frolicking

look mommy i found a beautiful sunflower.

yes grace, you are right ...it is so lovely.

hey, let's get ariel out and let her play with us.

oh no...she's going to get me.

but what is this, i have never seen anything like this before?

it seems hello kitty has the power to mesmerize.

i can't take my eyes off of it.

me neither.

"stand back" says grace, "i know what to do with this thing."

"you get way back...then take it from the side."

ahhhh, it's trying to get me...

okay abbey see what you can do...

...that's right you got it.

what happens next...silliness ensues.


fun, frolicking, fanciful flights of fantasy...all in the name of summer.

land of mini's

there are lots of animals at rein water ranch.

miniature horses are no exception.

meet jewel...

she is a pretty black and white filly just a few years old.

then there is willie...

he is the oldest but is too modest to tell you his real age.

and finally there is sparky.

he was previously owned by an electrician...they think he is in his teens.

there are other mini's but these are the ones that "sparked" our attention.

abbey was able to ride jewel bareback.

but it's willie who has a special talent.

he had to be primped for it.

the girls were trying to get him looking just right.

willie might have felt silly...but he was feeling loved all the same.

next came hitching him up to the cart.

then with harness in place...abbey was able to drive willie.

life on the ranch is...busy...fun...full of wonderful adventures.

thanks jean and esther.

post script:

happy birthday to dh and david.

i love you both and will look forward to celebrating when i get home.

first lesson

day one in ocala...

here we come "reny"

what a sweet boy...he just put his head down so abbey

could reach to put the halter on.

isn't he a beauty...we think so

into the barn...

...for a good brushing...

getting the saddle...

safety first...

in the round pen...

now a few adjustments...in covered arena...

let's get some of the basics down...

way to ride abbey...

horse and rider getting to know each other...

follow the leader...

sisters, chatting up about horses...

going beyond the borders of the arena...

a lesson well taught and well done, bravo girls.