I'm BACK! Back in the Saddle again.

Yes, the Aerosmith chorus runs through my head, hence the title.

After that wonderful anniversary weekend, I came home bound and determined to make riding apart of my life again. Horses have always been a big piece of who I am, and they have been missing from my life for a good 6 years. I stopped riding and instructing once Lauralyn came on the scene, and at that point I was 100% happy to be a full time mom.

Mothering is also a big part of who I am, but lately, it has felt like that was my entire identity. Starting my photography business has helped my creative needs, but something was still missing. I tried to take up jogging. While it was great for my endorphins, let's face it, a runner I am not. It border lined on torture or at the very least annoying.

In my searching, I found a nice barn, which actually has nice horses (not your typical half dead lesson horses). I have been taking lessons with the part time instructor who comes from Greensboro, mostly to help knock off the rust and get me jumping again. In between, I am able to ride as often as my schedule allows, teach a homeschool riding class to help cover my expenses, and use of the horses/ponies to teach my own kids to ride!



The facility is very nice. Nicer than any of the barns I have been to since leaving Farewell many years ago.

The horse I have grown quite fond of is a lovely mare named Abigail. She is really a perfect ride for someone like me. Complicated enough that I don't get bored. But she won't stop at a jump (I really have no desire to come off in my old age haha), and she is quiet enough to let the kids get on in the round pen. She has a rocking horse canter to die for... making the Arabian proverb come to life: The wind of heaven is that which blows between a horse's ears.


Here is a pic of Abigail... with someone else riding. I am smitten.

I am rotating the kids' turns out at the barn. On Tuesdays I take Kristin and Daniel. Kristin is my little rider. She would ride for hours if I let her. She even rides bareback without fear. Daniel lasts about 2 minutes and only will ride behind Kristin because he likes someone to hold on to. But, he talks about riding and going to the barn for the rest of the week.



Isaac is another natural. He loves being in the saddle, and has even asked for paddock boots and half chaps! (Much to Noah's dismay... he thinks English riders should all be girls, even though half of the big time riders and trainers are men, who make good money doing it).

Lauralyn enjoys going to the barn, but has more fear of riding, and doesn't stay on long. She really likes spending time with the animals, though, and is great at grooming the horses. As time goes on she may enjoy riding more.



I am feeling so blessing and thankful God has given me the opportunity to fit right into an ideal horse situation. It is far better than anything I expected to find, especially just a 15 minute drive from my house.