Join us in heralding them as we chronicle their journey ...

Introducing ... ANNA!

~~~ANNA ON FLYING TIDDILY WINK~~~ Anna is progressing rapidly. Anna holds the reins correctly and with light contact, keeps her heels down, knows many pony parts and tack names, clearly uses her voice commands, has good balance, squeezes her knees over the caveletti, and is riding with and without stirrups. Anna is now riding in company with Leslie who ponys her. She has excellent grip with her leg and maintains her balance over fallen trees and up and down hills. Anna has also begun to trot, telling the pony, "TrrrrroT!" while holding the reins or while holding her arms out like a bird! She is also very expressive... ANNAisms: ~~ "Horses don't eat trees. Horses eat grass and apples and carrots and OATS!" ~~ "DADDY!!!!!" ~~ "Horses have tails. Horses don't like bumble bees. Horses swiiiiiiish (dramatic flourish of hand) bumble bees away with their tails." ~~ "Bite food... not people." ~~ "Daddy has a very, special super-secret surprise for me." ~~ Daddy, "Anna, do you want to get off the pony?" Anna, "No." Laurie, "Anna, do you want to ride more?" Anna, "No." Daddy, "Anna, what do you want to do?" Anna, "Drive." (Daddy's SUV) ~~ Leslie makes a play on words to make Anna laugh and asks expectantly, "Isn't that funny Anna?" Anna gives Leslie a polite smile and a nod. Laurie, "Anna,if you don't think it's funny, you don't have to say it's funny. You can say, 'It's not funny'." Anna turns to Leslie, "It's not funny." (While trotting for one of the first times) Trrrrrrrrrreeeassuuuuuuuurrrrre Trrrrrrrrrroooove l-i-k-es th-e-e-e-e-e ja-a-a-a-a-a-acket." Anna and Daddy (Dr. Mike K.)

Introducing ... AVA! (Our youngest rider)
	Ava, though quite young (just turned two), holds the reins correctly, is learning to squeeze with her knees, has good balance on the ponies--even with her eyes shut, and has the amazing ability to "peek" with just one eye while doing her balancing exercises. AVA and FARNLEY MAGIC WISH

Introducing ... MADISON!

Madison's riding is progressing very well. Madison holds the reins correctly with good, gentle hands and is learning to turn serpentines while squeezing with the correct leg. She's beginning course work on the flat to develop focus and concentration in order to quickly learn patterns that will eventually turn into a jump course. She is very confident over caveletti and is becoming an expert in navigating our maze. She is also beginning to go on trail rides. Madison is now trotting, using the voice command "TroT!" to tell her pony to trot, and she is staying very calm and quiet when the pony trots.

Introducing ... MAKAYLA!

Makayla has quickly learned to understand pony language and has now transferred that knowledge into confidence. Makayla is very firm and sweet in her voice commands to "Walk, pony, walk, pony" and has "ho" with correct hand aide cue down very well. She holds the reins correctly and does her balancing with her eyes confidently closed. Makayla loves to lead Tiddly Wink and make Wink and Makayla tracks with Leslie in the freshly groomed arena. She is now going on trail rides with Leslie on the groomed, wooded trails and open fields as Leslie leads her from atop another pony (usually Ollie). She steers, squeezes with her knees to hang on, and she is riding up and down steep hills with Leslie. MACKAYLAisms: "Walk pony, walk!" "Leslie, who's that?" "That's Tiara." "Leslie, who's that?" "That's Sorsha." "Leslie, who's that?" "That's Merrily?" "Leslie, who's that?" "That's Titania." "Leslie, who's that?" "That's Tinkertoy." etc...etc... "Leslie, what's the kitty doing?" "She's playing." "What's the kitty doing now?" "She's still playing."

Introducing ... MORGAN!

Morgan's skills are progressing quickly. Quick to snatch up the reins with the correct grip, she carries the reins with a firm and correct light contact. She has excellent balance and confidence and, most likely, will soon be working on the lunge line at the trot. Morgan has been very successful navigating our maze, has developed an incredibly strong knee grip, and is starting to give leg cues as she bends the pony around her leg.

Introducing ... OCEAN!
	Ocean is progressing very rapidily in gaining riding skills. She is riding out on a loose lounge line, maintaining good posture, light contact on the reins, heels down, squeezing over the caveletti, navigating serpentines, using her aides, and, after mastering the trot and a well-executed soft halt, will soon be off-line riding on her own.