The Apple Does Not Fall Far From The Tree!

...this is my Grand Daughter Madison at her very first horse show:

Getting her hair and make up done.  All the riders from this barn wore a red turtle neck and a sweat shirt with the farm logo on it.

waiting for her turn to ride and cheering her friends on.

waiting to mount..

making adjustments - Daddy is right there doing all he can while Mommy is behind the camera.

She is a natural... Cool as a cucumber!

...and her class is called....

Mommy was too busy watch the class and cheering to take pictures... I totally understand that!!

...and NOT a bad take for her very first horse show.  She showed 2 times - each time with 4 in her class.  In the first class, Academy Performance (judging the horse) Madison placed 4th.  Second class was Academy Equitation (judging the rider) and she placed first!!  It was a walk trot class and she had to post on the correct diagnals. 

We are so proud of you Madison and I can't wait to see you show in April!

She is HOOKED!!!!

If I did not believe it for the fact that she put Oliver's picture on her birthday cake...

 

...well I believe it now!  This is my Grand Daughter Madison, riding Romeo, a lesson horse at her new barn:

 

..by the way - her new training barn, which is the closest Saddlebred barn to them is 90 minutes away and in a different state!  Emily, our daughter, tried to take her to a hunter/jumper barn - she took 1 lesson and would have nothing more to do with it. 

My (G)baby is hooked on Saddlebreds... and soon she will also be introduced to sidesaddle. 

 

Madison's Lesson

One of my favorite life experiences was to watch my daughters have fun with our horses.  We did not have show horses at that time...just some priceless pets that indulged them with love and service.

Now, I get to experience the fun of watching my Grand Daughter Madison, learn how to ride...and with a bonus.. not only do her parents let her take lessons in Mississippi, but when she comes to visit me, the wonderful ladies at Bluebonnet Farm treat her to a lesson as well.  Just look at how well she posts the trot!  She is riding Chippers. 

We don't deal with diagnals yet, just balance and posture.

As a treat, when Madison was done with her lesson in the bull pen, Kari Ann took her over to the big riding arena. 

With Kari Ann at one end and me at the other, Madison got to trot down the straight away...

..down to me, stop, turn around ...

..and trot back to Kari Ann

She was excited beyond explaination with her new accomplishment.

I was pretty excited too!!