Hubby M. actually requested to ride Q yesterday afternoon! Honest! No trickery, pleading or begging was necessary. I was leading R. around the arena on her first bareback ride and as we approached the mounting block to finish up he asked to take a spin. So not only did he ride, he rode bareback. And for all of you imagining a wild ride with lots of "Yeehaw!" let me change that picture by placing myself in front of the horse, lead rope in hand.
After the excitement of trying to get on the horse's back (Q doesn't particularly like the mounting block.), I had trouble keeping the horse to a slow walk - until I looked back and saw that M. had Q held tightly in a death grip with his thighs...and was unknowingly asking the horse to go faster, faster! After we had the little "You need to relax, honey" talk, all went well.
About three quarters of the way around the arena M. wondered why we ever let our small children do this sport! It is not for the faint of heart, that's for sure.
I don't think he'll be taking up riding in earnest any day soon, but I do think he "enjoyed" the experience.
p.s. I noticed after the fact that he picked a day when we didn't have a camera anywhere near us....
