why I'm not a cowgirl part 1...

The day couldn’t get any better. Not a cloud in the vivid blue sky and the forested landscape was like none I’d ever seen before. I was in the company of those I love most in this world. So what could possibly go wrong on such a perfect day?

I suppose I should give a bit of background here…my family and I were on an extended RV road trip across four states. It was going to be a relaxing trip with fun activities planned in between days of traveling down the interstate.

Ready for a relaxing adventure…

On the second day of our trip, we decided to go horseback riding in the mountains. Yes, I’ve been on a horse many times before.

As a matter of fact, I’m not new to the horse world. I rode horses a couple of times – you know those ones that go around in circles at fairs? Yes, I rode those quite often as a kid.

I also rode a horse once at the age of 16 and (un)fortunately fell into the arms of a helpful (and handsome) teenage cowboy in an attempt to climb into the saddle.

My not-so-expert horseriding adventure as a teenager…

In addition, I grew up riding motorcycles and go-carts. That counts for something, doesn’t it?

So by all standards, I am a cowgirl, right?

Wrong.

When I first saw the horse I was to ride, I thought I’d never seen a finer animal. He was big, strong, and had a light golden coat with a dark mane and tail. My oldest daughter, who professes to be a true horsewoman, told me he was a Buckskin.

My family members each had their own horses to ride, yet none of them were as beautiful and peaceful looking as the one I’d been loaned. His name was Ace.

I quickly convinced myself and everyone else that I was an experienced cowgirl and that riding Ace would be no problem at all. After all, he seemed so peaceful, so…

I am now persuaded more than ever that to judge something by its exterior is a huge mistake and is likely to incur consequences. Hey, that would be a great topic for a devotional!

Anyway…

I climbed on the back of Ace and, and with Lon and our two daughters, set out for our ride in the mountains.

Lon’s horse was named Moose – a very large horse with even larger buns. As a matter of fact, I’d never seen such large buns on an animal!

Of course, Lon couldn’t be given a Shetland Pony – it just wouldn’t be right. No, Lon was thankful they’d given him a large animal to hold his own large muscular frame – and Moose was a lot of horse.

Lon and his horse named Moose

My oldest daughter had a beautiful Quarterhorse named Buddy and my youngest daughter had a speckled Dalmatian-type Pony of the Americas horse named Hombre. Of course, my youngest changed Hombre’s name to “Betsy” because she didn’t like the name “Hombre.”

I was riding Ace calmly on the mountain trail through a gorgeous meadow. Of course, horseback riding is no problem for an award-winning horsewoman (ok, I’m exaggerating a bit), right?

Wrong.

How could anything go wrong in these gorgeous surroundings? Especially for a top-champion horsewoman?

Join me next Tuesday for the second half of this horseriding adventure!

About these ads