All Katie!

Katie rode again today. She loves it.

Her teacher had her longe Thora before she rode. Katie wasn't sure about this at first (when I crouch down to Katie's height, I am amazed that she isn't more intimidated by how Big horses are. Of course, maybe when you are little you are used to this and I've just forgotten. Probably.) but quickly gained confidence. Thora is a good horse.

Then she rode. She learned to turn Thora left and right, and how to stop. Good stuff to know.I brought carrots today, and told her teacher that I'd like Katie to learn to feed treats to horses without losing fingers. Thora turned out not to be a carrot lover, but the other horses in the pasture were happy to help out and serve as teachers!
This is King. He is new, and may be Katie's new lesson horse when/if Thora is sold. Katie thought maybe she would like to buy Thora, but I asked how much she would cost and was told she was expected to sell for $5,000. Even Katie (who is a great saver) doesn't have that!The bay mare in the middle here is my new favorite "dream horse," since that pretty white horse sold.Back in the early spring, my parents were visiting and we went for a walk. We came upon a herd of eleven horses, just wandering around by the road. (My mom alerted a neighbor, who contacted the owner, who came and collected them.) Turns out that they were Katie's instructor's horses, newly imported from Montana (or Wyoming?), and escaped. They are sweet, and were very pleased to have Katie feeding them carrots!