Horses Really ARE the Best Teachers.

As we have been commenting on the Six Types of Horses post, we all agree that horses are the best teachers. Here's another example that just proves our point!

Today is my niece Alanna's birthday. Whenever there is a holiday or a birthday, I give the kids in my family a riding lesson. Yesterday the kids had off from school so I had Alanna at the barn for a lesson.

My little sister Larissa was grooming and tacking up Perry who we had since she was a weanling, and Perry is the best horse I ever had in my entire life. I start out all of my beginners on her. She is my most trustworthy mount.

Alanna was going to be riding Dusty, who is another great horse. Well, whenever Perry is being groomed she sticks her neck out and loves to be curried. It does look funny when her lip starts to quiver. Well, Alanna said, "Uhhh Perry is sooooo weird." Alanna's voice dripped with disgust and contention. I said, "Don't you dare disrespect a lesson horse, or you won't be allowed to ride." We all know how patient and kind lesson horses are! I can't tell you how many riders had their first lope on that horse. Perry puts up with anything, and then when I get on her for a tune up she acts like she has only been ridden by me and makes no mistakes.

Alanna then walked over to Dusty who was in the cross ties and said, "I like Dusty so much better she's not weird at all." With that Dusty lifted her tail and dropped a big pile of manure! I grabbed a manure fork, handed it to Alanna and said, "Here you go, you need to clean up after your horse. Oh and by the way Perry never poops in the aisle." The barn was full and everyone was laughing, including Alanna, and she got the message that you can like whatever horse you want more than the others, but you must respect them all! Dusty taught her the lesson perfectly. No human could have driven the point home as effectively.