MBennettp
Well-Known Member
Christmas day we went to my brother's house for the noon meal. He lives next door to my parents place where 3 of our horses are.
After the meal and gifts were opened, the great nieces and nephews wanted to go see the horses (or forces as one nephew calls them).
I took a 2 year old, 2-3 year olds, a 7 year old, an 8 year old, a 12 year old, and a 15 year old to see the horses. All of them wanted to groom the horses so I passed out brushes and supervised the grooming.
I was so proud of my horses, all of them stood like a rock, even the weanlings. Every child had a smile and were all talking to the horses.
The eight year old niece spends all the time she can with our shetland gelding. They have really bonded. She wants to show him this spring. I could see the love in her eyes as she spent over an hour just talking to him and rubbing his neck.
My brother (who wanted the horses moved) came down to get the kids and I saw him standing watching the quiet and the smiles of all of his grandchildren as they were loving on the horses. I would be willing to bet that he doesn't try any more to get me to move the horses.
He took most of the kids back to his house but the 8 year old stayed. She asked if she could ride the shetland. He is dead quiet but not trained. I put her on him and led him around the pasture. The look of total bliss on her face was wonderful.
This little girl has had a rough year, her parents divorced this year and she almost never smiles. The sure way to get a smile on her face is to get her with the horses.
Her mother really doesn't encourage her involvement but will let her go with me any time I ask. I told her that I would come after her and let her help me any time she wanted to come.
I think the greatest gift I got this year was that time I spent with all of the kids and the horses.
After the meal and gifts were opened, the great nieces and nephews wanted to go see the horses (or forces as one nephew calls them).
I took a 2 year old, 2-3 year olds, a 7 year old, an 8 year old, a 12 year old, and a 15 year old to see the horses. All of them wanted to groom the horses so I passed out brushes and supervised the grooming.
I was so proud of my horses, all of them stood like a rock, even the weanlings. Every child had a smile and were all talking to the horses.
The eight year old niece spends all the time she can with our shetland gelding. They have really bonded. She wants to show him this spring. I could see the love in her eyes as she spent over an hour just talking to him and rubbing his neck.
My brother (who wanted the horses moved) came down to get the kids and I saw him standing watching the quiet and the smiles of all of his grandchildren as they were loving on the horses. I would be willing to bet that he doesn't try any more to get me to move the horses.
He took most of the kids back to his house but the 8 year old stayed. She asked if she could ride the shetland. He is dead quiet but not trained. I put her on him and led him around the pasture. The look of total bliss on her face was wonderful.
This little girl has had a rough year, her parents divorced this year and she almost never smiles. The sure way to get a smile on her face is to get her with the horses.
Her mother really doesn't encourage her involvement but will let her go with me any time I ask. I told her that I would come after her and let her help me any time she wanted to come.
I think the greatest gift I got this year was that time I spent with all of the kids and the horses.
