Juli Learns How To Ride A Pony

Summers are long, so Mom has to come up with something special for me to do.  This summer, I spent two weeks at pony class.

The first thing I had to do was get new clothes.  Did you know they have special clothes for riding ponies?  I got special black pants, tall rubber boots, and a special riding helmet.  Don't I look good?

I had pony lessons four times every week, after lunch, 2:00 until 6:00.  When I thought of what we might do, I thought that we would ride the ponies the whole time.

I was wrong.  The first thing we had to do after we caught our ponies was to brush them.  They can not go out until their hair is brushed.  Just like me!  Sometimes when they roll a lot it takes a long time to get them clean.  I also learned how to clean their feet.  Sometimes they are very hard to pick up.

After we brush them, we put the saddles on and then take them to the indoor riding place.  It takes a lot of practice to put on the saddle.  I am glad that my teacher always helped me.  I would get it tight, but she could get it tighter.

Once we had the ponies in the riding barn, we would get on and practice riding.  It is a lot of fun.  Sometimes the pony does not go the way I want to go.  When that happens, I have to pull on the reins to make the pony stop or turn.   If I use my heels and kick back, the pony will go faster.  We also use the crop to make them go.  I learned to make them walk, trot, and gallop.  Stopping wasn't so easy. 

 

After practice in the riding barn, we go for a ride outside.  This is my favorite part because we get to climb a special hill.  It has a log across the trail so the ponies have to step over it.  If you get going fast enough, the pony has to jump the log.  Sometimes the ponies don't want to go over the log at all.  Then I have to go back around and make them go over with a good kick and a strong slap with the crop.  

We also get to ride in the place where all the horses practice jumping.  One day I couldn't get my pony to gallop.  Mom said to follow one of the other ponies that was galloping.  I did, even when it jumped over a real jump.  That was so much fun that I did it over and over.  I love jumping!  Even though I did fall off once.  I got hurt a little bit but it didn't last long and I got back on my pony.

Sometimes our teacher, Aurelie, would take us out into the forest for a hike on the ponies.  This was really great because it was a lot cooler there than in the sun.  We had some really hot days.  I didn't like having to let my pony rest every time it got hot and tired.

After we finish riding, there is more work.  We have to wash the saddles and clean the feet of the ponies.  Sometimes they do not want their feet cleaned.  That is when I need a bigger person to help me.  Then do you know what those nice, clean ponies do?  They get down on the ground and roll in the dirt.

I love riding ponies.  I would like to do it some more.  Maybe during the school year?