A small and not often narrated part of our business at Fields Quarter Horses is the riding lesson program we offer for chidren and adults. Sometimes our students have riding experience but mostly, our pupils are first-time riders. These students come armed with nothing more than a monumental desire to ride a horse. Occassionally, we even have students who have never even stood beside a horse before.
Our pupils range in age from six to sixty-six years old. Some come with parents, some drive themselves, some come with grandparents, and some just ride the bus after school and arrive at the barn. Some students ride for exercise, some for stress relief, some for the desire to compete, and some (one) because her probation officer demands it.
Today, Rachel put on her substitute teacher hat and taught the Saturday morning lessons. Her first student of the day was Jerney- a six year old who has attended our annual children's horse day camp for two years consecutively. Jerney fancies herself a proficient rider and approaches her lessons with great aplomb. She is a rather precocious child who must often be reminded of her manners and the barn rules. She takes her censure well and just smiles and sits up a little straighter. She tells us that she will show a horse this summer coming and will wear a shiny pink show outfit. Her parents are unaware of her plans- I believe.
Her second student provided great torture for Rachel. Kyra is a talented six year old daughter of a newly divorced police officer who is overly protective of his only child. Last week, Kyra's mother, Michelle, met him at the barn to observe Kyra's lesson and discuss her riding schedule. Today, Michelle brought Kyra to her riding lesson- and brought 6 other children under the age of seven along. As Rachel attempted to point out the posted barn rules- no running, no unattended children, etc.- pandemonium ensued. Rachel has experience as a "bouncer" at the local skating rink which her parents owned- she has been a guard there since her teenage days and she can typcially rule rowdy children successfully. Without her roller skates (Rule # 37- no skates in the barn), she found her super powers over children diminished and struggled through Kyra's lesson. Rachel has now vowed to never have children.
The next lesson of the day was Reagan. Reagan is a 7 year old girl whose parents seem determined to find a sport for which she may have an affinity. She is terribly afraid of the horses and each week says at least 3 times during each lesson "I'm just so afraid". Her parents seem to not listen to her and we assure her that she is safe. She finishes her ride each week (just walking in a circle mostly) with white knuckles and out of breath because she is "just so nervous". Before she leaves the barn, she gives each horse a treat and promises to see them next week. Her dream is to someday ride Gunther- Amber's black gelding.
As Wayne, Tara, and I were attending Brittney's Intercollegiate HorseShow, we checked in often with Rachel to make sure the day was progressing well. She "held the fort down" for us and we returned home this afternoon to an exhausted Rachel with a Hi-Point Team Award for Brittney's team. Brittney and Company (Morehead State University's Equestrian Team) are currently celebrating their win. Rachel is back on skates tonight "bouncing" rowdy children out of the roller rink, and we are busy blanketing horses for the chilly weather tonight.
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