Gabriel riding totally on his own now - and smiling all the time

Gabriel now rides on his own. No need for a lead line, and an attendant person at the end of that line. He's on his own now, and loving it. So proud!

I laugh to myself. The riding instructor is the only person on this earth to whom instructions are met with immediate compliance on the part of one Gabriel Christian Hucek.

And how he loves riding.

He is still smiling.

He has been maybe six times now. And the smile remains at the ready, peeking out whether he wants it to or not.

Lola is there sometimes, too. Today, I brought them both there, so they rode together, in the same class.

After, whether Lola is there or not, Gabriel just has to feed the ponies hay. He gives them tons. Whatever I say makes no difference. That "they have enough already", for example. He looks at me, bewildered, as if I am speaking in Hindi. Then he resumes feeding the ponies mountains of hay.

I have to always drag him away from there. He would do it for an hour. For two hours. Even if he's hungry. And that says a lot.

Getting ready to go!

Smiles at the start

Smiles when it's over

Lola was there, too. And after, they love giving the ponies hay, almost as much as they love riding them. I have to drag them away in the end. They could care less about dinner, the hour, or the weather.