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Homeschool · Simple Living

The Over-Scheduled Child

August 15, 2019 J.EverheartLeave a comment

This summer I’ve been thinking about which activities my kids are going to participate in when fall rolls around. We homeschool, so I do like them to get out and about and see other kids, but I’m also very aware of over-scheduling. It’s homeschool, not run-around-town-school. I think one of the biggest myths perpetuated to… Continue reading The Over-Scheduled Child

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He loves his ear rubs and head massages. He is way more snuggly than the horses. He comes back after dinner for more snuggle time.
I used to own this donkey and now I own him again because he wasn’t working out in his new home. He is like one of those really intelligent dog breeds that if you don’t give them a job, they create a job for themselves and it usually involves getting into trouble. We will be hiking together, camping, going for beach walks and learning to pack. Many adventures await!
When your pony is this good, you walk the last quarter mile back to the trailer to give him a break. (He looks grumpy here, but that was just the wind blowing in his face.)
I have a story for you. I took Baron to the beach today and it was WINDY so we started out on the inside road, a dirt road that runs parallel to the beach but is behind the dunes and out of the wind. We rode a good while in the deep sand and I didn’t want to overdo it, so I thought we could just go over the hill and look at the beach but not go very far. Walking in deep sand like that is a workout for him and I don’t like to push him too hard. We rode over the hill onto the beach and he went from plodding plow horse to fire breathing dragon as soon as he felt the wind whipping and heard the roar of the ocean. He held it together and we left the beach and started back to the trailer. Except that he didnt want to go! He turned around and took me back over the hill onto the beach and we did another mile on the beach with the wind in our hair and the ocean all whipped up. I was shocked that he turned around and wanted to go even longer, and on the beach with all the noise! I was so proud of him! Even though he scares the shit out of me sometimes, he really is a good horse! Check my story for video of the ride...
I rode Baron bridleless for the first time tonight and I did not die. It went way better than expected! I have very little control over speed but the steering was on point! I figured he would just go stand by the gate, but he actually gave me a tour of the pasture and cooperated quite well. I tried this because I want him to get better about slowing down off of my seat. I ride alone 99% of the time now, and our communication and trust really need to go to the next level for me to feel confident. Even though we didn’t leave the pasture, this was a productive exercise!
Riding on the beach looks so idyllic and fun but, to keep it real, let me just say that it comes with a lot of anxiety. Baron is excited about riding somewhere new, especially alone with no other horses. I spend half the ride trying to keep him from taking off, trying to wear him out a little and help him relax. It’s actually a great mindfulness exercise because I have no choice but to Be Here Now. I have to use all my mental acuity to control my emotions and provide him with confident leadership. I let him trot it out some, and that helps, but I would really like to just walk and relax. That doesn’t happen with a big, excitable, athletic thoroughbred. I’ve had him long enough that I handle him well, but that doesn’t mean I’m not anxious! If I’m being honest, at this stage in my life I’d like to ride something a bit fatter and lazier. But this is the horse I have and he’s a good boy! Here’s to all the riders who are nervous and push through it for the love of the horse 💕
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