My little cousins came to visit & rode Dakota today! =D

[Dakota Sunrise]

My little cousins moved (still in PA but it's a LONG drive) this year and I hadn't seen them in months.:( But they came to spend a week or so with my grandma and other family members (they all live in the same city an hour away from my house) and today my grandma brought them here for a visit!:D I was so happy, I really missed them (these are the same cousins I took to the horse show back in October).

I don't know who they were happier to see- me or Dakota!:p I think it was just about a tie.;) So I got to spend the day giving them pony rides on Dakota, carrying the littlest one all over the farm while they visited the goats, chickens, and Beauty, and then we went in to town and played at the park and got ice cream bars.:) It was a good day.

Dakota was such a good boy, calm and very patient with them. Zoe (9) and Abbie (8) even rode by themselves a little bit (in the arena with me standing right there). They were soooo proud of themselves, and I was too! At first Dakota just followed me around, but then I stood in the center and watched and with some coaching they were able to get him to walk, turn (neck reining), trot, and whoa all by themselves!:D Haylee (4) loves Dakota and had a ball riding, but only if I kept the leadrope on and stuck to a walk. Last summer she loved trotting, but she wouldn't do it this time. She said it's because she was "3 last year and not afraid.":p Lol, she's so funny.

Anyway, on to pics!:D There's kind of a lot, sorry!:innocent:

Haylee (riding) and Abbie:
http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af355/ERA_526/IMG_4942.jpg

Abbie:
http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af355/ERA_526/IMG_4943.jpg

Zoe:
http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af355/ERA_526/IMG_4944.jpg

Haylee:
http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af355/ERA_526/IMG_4962.jpg

Me & Haylee:
http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af355/ERA_526/IMG_4948-1.jpg

(Ignore me I'm making that weird metal mouth brace grin :o)
http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af355/ERA_526/IMG_4951.jpg

http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af355/ERA_526/IMG_4952.jpg

http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af355/ERA_526/IMG_4953.jpg

Abbie's turn:
http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af355/ERA_526/IMG_4961.jpg

http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af355/ERA_526/IMG_4955.jpg

http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af355/ERA_526/IMG_4985.jpg

http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af355/ERA_526/IMG_4986.jpg

Zoe!:D She's growing so fast, already her feet are almost as big as mine (I do have tiny feet and can still wear kids size 4 shoes, but still) and it won't be long before she can reach the stirrups! She's going to be taller than me in no time. I'm such a shorty, lol.:p
http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af355/ERA_526/IMG_4957.jpg

(Don't know why I have that weird expression on my face:huh:)
http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af355/ERA_526/IMG_4960.jpg

She looks so grown up in this picture. She did great today. They all did.
http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af355/ERA_526/IMG_4963.jpg

http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af355/ERA_526/IMG_4964.jpg

http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af355/ERA_526/IMG_4965.jpg

http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af355/ERA_526/IMG_4966.jpg

http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af355/ERA_526/IMG_4967.jpg


http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af355/ERA_526/IMG_4969.jpg

http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af355/ERA_526/IMG_4972.jpg

Then my grandma wanted to ride!:eek: How cool is that?!:D
http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af355/ERA_526/IMG_4977.jpg

http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af355/ERA_526/IMG_4982.jpg

I think she had fun, what would you say?;)
http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af355/ERA_526/IMG_4983.jpg

http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af355/ERA_526/IMG_4984.jpg

If that wasn't surprising enough (just because my grandma isn't really a horse person), my mom said she wanted to ride!:jawdrop: I've had Dakota for three years and she's never once been on him or shown any interest in learning to ride. She's actually afraid of horses. I mean, she'll pet Kota and Beauty and feed them for me occasionally if I'm gone or something, but riding makes her really nervous. Which is okay, if that's how she feels I totally respect that. As much as I love horses and riding I know it's not for everbody.
She actually did really good though. My mom doesn't really know how to ride but she trotted him a couple times and only screamed a little when he broke into a canter for two strides!;) :p
http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af355/ERA_526/IMG_4993.jpg

http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af355/ERA_526/IMG_4992.jpg

This picture is priceless, I love it!:p I guess we know how Kota feels about having her ride him!:p Lol, jk. I think he looks like Snoopy from one of the Charlie Brown movies in that picture though.:p
http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af355/ERA_526/IMG_4991.jpg

Ok, that's it. The End.:)
http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af355/ERA_526/IMG_4970.jpg

[dustys_girlly]

that is so great that you where able to have everyone involved even if it was only for a day. dakota looks like he did so great with everyone riding him.

[Horseaholic]

great pics! Looks like everyone really enjoyed themselves.

PS. you look EXACTLY like your mom!

[Dakota Sunrise]

PS. you look EXACTLY like your mom!


Lol, that's what everyone tells me but I just don't see it!

[mare]

Very cool of you to share your horse and give everyone such a good time. You live in a pretty area, too.

[JackieB]

Great pictures! Glad that everyone, including your mom!, got to ride. Thanks for sharing.

[carla]

I'm telling you what, that Dakota is worth his weight in gold. :)

Wonderful pics once again, Lizzy.. and what a beautiful family!

[natisha]

Go Granny!!!

[Bessie13]

Love the pictures. Dakota is worth the bank. He is one special horse. Glad he has you. :)

[TheBadLands]

omg precious!

And I guess your mom decided she didn't wanna be only man out? lol

Watch out now! Her and gramma might steal your horse!

[3equines]

Fabulous pictures! You need to send prints to your family, they are just so neat! Dakota just earned his year's keep :cool:

[grandmadeb]

Carrots and apples to Dakota!!! What a good boy.

[gabhainn]

That is a very special horse you got there Lizzie, you should be proud of him........Kevin

[oursarge]

What great pictures, you've given them memories they will have forever. I would have been in my glory if I had someone do that for me at that age. A great day for everyone.

I feel OLD, I think I look older than your grandmother, I probably am!!!! Dakota looked like he was having fun giving everyone pony rides. I love his halter.

[Kara]

Cute pictures

[Dakota Sunrise]

Thanks, everyone!:) We all had a lot of fun, and I'm so proud of Dakota. I love him, he's such a good boy. <3

[Tiz]

Those little cutie pies will remember visits with their Auntie Lizzie, and her horses, for their whole lives.

[farmers_wife]

That was some very nice pictures. I love the one of your grandma holding on to the horn. Thanks for sharing. What a good horse.

[Toodlestoo]

Wow, he's such a good boy. I wish I had a cousin like you when I was little! :) Grandma looks pretty young and you and your mom look identical! I thought it was a pix of you on Kota.