So if you read the post about Wake the World you will remember about the small successes I wrote about. Since then I have seen quite a bit more of those small successes but not without taking time to regroup. One of the things I have learned here is they can get just as frustrated as you can. When this happens we have to stop, take a deep breath and regroup. Last week our newest young lady had her first horse lesson. She was super nervous and scared yet excited. Some could say I drew the short straw and was given the task of working solely with her but in truth it was just that I had the most patience. However, it has been a good thing and I have loved every minute of it. Last week we worked on her building trust and confidence in not only me but also her horse, Gee.
Gee is a black Tennessee Walking Horse that stands about 17 hands tall and if any of you remember our horse Gomer they could be twins. We call him our gentle giant but he is quite hardheaded which can sometimes get the best of him. Last Thursday we worked on her learning the basics of putting on a halter, grooming, saddling and riding. She was able to learn how to steer her horse while also learning how to find her balance in the saddle with out grasping the saddle horn. She also learned how to lead her horse which was the biggest challenge. Just know where there is grass and a stubborn horse you can have a challenge pulling him away. So for a girl who want even get 3 feet close to the head, leading a horse is quite difficult.
While these lessons frustrated her they also frustrated me as she is the one you have to tell a million times and then a million more before anything gets through. This would be the part where patience is a virtue and regrouping is often...for all 3 of us! By the end of the day on Thursday I felt good about the successes she had made. We finished the day leading a different horse which was quite more cooperative. Today we were able to continue these lessons and she was able to ride and 'steer' Gee with out him actually following me as well as go over obstacles, groom and saddle her horse and even pick his front hooves. We are still working on her confidence with the horse and while she will get closer to the head she is still quite scared. We will also be working on her comfort level with other horses around. Currently she is so concerned with all the other horses being close that we just have to separate ourselves. I look forward to the lesson that we have next week and the trust and confidence that she continues to grow in her own ability, the horses and myself.
Everything else here has been relatively calm. On Saturday one of our girl's competed in her first horse show where she placed 4th in her class. We also had a water war one night between the girls and boys. Let's just say that water balloons + 4 water hoses + 14 soaking kids = good clean fun! :)
This coming week please continue to pray for the students as one is transitioning home and we are looking for new ones to come. Also pray for the healing of families and students. This week pray for the change over of house parents in the girls house and pray for the relationships that are being built. Don't forget to stop and regroup this week!
Also, I know I have heard that some of you were interested in supporting Oak Ranch so I'm working on a sort of wish/needs list but some of which include: the usual needs of food or hygiene products, Wii games ('E' or 'T'), PG 13 movies, and they are still looking for chicks and a calf, kiddie stirrups or tack (English and Western), or any monetary donations are welcome.
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