Ele's First Day at the Barn - with Obie, Pippi & Pinta

Ele Henry came to the barn today with her mom, Julie. We are planning to start working at least once a week with the horses and she took right to it today. After being the usual anxious when first meeting a large animal, she started taking Obie for walks up and down the aisle while Julie and I cleaned turnout pens.

Pretty soon she was comfortable taking him all the way through the barn and out around into Pinta's turnout and then back through the barn outside into the drive ... repeat ... repeat ... repeat. They were both so cute together! Pippi followed along behind.

We did high-speed blower on Obie to get him cleaned of mud and debris, then combed his mane, tail and forelock. Ele brushed him with the brushes and he stood and had a great time through it all. Once they were walking up and down the aisle, they would stop at the apple treat box and both (!!) take a bite of an apple for a quick treat before continuing on their circle.

She took him through his stall, around his paddock, outside, through Pinta's paddock, up and down the aisle's ... and even into the tack room once. That part wasn't planned, but that's what kids do with horses ... they figure out the things that aren't such a good idea by trying them. It is sure what I did when I was young.

After giving Obie lots of attention, we got out the big horse. She was in fine form today enjoying her role of babysitter. Julie held Ele high enough to use the blower to clean the mud off of her, then we put on her saddle and Ele went back to the security of Obie's stall while Julie rode back and forth through the aisle. Did I mention it was POURING rain outside? We used the aisle and had a great time.

After Julie rode it was Ele's turn and Pinta continued her cooperative mode. Ele's rain boots would not stay on so she rode in sock-feet today. Everyone was happy.

Ele decided to decorate Obie with the shavings from his stall, but he is a willing play partner and did not mind at all. When she was ready to get him clean, he came back into the aisle for a second blower treatment to turn him beautiful again before we left for the day.

As my friend Cindy says ... a great day with horses is one where everyone has a good time and no one gets hurt. We had that today!