Fall at full strength in Wisconsin! of course there are pics

[Jenni]

Went for a ride at one of my favorite places yesterday. Wildcat Mt State Park. It was sunny when we started the day and was supposed to be nice all day but by the time we got there the clouds came in and it started to rain. It was a light shower and we were in the woods so we went didn't get wet. Thankfully it let up instead of getting heavier. I asked my friend if her daughter wanted to come with. He daughter is a freshman in HS and has just recently started riding. They have a near 30 year old mare that the mom has had forever and is broke broke broke. Mainly she just rides around the yard and pasture. She was overjoyed to go riding and when my friend's husband heard we were going to a state park they made it into a family outing. While I took E riding the rest of them headed out to check out the hiking trails and other things at the main park. I rode Twister and put E up on Izzie and of course Kelsey took Sofia. Caiden decided not to go. The horses were perfect, the fall color was at peak and we even saw some deer near the trail. We rode about an hour and half. My friend said her daughter fell asleep on the way home and couldn't walk today.





Kelsey and Sofia like to take the lead - she trots along giggling down the trail, or singing.


K








This little buck wasn't too concerned. No hunting allowed in the park and the deer know it.



This coming weekend we are going to camp at Wild River State Park in MN. Never been there before but it's close to some of my relatives so we are going to do some visiting too. Right now the weather looks favorable 50s and partly sunny - hopefully that holds. That will be out last camping trip of the year - a total of 6 overnights since May.

[Idaho Linda]

Thank you! I really enjoyed "my" ride along with you. It appears that Sophia has really earned her place in everyone's heart. How cool is it that Kelsey can "take the lead" with her pony. Wow!

[ride4fun]

Lovely, just lovely How fun to have a girls ride out

[donato]

I would've loved to have been your daughter and riding my pony down the trail. What a great childhood you're giving your kids!

[dl]

LOVE the pics! I know horse people who are starting families and I always tell them about you and your adventures. Sometimes they actually don't know that horses and babies can mix. One lady is pregnant with her first baby and is excited about including the baby in as much of her life as possible. I was telling that to a mutual friend (who is my mom's age) and the older lady was saying how the young parents are in for a shock when they realize they have to give up everything to sit at home with the baby. I told her about you, also.

[Jenni]

dl - I know people too who have sold there horses right as soon as they found out they were pregnant, not for financial reasons but because they wouldn't be able to ride now that they had kids. It takes a little extra planning and can be a hassle but you figure out how to do it. I grew up on a farm and my mom had to find ways to get the farm chores done with a baby around. I had one of those johnny jump up swing things that they could attach to the barn beams and move down the aisle as they milked. I was in a play pen or stroller for other things. My mom always said I was literally raised in the barn.

So I used many of those tricks myself, I bought a cheap playpen that I could just leave in the barn. My horses are all "stroller and wagon broke" as I was either pushing or pulling one of them most of the time during chores, including while leading horses. I rounded up a bunch of used toys at rummage sales that could be used/left in the barn to occupy them while I got other things done. After we built the new barn my hubby wanted to bring in black dirt and landscape and I said "no - leave the sand for now it keeps the kids busy while I am working!"

The first year is tough in terms of riding. I didn't feel comfortable riding with the kids until they were about a year. It also helps that I have really well behaved and broke horses. There have been many "oh sh!t" moments where a lesser horse may have caused some serious injury. I also am surrounded by relatives with my kids having 3 grandmas within 15 miles so that is very helpful.

[Marci]

Wish I had known this, I chose horses over kids. Gorgeous pictures and I am green with envy about the camping. Sigh.

[Jenni]

Looks like the weather is not going to cooperate with us going camping this weekend. Sunday looks cold and rainy - I can handle cold but rain is a dealbreaker. The friend that was going to go with me came up with a good idea. The original plan was to go to her house Fri night so we could get an earlier start sat morning. She said we should still come to her house and instead of camping we go to a different trail system that is a little closer and then come back to her house for a campfire. So we are going to camp at her house, lol. I am changing my camping reservation to next weekend and hope that the weather is good.

[snelson]

Sorry about the coming camping trip but looks like the past one was a huge success I started taking my son riding when he was a baby but I truly did have a bombproof horse. I could drop the reins if he fell asleep and hold him and guide her with my knees. She never broke gait even if all the other horses thundered past her. It was like she knew the little person was up there and she had to be very careful. She also protected him from the other horses when I was in the barn. She would stand between his stroller and the entrance to the barn so the other horses could not get to him. My son does ride but it's not something he feels he "needs" to do. My older daughter likes to ride but can take it or leave it (those are her words) and my youngest has discovered video games with her dad and has very little to do with the horses except in small streaks.

You are very lucky that your children have the horse gene. I am hoping my grandchild who is due in April will have the gene....maybe!