An Arena

This week has seen a new riding arena being built outside the barn to practice and to work the horses before venturing out on the farm on the horses. It is not as large as some I have seen but it is a size large enough to practice. The new colt is doing really well. We have put him and his mother outside in a round pen and he has started running and running outside.

The three boys who have been helping build the arena have been riding after the work stops in the afternoon.

It has been a very busy week. The family has been up from Ms this week. They have been on spring break and they come every spring during break whether my son can come or not come. He is overseas this year so they came anyway.

Dalton and his friend Shelton have been a tremendous help in building the arena. Dalton's dad has taught him a lot about building and doing projects around the farm. Mary Beth is the one who wanted to build the arena to have for us to ride. Her granddaughter, Melissa is riding and she wanted a place where she could be safe. Now her daughter Lucy is riding and it is going to be nice to have to start someone out riding. The arena is completely enclosed with two gates. A smaller one in front of the barn for the rider to come out of the barn to enter and a larger one for tractors and trucks that will have to bring rock into the arena for footing.

It has been a big job but with all the help they have had it has gone up pretty fast. Dalton has dug post holes and he and Shelton have tamped the dirt in around the posts.

This week they have been riding my Rocky Mountain Horses. Dalton rides Rosie, Shelton rides Rocky Top Rebel and Robert rides Amigo. They like to go out on the trails and ride the trails through the woods. The horses are getting familiar with all the ground around here. They have been over almost all the farm now with the horses.

The horses are getting better and better in the woods and going up and down hills. There are plenty of logs to step over as well as branches of water to walk through.

The boys had never ridden anything besides quarter horses but they are really appreciating the Rocky Mountain horses for their smooth ride and easy gait. They horses have taken them to places on the farm they may never have visited had it not been for the horses. They are teaching them confidence especially Dalton who had never ridden very much.

The little ones have had fun grooming the horses. Kailey, Stephen and Melissa were all surrounding my yearling filly named Celine and they were busy brushing and combing her. They were completely satisfied to get to groom the little filly and she was standing very quietly for them to groom her. Those three children are 6 and 7 years old. Celine was happy for them to be there and never offered to bite or kick. She stood even quieter for them than she does when I groom her.

Earlier today Kailey sat on Satin bareback and rode her. She has a very good seat. She held onto her mane while Uncle Bobby was leading her around. Kailey was very proud of herself for being able to ride the big palomino bare back.

So with so many people around the house and farm it has been busy and noisy. But aren't children a true blessing from God. When we say our prayers at night Kailey remembers her friend Elizabeth that has been sick for a long time and especially her daddy in Afghanistan. She prays God will bring him home safe and keep him safe while he is there.

With her sweet 6 year old voice it is precious to hear her pray for her daddy. She adores him and it is really tough on the whole family when he has to leave to go out of the country.

I pray every thing is well with all of you. All is well here and the horses are all doing well right now and we are loving the noisy peace and quiet of farm life.

May God bless and keep you in his loving care.

Regards,

Mary