Show Girls

"I want to show but I ain't putting ribbons in my hair!" - says the 12 year old girl in my class last night.

My lesson went well last night. It takes me a little while to get into the swing of things. I walked into the barn and the parents were helping to tack up the horses. That was new. I liked that. I think it is good to get parents involved so that they understand the horse world a little better.

Anyway, I had Emma, Mae, Emilie, and Becca in my lesson.
Mae was on this little black and white pony Holly. This pony is a little bullet... trotting around so fast. I just saw this red flannel jacket blurring around the ring...

Speaking of which I think the hardest thing about teaching is watching the students, your turning in circles constantly... I get dizzy.

 Emma had a moment where she couldn't get her pony Karma to canter... Karma is racing around doing the bouncy trot, and Emma is squeezing and getting thrown every which way. I finally pulled her over, and explained exactly what she must do... "Growl at her!" Even up her reins, push with her outside heel and pull with her inside rein!  And with a little confidence booster, Karma was dashing around the ring doing a canter. It was a proud moment. I wanted desperately to hop on that pony and make her do what she was told, but I knew that this was a fight for Emma, and she won it.

Then there was Emilie, a frail skinny but long legged girl. Very quiet... but a good little rider... She is one of those types that could easily put on some ballet slippers and do dance and riding, all in a weekend. She was riding my favorite horse "Ellie" for the first time. I was relieved by the end that Ellie was well behaved and didn't show off her amazing buck.

Last but not least was little Becca... who is seven and cute as a button. Her little legs were so short that they barely made it past the saddle pad... she was on an old police horse named Desi... Desi was so slow... Kick kick went little Becca's heel... and Mr. Desi just plodded along... barely feeling this flea like child on his back... good man of a horse.. he took care of her... and her toothy smile showed. She wanted to canter, but I couldn't let her just yet... so she did some figure eights, which she loved. I suppose it's like riding a bike.... I made her ride around me, and if she hit me, she would have to start over... she didn't hit me...close calls were had, but she made it around just fine. She got a ribbon for being really... damn cute.

The highlight of the lesson was when I asked them if they wanted to "Show" this season? They all raised there hand. Two girls had shown already, and done well. The other two looked desperate to have the same story to tell. I did a mock show for them... I pretended to be a judge and asked them to do the walk and trot and halt in a judges voice. Then the questions came. "Were we just doing a mock show?!" "I want to show but I'm not putting my hair in ribbons" "I don't want to be all girlie!" "I got 5 ribbons at my last show, I can't wait to do it again"

The comments came flying, and I couldn't help but think back to when I was their age in 1992. I had an asymmetrical bob, I tucked my breaches into my tube socks, and wore big colorful hoop earrings. I had no idea what these girls were talking about... I think they were hesitant to wear bows at the end of a pigtail braid. These girls were done looking cute.. they were little wild women, and were talking about getting tall boots! It's a big deal to go from garters to tall boots, your a woman now.

It was fun... It reminded me of my young days... and I walked away feeling refreshed... and old at the same time... . But wise. I knew that these girls could ride, and that they had potential, and they were riding for the right reasons, not to be cute and pretty but to KICK some ASS!