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Thursday, May 21, 2009

LEVEL FOUR RIDER, Y'ALL!



Goal: Accomplished!

Today I passed my Level 4 Rider test.  I stayed calm, I remembered the pattern, I gave this big ol' horse enough room to do what he had to do.   I had visualized this ride so often, I found myself wondering halfway through if this was real.  

Oh yeah.  This is real.  

It was not perfect. Bo was having issues with the far end of the arena, of course, the end where we start the pattern.  I made him stand still (if he moved back, I got him to walk up to where he was supposed to be, until he figured it out) and let both of us chill for a few seconds.  I kind of mellowed him out too much... I'm not an aggressive rider to start with.  He could have been moving a little more energetically, let's just say that.

All that preparation for a ride that was over in about five minutes.  Five very important minutes.  And I passed.  All that preparation was worth it.  

I never like how I look in pictures of me riding, but here I don't care because I look jubilant and relieved!  And slightly wilted.  It was hot today.   Ol' Bo sure cleaned up nice and I got the privilege of riding in the boss's show saddle, which is super heavy and possibly the most comfortable thing I've ever sat in.

When I got home my son was in the back yard fixing a bike he found at the side of the road.  (Frugal boy, my Bucky.)  He took a picture of me sitting on the back bumper of my truck.  I look kind of crazy, and really, really happy eh?

I did it.  



HI MOM!!!!



22 comments:

Laura Crum said...

Congratulations! I have to say, I loved that last photo--the one your son took. You should frame that. What a happy and real face.

Heidi Willis said...

Woo Hoo!! Yay for you!! You really did it!

And you look amazing on that horse!

Jethro said...

Yeah baby!
I knew you'd ace it... No replacement for preparation. You worked hard, and you did it.!
Xoxo

Whywudyabreedit said...

Awesome! Congratulations!

You earned it =)

Astaryth said...

w00t! Congratulations! I knew you could do it.

Kerri said...

Yay Rockstar! You worked so hard and I'm so happy for you. You deserve it! And might I say you're looking mighty fine in those pics!

JKB said...

I agree with Kerri - you look fantastic!!!!

WHO-FRICKIN'-HOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

Paul Tee said...

Beat the drums and sound the trumpets
Another battle won, another step taken
Set a goal to chase a dream
Hard that harder seem
Now that you have Level Four
Is there a Five, maybe a Six?

What will you do when you have surpassed
All your goals and expectations?
Who cares? Savour the moment
Rejoice, rejoice, for life is made up of such strivings
And among all the setbacks and defeats
A few shining victories hard won.

You inspire us, those who care,
And your gain is our gain
We would have been sad had you lost
But now, God be thanked, we rejoice.

My compliments and very best wishes.

Unknown said...

WOOOOOOOT! Girl! And a big crazy Howard Dean "YEEEEahhhhhHHHH!" To you. Way to go. I have to tell you- your big old jubilant, crazy, super happy grin always makes me grin right back. Luv ya kiddo.

hayseed said...

That's so wonderful! You do look jubilant and relieved and you and Bo look great together! You should celebrate!

Lynn Sinclair said...

That's wonderful, Heidi! Congratulations!.

lopinon4 said...

WOOHOO!!! Kudos, girlfriend!!

Angela said...

I'm thrilled for you! Way to go!

Biddie said...

Whoo Hoo! You killed it!

jules said...

Yahoo! Congratulations!

Michael Colvin said...

You do look jubilant! Congrats! :)

Coffeypot said...

Way to go (as if there was any doubt.) You do like happy and I can understand why, but then you look good all the time. It's just that on that day you looked gooder than good.

mugwump said...

You go.

Marni said...

Freakin' AWESOME! You have waited a looooong time for this... enjoy it!

Congratulations!

Molly and ME! said...

Congratulations!
Awesome!
Terrific!
Strong work!
Job well done!

Maddy

Anita said...

Ok I'm very late on this - but CONGRATULATIONS! :)

Sharon said...

Congrats - thats a great accomplishment!