The only thing more fun

[Minouri]

than riding is watching your children enjoy the horses as much as you do. Alisha hasn't been riding as much lately but I made sure I was riding when she arrived this morning. She's so good with Scooter I hate to see her just mucking the stalls and missing out on all the fun stuff.

What makes Scooter the perfect family horse....at least for my family......is that he runs smooth and sure but doesn't lose his head. It was an absolute joy to watch Alisha run him around the backyard this afternoon.

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e48/RuthieBetta/is034.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e48/RuthieBetta/is031.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e48/RuthieBetta/is028.jpg

I even caught a spook. Our neighbor picked that minute to pop out of the bushes to say hello. She sat to it like a pro, though. I wanted to run over and hug her.
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e48/RuthieBetta/is030.jpg

And no ride would be complete without at least explaining to Snowy that she would ride him bareback next.
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e48/RuthieBetta/is024.jpg

Anyone who doesn't think Pasos can make great family horses, never met Scooter. And I'm sure there are more like him around. At least I hope so when I go looking for another one.

[Jane Hurl]

And it's fun to hear about your family's antics. I so enjoy hearing how much you enjoy your kids.

[Laura S]

Nice pics. Scooter looks like he has a nice canter. The pic of the spook is cool, he looks like he is collapsing!

[Beth Worden]

Great little rider you have there! Thanks for sharing.

[Minouri]

I have to thank you all for never getting sick (or at least not saying that you're sick) of seeing the pictures of my kids and the horses. It's nice to have a place to share them before I stick them in an album. I also send them via email to my family but they aren't horse people in general. So often, it's like.....look, another horse picture....whoopie! lol

Alisha has never had any formal lessons (unless you count me as a trainer). My own formal training is quite limited. Most of my experience has been get on and stay on.

But I have tried to instill in Alisha a basic understanding of horses and how to deal with certain situations. I was really proud of her when I looked at the picture of the spook and saw that she was not using the reins to balance. We had a local girl flip a horse on herself and die a year or so ago. She panicked, pulled back on the horse, it reared and fell back on her. That really made me double up on my how to use the reins lecture.

I DO really enjoy my two stepchildren. I guess that's because I'm from a large family or maybe just because I've been blessed with two great ones. I was nervous when Tony first told me that he had children. I worried that we would have trouble blending into a new family. Nope, these kids welcomed me into their lives and made it incredibly easy for me to fall in love with them. If you had told me before I met Tony that I could meet a man with children and we could all be so happy together...I never would have believed it. But I am. And each week when I go to church I make sure I say an extra thank you for them. I didn't know them four years ago, but now I cannot imagine life without them.

[Jasfino]

There's no way I could ever get tired of seeing pics of Scooter. I always look forward to seeing him!

It is clear from his pics, he has a beautiful heart!... :D

[dana]

That's quite the family you and scooter married into! :D

[ErinC]

so cute, he is the best.

[Carol Nelson]

Hey, haven't you learned you're not supposed to CANTER your Pasos????!!!! :lol: :lol: :lol:

(Great pair...they look like they're both having fun! ;-) )

[Laura S]

Wow, she did really do a good job sitting that spook! She looks like she just balanced herself, and sat deep. She didn't even cling on with her legs. With no formal lessons she must be a natural!!

[Minouri]

Carol, ssssssh, don't tell anyone. It will be our little secret! :lol:

This morning while I was riding, Alisha came outside with the camera and said she was going to get a good picture of ME going fast.
I now have evidence that nuts don't fall far from the nut tree. I can see exactly how she learned to ride like she did.....good, bad, or whatever....it looks pretty close to me....lol

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e48/RuthieBetta/is034.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e48/RuthieBetta/ee006.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e48/RuthieBetta/ee008.jpg

I think Scooter looks like an Icelandic in this one. Maybe it's just the mane flying that made me think that.

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e48/RuthieBetta/ee019.jpg

I'm not even sure what he thought he was doing here. When he gets all excited his legs go everywhere.

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e48/RuthieBetta/ee018.jpg

Had I known I'd be taking pictures and that they would have come out so nicely....I would have at least taken a shower....lol Oh, well. I'll still frame them and just not look at me in them. I am wearing my pjs under my sweats. Yep, that's the real me, anyway.

[ErinC]

Ruth you are the best....

thanks for the pic's
I had a ride like that here today too, Wish I had someone arouns with a camara...


I Love my Paso!

[PasoPerson]

Thank you for making sure Alisha wears a helmet.

Your pix are all very cool, including the ones of you.

[Minouri]

Erin,

I'll come out with my camera one Saturday if you want. Tony's going to be working a lot over the next few weekends. The trick is to be persistent. You can't take 3 pictures and expect to get one you love. We took about 80 pictures this weekend and came up with only a handful we liked. But it's fun to do. So just invite me up and we'll make a morning or afternoon of it. I love to take pictures. I'm no pro and my camera is a simple digital, but you might end up with one worth framing......and to me that's what I consider success. Then you just delete the rest and pretend you never saw the weird faces you make when you're concentrating on doing something.....lol

[Jasfino]

I like the pic of his mane flying best! He's one super little horse.

You can tell he enjoys what he's doing .. and that he loves his family as much as they love him. :D

[Carol Nelson]

Hey, I just HATE beautiful women who look lovely in SWEATS!!! ;-) :lol:

(I'm so glad you took your shower too! 8-) )

[Minouri]

Carol,

For that comment I'm going to have to kiss you. Hold still. I'm not sure if it breaks any rules to tackle someone on this board and give them a kiss against there will......but if you think I looked nice in those pictures even in my sweats and pjs.....then gratitude forces me to do this to you.

(Smack!) a big on kiss on your cheek. The one on your head because the other one is banned here.....tee hee hee.

[TrueStepPaso]

Ruthie.....1st, I wanted to let you know that the very first thing I noticed was how the reins looked...and I smiled. That IS something you should VERY proud of. She looks great, and I'm sure Scooter loves his mouth and head being FREE. ;-)
2nd, I just wanted to let you know how lovely Scooter looks in those pics, and I just ADORE him. Ppl just don't know how cool that horse is...you just feel it when you are around him. He's a total sweetheart, too!

Please give him a smooch for me. :D