Leap of Faith

On Sunday, we started the day with a family walk.  It seems like every week since Riley's been born, I say to Ryan "We're going to church next week!" and then we always find a reason not to - illness, exhaustion, family.  So this was yet another week that we didn't make it, but we did spend some quality family time enjoying God's creation and the 60 degree temperatures he blessed us with, so I'm going to focus on the positive!

After our walk, Alli had a horse show.  She absolutely loves the horse shows.  They aren't like serious NWAHJA-sanctioned events.  It just three or four local barns who have little practice shows for green riders and green horses to get used to traveling to a new place and being judged.  She's done several, and this week her trainer decided she was ready to do cross rails at the show - meaning she'd actually be jumping in the show for the first time.  We've been jumping in lessons for about six months, but the show was a new thing.

I was excited - she's more than ready for it, and I love seeing her progress.  Mr. Tater Tot had other plans, however.  When they were schooling, he kept ducking out of the jumps!  As they'd approach a jump, he'd veer off to one side and avoid it completely!  Alli got a little upset and frustrated - her first jumping show, and Tater decided to be a snot!  Fortunately Ms. Sally and Ms. Diane know the right things to say to give my girl some confidence.

Tater and Alli executed the first over fences class flawlessly - no run outs, perfect diagonals, a really great class.  Unfortunately in her second over fences class, he ran out a few times.  But on the flat, they did awesome, and Alli won the game, which is her mark of how well she thinks the show went - what place she came in on Red Light Green Light.  I was so proud of her - she overcame adversity so well and did a really great job.  And no matter what that little stinker Tater Tot does, Alli and I just adore him.