Happy Trails

Somewhere between mile number 2 and mile 4 I realized I no longer have a baby. Although it's obvious to the rest of the world that Simi is a 5 year old she's still my little one.

Today we embarked on our first ever off-Johnson property trail ride to Latta Plantation. I didn't have high expectations. Not because Simi isn't capable but because our horses haven't been trailered in 5 years, tend to run 'hot', and we were in new territory, not to mention Simi is 37 lbs of tininess. I fully thought I would be pony-ing Simi and her horse Echo though the whole plantation. Not so, I should have known that this is the girl who does everything by herself and has no patience for help.

Simi doesn't have the 'fear factor'. She's pretty sure she can do all things by herself. After today, I believe her.

She brushed, tack up, picked feet, and mounted by herself. Then she waited patiently for me to finish with my horse. That might be the most difficult part; making a horse stand still and wait in a new place. Then we were off after Monkey gave me a hard time :).

The first mile I was nervous. I've taught hundreds of kids to ride over 15 years but watching my youngest tackle a 1200 lb horse despite her small stature brought out the mommy reflex in me. I had visions of run-away horse, foot trapped in a stirrup, skipping saddle. But I didn't say anything out loud, just prayed that we'd make it though in one happy piece.

And we did. We crossed creeks, bridges, navigated twisting turning trails with runners without killing or injuring horse or athlete and encountered other horses. Simi did it with the skill, maturity and confidence I don't yet have.

Echo knew what precious cargo she had this morning. The horse that normally jumps over creeks and dry rivers beds gingerly crossed them as not to startle her young passenger. When the saddle slipped slightly to one side Echo stood still while Simi readjusted instead of spooking. Echo stayed 15 paces behind me walking slowly placing her feet on the most solid of ground calculating every step so as not to jostle her loving rider. I'm amazed at her tenderness and eternally grateful to her for the care of my child.

My mind wonders how both their lives, Echo and Simi, will be eternally altered having known one another. They are both different creatures having shared their lives together.

Some girls develop a relationship with horses but some are born with it. I'm the former, Simi is the latter.