Horseback riding and birthday plans.

My daughter is turning nine years old in less than a month, and with the date so close, of course, her party planning has just hit high gear. I swear she will become a social planner, or a serious party-girl. Yikes.

So, yesterday I took the kiddies for a test-ride at the local stables. A one time lesson to see if she wants to take eight or ten of her friends horseback riding for a couple of hours. Chloe, my near nine year old, and Finn my near five and a half year old, learned how to gather the tack, prep the horse, and then ride around the ring for an hour with guidance a riding instructor.

After the hour, it was settled, the pony party was on. But what I hadn't expected, but should have, "I want a horse, lessons, and we can do this every week... please?" Dollars and hours evaporated before my eyes.

Luckily I am good at saying no. There are many practical reasons for this, ie: time and money. But it is rather dangerous. I think that an introductory lesson to riding a horse, a very child friendly pony, is a lot less dangerous than a confident rider getting on the back of a less than trustworthy animal. My husband's sister met with such an accident resulting in two fractured vertebrae. No paralysis, but still very serious. At the same time, I don't want to frighten the children from every riding. After all, I can't remember the first time I rode a horse, seems I must have been very very young, because i always had access to them as a child and often took pleasure in trotting around the farm with my uncle, or grandparents on hand (depending on which farm). I took my proximity to the farms and animals for granted. It was a childhood rather removed from the upbringing I have provided my own children.

This pony birthday party is a bit of a birthday fantasy for me. I would have loved it as a nine-year-old girl; no more pin the tail on the donkey or other lame birthday games. This is something almost grown-up, but not the princess spa thing, or karaoke. And if she really likes it, and if it breaks her father’s heart to see his darling little girl soooo happy on a horse, maybe he’ll give in. He’s not quite as good at saying no, not to his little princess. I hope she doesn’t know that, just yet.

Tomorrow is our first day of school, still much to do... birthday planning will have to go on hold for a few hours.