Happy Fourth of July!!!

So, I wish that I was computer literate enough to do a little jazzing up of the blog for the 4th of July. You know, maybe playing a snippet of the Star Spangled Banner or one of those little pictures that move. Sadly, I am not. So you'll just have to settle for a snapshot of us getting ready for the 4th of July Parade in downtown Hutchinson yesterday.

On the right, on the big sorrel with the blaze is Dustin. The horse is Badger (who really thought this parade business was a bunch of bull**** and wanted to run all the way home). We were lined up on Avenue B and waiting for the route to begin. We ride with the Pretty Prairie Saddle Club and we all wore long sleeved white shirts, red white and blue bandannas, and white cowboy hats.

I rode Luna (of course!) and she, as usual, recognised a chance to perform and made the best of it. She dropped at the poll, arched her neck as far as it would go, and with her ears perked up, pranced her way down 20 blocks of screaming and adoring fans. I am pretty sure she thought the event was organised especially for her. I love it when she does her parade trot, it is a super slow and easy but high stepping trot. It looks like a very fancy prancy version of a collected trot.

Of course I used puff paint to paint red white and blue stars on her butt and I fishbone-braided her tail halfway down and tied it with a red ribbon. Hopefully, I will get the pics back from the family that took them for us soon and I can post them here. I had to grin every time I heard a little girl squeal "OOOhhh, look at that one, the black one!!!" She really did look beautiful.

Badger handled everything much better once we got moving. Every time we stopped he looked around at the crowd with an expression of extreme dislike and fidgeted a bit but Dustin kept him calm and well in hand, talking quietly to him most of the ride.

A friend of ours rode our youngest heathen's horse, as he had pulled some muscles and couldn't ride. Splash carried her like a trooper, never being bothered by the moto-cops with their flashing lights, the crowd, the firecrackers, the music, or the other horses. He is a super star.

Speaking of the crowds - I was honestly amazed at how little regard for their children's safety people have anymore. Can anyone tell me why in the world a person would think its okay to allow their three or four year old to run out in the middle of the street into a crowd of horses to try to pet them during a parade?!?!?

Listen Up People - Horses do not like to run people over as a general rule. I imagine we're squishy footing. However, when a horse is scared, cornered, or furious...exceptions are made. I saw a little girl nearly run underneath of a palomino yesterday. The horse was already nervous and it was only by quick thinking on the rider's part that the girl wasn't trampled. I get so frustrated with this. I think some people honestly think that all horses are like Flicka, the Black Stallion, Black Beauty, and Mr. Ed rolled into one. Sheesh.

Anyways, for the most part it was a wonderful day. We barely missed getting rained on (which was good because the white shirts go transparent when wet) and no one, including horses, got hurt or had a bad time of it. Hutchinson looked so pretty with the flags a flyin' and the streets lined with people, it made me feel good to know that I was part of celebrating our country's birth.

So wave your flags, pop your fireworks, and give thanks that we have the freedom to live the way we choose!