Ayla’s first rodeo…

Well, Ayla got to experience her first rodeo today, except we weren’t in the stands, we were the main attraction! …

Mom, Ayla and I went for a horseback ride, and Ayla and I rode Ken’s old horse Freckles, that I always ride there and he’s really calm and good and about 25 years old.  So out of the blue today he started bucking (as a trainer, I know there is what a lot of people think of as a buck, and I consider that a little jumping around, and then there is actual bucking where the horse’s head is down and his front and back feet are leaving the ground, it was the second one that we were experiencing!).  Ayla was on behind me in a little buddy saddle that straps on the back of the big saddle, at first I just thought we’d ride it out because he’d probably stop since it was so out of character for him, but when I was getting after him and he still was going at it, I decided it was time for plan B.  I was trying to think of what would be the safest thing for Ayla (not teaching the horse a lesson, and getting after him harder like I normally would…this time I had precious cargo), and I really didn’t want her to fall off and end up under him by herself, so I decided we should bail.  I went for the flying dismount first so that I could be down there to protect her, and then I told her to jump and she did.  I was so proud of her for listening so well under pressure…I’m sure it’s scary to jump off a big bucking horse when you’re only 3 feet tall!  She doesn’t even like to jump off of something into my waiting arms unless I’m really close to her, and this time there were no waiting arms…not mine anyway, but I’m convinced there were Some there!  She only cried a little, so I could tell she wasn’t really hurt, just scared, so we got back on just so she wouldn’t be scared of the horse, and then I let her ride with mom.  The horse probably got in 6 or 7 bucks before we jumped off, and my natural little cowgirl was just riding it like nothing…if I would have known that I may have decided to stay on, but I couldn’t really see her till I was on the ground. 

We had prayed for God to protect our ride before we left, and of course I can think of a lot of different ways I could have handled it looking back (my pride thinking how proud I would have been of her if we both just stayed on), but then I thought, wait a minute, I of course need to trust God that He guided me in my calm decision making (as He always has when I’m in a predicament), and that must have been the right choice for whatever reason, and He caught us both for a soft landing (and I was still SO proud of her for staying with the horse that long)!  Ayla was a little sore, she landed flat on her back, but I didn’t feel a thing. 

In this instance pride came after our fall (not like before in the saying!) but I still didn’t realize that I was trying to think up the situations that made it look better so I could be a proud Mom, when I should have just been so immediately grateful that my baby was ok, which I of course was, but the ‘what if’s’ were clouding the full thankfulness and trust.  At least it didn’t take me more than a few hours to realize my sin, but I still feel so bad that He watched out for us so carefully, and I didn’t even think to just trust Him and His guidance as the best choice from the start!  Sometimes I’m so dense!!

When we had gotten home and I was telling her about people who ride bucking horses and bulls for a living (trying to make her feel better) she said, “Mommy, I don’t want to be a cowgirl like you, I want to work at Culver’s.”  I cracked up!  She’s always wanted to do just what I do, until today, and Culver’s is a fast food resturant that she loves that two of her aunts work at, that’s why it was so funny and out of the blue! 

When we got home she rode Freckles around bareback so again, she wouldn’t be scared of him and she would see that he wasn’t trying to hurt her.  She was fine with that and even petting him.  On the way home I did all I could to get him to try bucking again, but I couldn’t, so I really think it was just a fluke.  Probably a lesson for me, in trusting God to care for my baby, and I’ve been wondering lately (I know I’m weird) if Ayla would follow my instructions if she were in danger and couldn’t see why I’d be asking her to do something, wondering if she had that blind trust (and ingrained obediance – I’m sure it takes both in the tough situations) in me that I would always lead her to do what I believe is best, even if it’s so hard for her to do it in the dangerous situation and ask no questions…well today wasn’t the worst of what could happen, but I’d say it was a good confirmation that yes, she would do as I said in an emergency, thank God for that too!  I’ll trust Him, she’ll trust me, and we should be ok then!

So, moral of the story, I am SO thankful that God caught my baby (or sent His angels) and that she is ok after her first rodeo!  (ok, so Freckles wasn’t as bad as a rodeo horse, because they really get after it, but for an old horse, I’d say he got after it pretty well too - he even seemed to be enjoying himself, the little bugger!!)