I went on my first real ride on Ruskie today.  A friend rode his horse, “Biggin”, over to my house and we left from here.  He was a really big help for me.  His horse told Ruskie that he was not as great and pretty as he thought he was, and was a great leader for him.  My friend kept me calm when Ruskie didn’t want to go across the highway and through a gate.  We rode for almost 2 hours.  It was as I had dreamed of for nearly 2 yrs now.  Ruskie had a wet saddle blanket and I will probably be sore tomorrow - but it was SOOOO FUN!!!

I hope to get many more hours of riding now that I have gotten the first under my belt

First sight of Ruskie’s new friend, Biggin

Me - on top, finally ahhhh

Well, I did it!!!  I got on the horse today all by myself!  I think it was just a mind over matter thing.  N and I had a wonderful ride.  We rode out to a pond and back to her place.  We rode for a bit over an hour.  As I ride, I get stronger physically and mentally.  I think it is like riding a bike, you never actually forget.  I can hardly wait for the next time!

Not the movie, but me.  Yep, I am really pale :-)  But that should change soon since I am going to be horseback riding with a great instructor and a very very great friend.  She called me yesterday morning and asked if I wanted to ride with her out on the prairie that spans for miles behind her house- well, YEEESSSSS!  I rode her beautiful Arabian 2 and a half years ago and I rode him today. Yes, N - 2 and a half yrs!  His name is Zzari  (Ben Rabba x Ariezad)- his name will take you to a page that was written by his loved and lovely owner on Zzari’s 22nd birthday.  They have had a wonderful adventure together for the past 19 yrs.  I am excited because we have made plans to try to ride once a week together.  I know I will enjoy riding him because he is used to all types of riders and I need lots of his experience to get me back to the riding abilities that I had as a younger person….. My grandfather had an Arabian ranch outside of Olympia, Wa and I rode from sun-up to sun-down every day most every summer until I was about 16.  I was pretty good back then - I could even jump on bareback with no aids of any kind…. yesterday, I embarrassed myself because I had to use a bale of straw to help heave myself into the saddle!!    I need to be lean and mean (not that mean!) so that I can ride my own horse, Ruskie, more.  Like I said before, Zzari is used to the unskilled rider - Ruskie thinks HE is in control with the “yahoo” rider.

N took this pic of Zzari and me during our last ride together on the very same prairie.

Thank you, Zzari and N for the great ride and time together… I really hope that there are many more great days ahead for us!