Horses and Heart Friends

HORSES! The kids received the opportunity to go horseback riding this morning, at Galloping Grace Youth Ranch.

It was a magical place. We had so much fun.

Plus, Jersey #2 was able to spend some time with her "heart friend." In addition to being the owner of the ranch, Cowboy Max is dear to our family because he has also been through the experience of open-heart surgery to replace a valve. Last Fall, when Jersey #2 was enduring a series of medical tests to prove her need for surgery, she mentioned to me that she was praying for a "heart friend"...someone who had scars from heart surgery too. A few weeks later, we met Cowboy Max at the pumpkin stand fundraiser for the ranch. We knew nothing about him at the time, except that he had the amazing ability to help Jersey #2 overcome her fear of heights and sit in the saddle of a horse. We learned about his heart experience a couple months later, and Cowboy Max said he would be honored to be Jersey #2's "Heart Friend." When the ranch scheduled our session this morning, they paired up Cowboy Max and Jersey #2, specifically.

Jersey #2 was VERY nervous about sitting in the saddle, on top of that big horse. Max's wife, Michelle, was there to help support Jersey #2 and encourage her. In the end, Jersey #2 was proud of herself for getting on the horse and taking a couple steps.

Jersey #1 could hardly wait for her turn to ride. She has been fairly comfortable in the saddle, and has had a variety of random horseback riding experiences through the years. She begs us to buy her a horse.

Jersey #3 first said that he was not going to ride a horse today. But, he quickly changed his mind when he saw the horses, and when he saw his older sisters riding.

The kids put on their cowboy boots and hats, just for the occasion...

Jersey #5 was pretty excited to see the horses. I had to stop him from attempting to enter the corral a couple times. He is not quite old enough for the ranch program, so he is trying to patiently wait for his turn to ride...

He made good use of the sawhorse steer while he waited...

In addition to riding horses, the kids participate in a service project to learn about the work on the ranch. Today's work station involved scooping horse poop in one of the corrals. Much to my amusement, the children had a blast scooping poop....

They took the job seriously and worked hard...

Jersey #2 said that scooping horse poop was a dream come true! She had the ranch volunteer laughing at that one. When she said that all her dreams come true, the ranch volunteer responded that Jersey #2 must set very realistic dreams.

Jersey #1 was not near as excited about the poop-scooping part of horse care. She has now decided that when she gets a horse of her own, she will pay Jersey #2 to scoop its poop!


The kids were able to enjoy a little play time out at the ranch too. After a hard day's work on the ranch, it is always fun to go down the slide....

...and visit the ranch saloon....
(which is really a wooden playhouse for the kids).