On Confetti’s birthday this year, we did pony rides for several children.

First, though, she got to run in the arena with both her mother and sister. They haven’t all been in the same place for a while now, and it made my heart soar to see them all enjoying life together again.  Photo quality is atrocious because it’s a screenshot of a Facebook video.. I took no photos, too busy being in the moment.

Then we all decorated the mini-horse. Sparkles and kids and a mini-horse? Oh my.  I did try to take photos here, but they do not do it justice.  She was absolutely covered in glitter on one side.  Stars on the other side. Glitter on her hooves. Glitter in her forelock. Pink extensions in her tail – why not?!  It made Fetti’s “My Little Pony” costume look tame.

The cutest. And the sparkliest.

All the full-sized ponies got to give pony rides to all the children.  Here I see a training hole: we have not done enough low-level basic work in the round pen. Fetti was miffed at the inconsistent steering, tolerant but not helpful/forgiving, and bursting into trot rather than transitioning gracefully.  Hmmm.  We really need to do some hard conditioning work in the upcoming weeks – but I need to take some time schooling in the round pen and arena on these things too.  She wasn’t bad, but she definitely could have been better.

Children cropped for privacy.

I came back later that evening and gave her a beer with her grain. I had originally thought of making pony birthday cakes, or finding a crown, or something. Alas, on day three of a five-day migraine stint, it was not to be. Beer sufficed, and at twenty-one, that was Good Enough.

Here’s to many more.