Girls love horses.

Girls love horses!!

I have an old friend that has several horses and every once in a while she'll call me up and ask if my sister and I would like to go riding with her. This time my sister wasn't able to go and another friend that was going suggested that I ask Alexis to go. My 1st thought was no way. I grew up around horses and I know 1st hand how crazy horses are. When they spook, they can cause lots of damage. Alexis has never ridden before and this was gonna be a 5 hour ride. I really wanted Alexis to go so I thought that I would ask her and see what she thought. She got all wide eyed and begged to go. When I asked my friend who owns the horse if that was ok, she was very hesitant. She said it wouldn't be good for a 1st ride because it was a long ride. She said there is no turning back once we start. She didn't want me to ruin her ride and I didn't blame her. I told Alexis the news and she got all teary eyed. She promised she wouldn't complain and that she could do it. "Please" she begged. Although I wasn't sure that I was making the right decision, I said ok. My friend was like ok, but I knew she wasn't too sure. I made Alexis wear a helmet just to be safe and off we went. "No complaining" I reminded her.

The ride was very long, about two hours in and two hours out with a stop at a river to swim and have lunch. About 15 minutes into the ride some quail shot up out of the brush sending the horses into a panic. I thought for sure Alexis would end up on the ground but she did good and hung on. I was thinking, wow she did good.

About 2 hours in I could tell that Alexis was in pain. It is hard to sit in a saddle that long with your legs in a position that their not used to. I was hurting too. She never complained though, I was so proud of her. Her horse and my horse didn't get along. This was as close as I could get without her horse kicking and biting my horse. His ears are back in this photo, he's not too happy about me standing anywhere near him.

Ahhh, finally it was time to relax. I wasn't about to get in this river though. Alexis swore an alligator brushed against her leg. She's so funny.

I just love this pic. We tied the horses to the tree branches while we had lunch.

Here's Alexis doing what she does best, being goofy.

This pic says it all. Alexis was in love with this horse. She loved every minute of it. I remember back in the day when I would go riding bare back. There's something about riding bare back that I can't explain. We would hold our own horse show in the pasture where we kept our horses. We made ribbons and everything. What memories.

Sorry Alexis for underestimating you. I guess I still see you as this little prissy girl. You are growing up so fast. It's nice to do these kinds of things together.