Not For the Faint of Hearts...

Being an Equestrian Mum is not for the faint of heart.
Weather you're a horse rider yourself, or you have never ever got the appeal of sitting on a huge animal with a mind of itself - Watching your child - your baby - take a spill from a horse is not easy.

I was watching my daughters jumping lesson. Her coach putting up jumps that made my insides squirm. I know better than to say anything. I know better than to question her coach. She knows what Phoebe can do - she knows what the horse can do - and she is more than happy to coach Phoebe through new challenges... so instead of speaking my mind, which would go something like 'UHM... REALLY? 3ft6 OXER??? BUT, SHES MY BABY!!!"
I got my phone put and decided to film the moment so my daughter could watch it over and I could watch it later when my heart wasn't in my mouth!


Anyway, I am filming - in slow motion so we could see the details and she goes over the first three jumps in the combination. A bounce, a one stride, to a two stride jump before the HUGE OXER.

As she goes over the last jump, the horse seems to lose confidence, my daughter falls up his neck which puts her far too far forward. He still makes the jump because he's a great, honest horse, but in true, OMG WE DID IT, style, the horse - Shiner - bucks, putting Phoebe out of her seat. He bucks again, then again, and for good measure, he bucks again. Phoebe and Shiner career toward a pile of hay.
She bails and lands on her butt!

In my panic, I race over. She gets right up and heads toward the mounting block.

I follow asking if she's ok, She gives me two words - 'I'm fine'
I want to ask her to give up. I want to tell her to maybe have a break, but I see the determination in her eyes and the grit in her expression
.
She loves her coach, looks up to her coach, and she knows she can do it - SHE KNOWS Shiner can too.
So she gets back on and jumps the combination perfectly!

I can't tell you how proud I felt.
I realized that my daughter has grit, she has confidence and doesn't get put off easily.
What a perfect little equestrian.

At 13 she has some amazing skills for life.

The moment after the fall! Jumping perfectly!

What a pair, Phoebe and Shiner are!