"Misty" has a rider up.
Yesterday, I spent the afternoon at the farm. Some little boy scouts were coming by to work on their "knights and armor" merit badges.
Five bucks a piece for their hour "ride".
So, it took Sharon, April, and myself to tack up Christine (the polo pony), Sweet Harmony (retired quarter horse), Pearl ( old gal, polo also), and Misty, the black shetland, ribbon winner, in anticipation of the "knights".
I was to give them a tour of the barns before they climbed on the horses.
Told them not to wave their little hands in front of a horse's mouth if they didn't want to lose a finger or two. Told them that horses liked quiet.
Moms and dads followed the little guys, clicking away with their cameras.
Flashes in the horse's faces.
The boys were better behaved than the paperazzi.
Well, the kids were plenty excited, so I led them to the indoor arena where their mounts awaited.
After adjusting the sturrips and telling them to keep their heels down, the boys were boosted to the saddles.
Not to worry, a groom had each horse on a short lead as we walked around the indoor ring four times, did a reverse (wide), with another person walking beside (me) included, next to each boy...just to catch if they lost balance.
Moms and dads kept up the flashes everytime we came around in front of them. The old mares were as nice as could be.
So, back to Misty. A kid named Devon was on her. I was the "catcher".
He held a death grip on the saddle during most of his pony ride.
Finally, I told him how to hold the reins (even though the groom held the lead all the time). His confidence grew. Then the smile came. I can't exactly explain what that look was like. Just something very good when an old gal like Misty works her charm, lets you know that the fear you once had wasn't necessary in the first place.
After the "lesson" and we helped them climb down, each boy stood next to the one they "rode". Moms and dads took more pictures.
Devon looked like he'd just climbed Everest.
I took the boys for a walk through the shedrow while the grooms took the mares back to their stalls and untacked them.
They kept asking me if they could "pet" one. So I took them to Shot o' Bourbon, my filly, and they each gave her a gentle touch on her nose.
Shot was fine with that, but after the third kid, she'd had enough and went to the back of her stall. More pictures. "She's beautiful!"
Well, I just wanted to share this little story about Misty. She was the one that taught someone that "the only thing you have to fear is fear itself."
She went back to her hay. Nice job, Misty!
Devon went back to his doings...school, homework, and merit badges.
My guess is that his smile won't go away for about two months...maybe longer.
Interesting to me...once the fear is gone, the "terrible thoughts" confronted, smiles can really happen.
Thank you Misty. You taught another one.
|