The Fun Begins

It wasn’t all miserable.  I loved this barn and Tom Riley.  I loved my friends and really enjoyed watching them have so much fun. My husband was finally happy!  Way back when we started this horse stuff, we both used to dream of someday being able to ride a real cutting horse…yea right. 

The best part of being at this barn was our people. RHO was a training barn with no real borders to speak of.  When we all came in together, we became Tom Riley’s barn.  We were his students, his prospects and his extended family. It was literally overnight that RHO was created as a boarding facility with permanent residents.  My desire to be back with my old trainer slowly faded.  In all reality, she was not in any position to start up a new place and we were all settled and happy.  Me? Well, I saw a big change in Dakota and my husband was thrilled.  I knew that our horses were in the best shape ever and well cared for.  That’s really all I ever wanted.

The respect I had for Tom was sincere.  My feelings for him changed to deep admiration in one sweep of a conversation we had.

“Michele, I hope you don’t mind but I took the liberty of riding your horse this month so I could see for myself what she was about. I know you want to ride; we just have to git your head around it.  For what you are doing, and what you want to do, I can’t offer you a better horse.  She is a fine horse and she is fine for you and I want you to start riding her.  I will work with her and you and we’ll git cha goin, believe me when I tell ya”

I believed everything Tom told me…from day one.  That’s why I was surprised, a little happy but mostly upset. Upset because it really was me all the time with Dakota (which I knew).  Upset because the great wizard of RHO really did have nothing in his black bag for me.  I  wanted so much to be able to have enough confidence and strength to be able to enjoy myself instead of wondering if I’m gonna die with each ride. I really did want a new horse, a Tom Riley horse that was simple, no frills, sound and kind. However, now I felt I was truly stuck with Dakota, but  it did make me a little more determined to conquer this battle.

Tom continued to ride Dakota and I rarely took lessons. Honestly, I didn’t want to ride her.  Tom also said I would know when it was time and when I was ready. My friends begged me to ride with them… you’ll be fine, they said… just a little trail ride around the property they said… Really???  Did you just meet me or something?  I can’t do this.

A month of training went by and it was time.  OK, so I rode... took a lesson or two on Dakota and began to smile.  She was different... not perfect, but responsive and relaxed.  Slowly I rode but no faster than a jog…

The day came when I was just comfortable enough to ride around the arena and be able to sit on top of my beautiful paint mare and make believe I could ride!

We were all together in the arena… Me, Sue, Donna and Sharon.  Tom Riley proudly watched us.

I remember the look on his face as he marched into the middle and said “Ladies, please line up here… so we did… and next... I would like you all to welcome Michele to RHO as part of our barn…now take your rides around the arena… They clapped... Tom’s face was beaming and I cried like a baby!!!

Sue announced me as the newest member of the Barbed Wire Babes and I truly felt complete! Such a small accomplishment… but to me it was huge!

So,this day marked the true beginning of the Barbed Wire Babes .  

Believe me when I tell ya!