Ethan's Horses

Ethan just finished another 8 week session at Pride Stables, this one was quite interesting.  Usually they do their best to keep the riders on the same horse for the whole 8 weeks so that the riders can get used to the horse's temperament and behavior.  This session Ethan rode three different horses.

Hope

Hope was the first horse Ethan rode this session.  Unfortunately, after the second week, Hope got sick.  She wasn't put down, but she's not doing well and can't handle being ridden right now.  She's really old, over 20 years old, so it's expected that she may not get better.  It's quite sad, Ethan had ridden her last session too and did really well with her.

Hershey

Hershey is another very gentle horse, but he's BIG, too big for Ethan and he's boney.  As you can see from the picture, Ethan now rides bareback every week because the saddles hurt his legs.  Hershey's back is really boney, his spine sticks out and it's really not comfortable for little bums without a saddle.

Mya

Since Hershey was so boney, Sheila (the teacher, who we actually found out works with Ryan) decided to put Ethan on Mya.  Mya is smaller and chunkier plus the put a thick blanket on her back too so Ethan was quite comfortable.  He was really enjoying Mya....that is until Mya decided that she was gonna go a little crazy since the boy horses were near by, and ride Ethan into a tree.  He didn't fall off and wasn't really scared, but he sure didn't like it and when Sheila suggested that he ride Hershey the following week, Ethan was quick to agree.

After Mya's little hissy fit, it took both Sheila and Jeff (Ethan's volunteer) to control her and keep her from running again...

For the final few weeks Ethan was back on Hershey...

Man that horse is big!!!  Jeff is a pretty tall guy and he sees eye to eye with Hershey!

Hamburg Hill Races

Ryan and the kids ran in the Hamburg Hill Races again this year in New Hamburg. 

Ryan entered in the category of Wilmot Township Resident and came in 4th!

Cody, Ethan and Mia ran in the 1km race.  It was sooo cold and the kids had to run the second half of the race (500m) right into the wind.  They don't get "places", it's just for fun, but I was standing at the finish line counting the kids as the crossed.  Cody was 10th, Ethan was 13th and Mia was dead last...but I couldn't have been prouder of them.  It was way too cold for them to be dressed the way they were and they still did it!

Getting ready for the race!

My Runners

Happy Birthday Ethan!

Ethan is 7!!  Time flies when your kids are little...be careful you don't blink too many times because before you know they'll be adults moving out on their own!