She moved the reigns slightly, Banjo went right. She moved them again, he went left. She pulled them back. Banjo stopped. She said,"Walk on," and he did. They were practicing walking slalom around traffic cones. A volunteer had her horse on a lead, but Riley was directing it.
Peering through the two way mirror, I suddenly saw a change in her body language. A drop in the shoulders. And then, the smile. A small, slow one, filled with pride. She was controlling this powerful horse.
She had a lot of fear getting on the first time, but she's worked through it.
Mastery. My girl felt a sense of mastery.
After class I asked what her favorite thing about horseback riding was.
She thought about it a few seconds and said, "I just really liked being up there."
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8 comments:
Horses are the best.
Our son has been in a Therapeutic riding program for about 7 years. When there is a conflict for Tuesday nights and he is given a choice where he wants to go, it is always the horses that win.
This was a child who was afraid of *everything* The first time he rode the trainer got on behind him, within 5 minutes he turned and told her"You get off!" and he was pretty much nonverbal at the time.
I hope your daughter gets as much out of it as our son does.
Every thing we do leads to progress!
Ahhhhh... You brought back memories from my early riding lessons. It is so empowering for a twiggy little girl like I was and I imagine your daughter is.
I tried horseback riding at summer camp as a kid, and did badly... but I suspect that was the learning environment. I did it again in college (even got PE credit!), and I LOVED it. I really need to get back to it. It did give me a tremendous sense of mastery, and that was something that I really needed at that point in my life. I could really use it now, as a matter of a fact.
I can just picture that moment. :-) What a great development.
Oh my gosh, I know the feeling! I have had a life long love going with horses. I am so happy she has this chance.
Yay!
:)
Yippee!! You have SOOO much happiness ahead of you! My girls have been riding for years and I could almost right a book of all their antics and achievements.
Just wait 'til you get the laid back John Wayne style one handed and no stirrups....
I'm filling out the horsey papers today! Awesome.
Much as I hate to admit it, animals do seem to have incredible therapeutic effect.
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