentally I was prepared for maybe not the worse, but definitely not this. He amazed me.

We even had our first canter down the beach!

B was not a huge fan of the water but he finally gave it and gave it a go. Now, I live in the Ocean State and grew up somewhat on the beach, but I am sooo a land animal. And no one warned me about losing your balance in the water, while on your horse. Has anyone else experienced this? We got all the way up to his chest and right when I thought things were good, we both started looking down... and then we both started to fall sideways completely unbalanced.

Brantley tried to catch me but ended up losing his mind... All I could do was hold the horn and wait it out because I was just as dizzy. He started spinning and running away from the wake he was making in the water and next thing you knows he's bucking sideways. Not once did I feel unsafe like he was trying to lose me though. I breathed, looked out on the horizon and said, "You're fine." Gave him a minute to cool his jets, take two steps deeper, and then we turned around and called it a day.

Anyone else ever have that experience? I think we'll stick to rivers and fresh water from now on haha.

Black Jack loves his Del's

We headed back and stopped for a Del's Lemonade (if you don't know what that is... I feel sorry for you). The girl working could not get enough of the boys. And then the small crowd started. Oddly enough, it started with adults and then the kids. Black Jack kept to himself and slurped up his Del's but Brantley... This is what he lives for.

I don't just own a horse for myself.

I own a horse and work with my horse so that other people can enjoy him too.

No... We can't do pony rides. But to see the smile that he brings me on someone else's face?

Priceless.

It makes everything I do and go through worth it.