Sabina's lesson

Today I take Sabina to the local horse riding school for a lesson. I have decided that she doesn't listen when I try to teach her, and that if we're to enjoy our combined dream of riding in the state forest together, then she's got some learning to do.

Sabina gets a nice chestnut pony called Taffy, and the lesson includes grooming, handling and saddling instruction. Michelle the instructor is absolutely fantastic. She takes the learning right down to child level, but she doesn't skip one single thing.

For starters, Sabina is quite excited, and is bouncing up and down. Michelle gently takes her hand, and in a whisper, as though they were sharing a secret, says "Sabina, can you be as quite as a mouse?" In a split second the child is transformed, and listens intently from this point on.

Once Sabina is on the horse, Michelle gets her to do some balance exercises at the walk, such as raising her arm out, and up and touching her toes. (I'd forgotten about these!) Then Sabina practices some trot on the lounge, and finally Michelle shows her how to hold the reins and how to stop the horse. Sabina takes the learning in her stride, and you can see her little legs flapping to make the pony go forwards, and then her whole body leans back as she pulls on the reins to stop.

The session is a resounding success.