Another riding lesson today and the girls learned a lot.
Because their fashion choices always amuse me, here’s a quick shot of the different jeans they bought for riding. Ree (left) bought skinnyskinny jeans and has really been into tank tops this month. Ro went for the flared jeans with cute little snap pockets on the behind. We’ve been stocking up on jeans lately because they’ll also need them for our China trip over Christmas (it will be COLD).
Choosing brushes, always a big decision. Oh what to pick what to pick, the pink bristled because it’s so cute or the brown one because it’s easier to hold...:
Ro’s horse today was a handsome fellow named Justin:
And Ree’s horse was a lively boy named J.D.:
Ro really got the hang of making tight little turns today. And she got to trot, which always makes her grin:
Ree likes trotting too and wants to know if they’re going out on the trail any time soon. Um, no:
How much does this picture make me grin??? I might take one of these shots every lesson (but don’t worry, I won’t make you look at it every time... Heh.):
Cuties. I kind of want to take a lesson with them. Has anyone picked it up after decades of not riding? If so, tell the truth, how much did it hurt?
PS 1: When the girls were brushing their horses, I made a few kissy noises at J.D. and Ro said “Mama, he’s not a hamster!!” Hee!
PS2: Thanks for all the help with helmets. We went shopping armed with the following tips from blog comments in case anyone needs them: Get ASTM/SEI approved helmets. If you go to a tack store, they will ask the child to bend over and put their heads down, with the strap unhooked, to ensure a good fit. Need a twisty button in back to adjust. The helmet should fit very snugly - you should see the skin on their forehead wrinkle when you wiggle the brim. A helmet designed for schooling versus showing will save you a huge amount of money and they come in fun colors and weigh far less than the show helmets.
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Oh my gosh, they look so professional in their hats.
ReplyDeleteSince we travel back and forth to England all the time we get a lot of Lily's riding stuff over there.
This company has the cutest kids riding kit
http://www.carrotsequestrian.co.uk/sub/195/riding-gloves/
You might be able to find it over here too though. I linked so to gloves.
Such cuteness!! And the horses, too ;)
ReplyDeleteYour girls look so at home in the saddle... I bet they'll both be out on the trails soon!
Not on the topic of horsey stuff, but thought you might be interested to see this: http://i1.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/315/661/590.jpg Looks like one of your girls, photoshopped with a machine gun and explosion. It seems to be a spinoff of the "High Expectations Asian Dad" meme.
ReplyDeleteI don't think it looks like Ro or Ree.
Deleteok, you mention taking lessons again every time you post about horses.
ReplyDeleteObviously you need to take lessons again. Get on it! (literally, actually) A1
Awesome tips on the helmets M3! And the photos are priceless. I really need to take my camera to every riding lesson. The confidence horse riding lessons inspires is amazing to me. The size of the horse alone should be slightly scary but it doesn't seem to phase your girls or mine!
ReplyDeleteAmanda in Atlanta
The girls picked navy blue helmets ?? OMGoodness what is this world coming to
ReplyDeleteMette
Oh trust me they've already asked about the helmet covers that were linked to in a previous blog comment. These helmets just happened to be the ones that fit the best -- the store had a big selection and the owner tried them all on the girls -- but alas they weren't sparkly or "fancy."
DeleteGreat pics. Glad they're enjoying Themselves :)
ReplyDeleteAdorable as ever!
ReplyDeleteAnother vote for Mama taking lessons! I'm sure you'd love it....and there's nothing a little Advil couldn't take care of the day after. :o)
Do it. You'll be sore but it's the good kind of sore! It will be so therapeutic. Next time I come up let's go riding together! Many barns offer trail rides. Miss you guys.
ReplyDeleteMy sister in law started again when her DD started taking lessons. She was 40 something.
ReplyDeleteThey now own their own horse.
I started at age 45 with my 8 yr old after not riding since I was in my 20's.... first couple of weeks I ached a bit - but soaks in the tub hurt - but OH - IT WAS SOOOOO MUCH FUN TO RIDE WITH MY GIRL!!!!
ReplyDeleteWeela helmet covers! She can do it!
ReplyDeleteI just reread your first paragraph and realized you were planning a trip to China. How exciting. I went right after Nixon opened up relations decades ago and was there for the entire month of January and it was COLD. You might want wool jeans :).
ReplyDeleteWhere will you travel? Are the girls excited?
We're doing a heritage tour, sponsored by the CCWAA, and will go to Beijing, Xian, Chengdu, and Guilin. The girls are PSYCHED.
DeleteAre ou visiting China for vacation or adopting?
ReplyDeleteJust a visit this time. Although a little side trip to hug Nora and Ava at New Day Foster Home would be incredible.
DeleteDoes anyone reading this have any connections at New Day?
Oh my gosh, every time they post pictures of Nora and Ava I think of you guys, haha.
DeleteYou need to go pinch some baby cheeks.
yay ! glad to see they got helmets- they look like pros now, so cute ! most riders actually make kissy noises or cluck at their horses- I still sometimes accidently do it when I want something, like a car in front of me , to go faster ! HAHAHA !
ReplyDeletewe had to buy a riding helmet for her upcoming show and all the show helmets didn't fit her small, round head, so we got a training helmet and a black velvet cover and she is tickled pink that her riding helmet is pink :)
ReplyDeleteand it was sooooo much less than a show helmet!
Ride on girls - Kelsey would rather ride than play with her friends at this moment!
Love the jeans. They look so cute in them and grown up! I love the sparkley boots.
ReplyDeleteJealous of a trip to China. And the horse lessons. And the great outfits. Okay, pretty much everything.
Its so cool how in to it. You know your getting your moneys worth on these lesson. Just curious does mom and dad ride a horse?
ReplyDeleteERIKA
I rode as a child, and the one thing I wished I had had was riding gloves. If you're riding often enough or long enough, you get blisters and split hands.
ReplyDeleteI wish there had been sparkly boots and coloured helmets when I was a kid. XD And yes, you should definitely take lessons!
Your China trip sounds amazing XD
They are looking sharp and oh, so professional!
ReplyDeleteYou should go for it, too. It is obviously something you want to do, and what better time than now to do it.
I forgot to put my name on that bossy comment!
DeleteMa
The girls look great on their horses. Maisie had fun doing a few weeks of lessons back in May and I also did them with her though I had never ridden before. I didn't find it painful until I managed to pull something in my back and couldn't sit or lay down for about 5 days. But that of course shouldn't stop you from giving it a bash!!
ReplyDeleteI'm a New Day Mommy. You can contact them to arrange a visit if you are in Beijing. Send them an email or write me and I'll put you in touch. It's an amazing place!
ReplyDeleteAlways love seeing the girls flare for style. How exciting, a heritage trip. We cannot wait until the kids are all a bit older to take them back again. My girls think we should be able to go back every Christmas.
ReplyDeleteYou are going to love Christmas there. We were there 3 years ago (this coming Christmas) to bring home our little guy. So different from what we had expected. Hotels were decorated just as the ones here would be. When we finally arrived in Guangzhou on Christmas Eve they were having a party like what we would expect on NYE here. We were in southern China for our entire trip so I am sure the weather will be much different for you. It was chilly, but nothing crazy. I can't wait to see the pictures and read about your experiences, especially the girls'.