First ride for her girls

Here's Catherine getting on her pony for the very first time:

Elisabeth had a great ride too!

Both on the same day that their old pony Vinnie was sold. Time marches on!

Belle's 2013 resolutions

Here's what we're hoping the new year will bring for Belle Nuit:

• Stay unhurt and healthy!
• Be a safe, calm, and friendly companion to my girls with impeccable ground manners
• Get registered as a Pinto:  http://www.pinto.org/
• Grow a little taller and strengthen my topline
• Start in my first shows in lead line and walk-trot early in the year
• Learn basic paces and transitions sufficient to go in Introductory walk-trot dressage tests late in the year
• Learn to quietly, calmly, and in a balanced manner go over ground poles, cross rails, and low jumps up to 12 inches

YouTube clips from 2012

I'm not sure how long they will be available, but I wanted to record the addresses of Belle's old YouTube clips from before we bought her:


2nd time with rider A, 11 November 2012:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiqgU4ddJqI 

2nd time with rider B, 11 November 2012:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QS6UjtT9pUI 

Short free trot:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuztI85tS4o

Longer free trot:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rP_n9FHfsI8

Free jump:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3i7j7wI5lME

Walking under saddle: http://youtu.be/QlXDwHKLUSk

Trotting under saddle: http://youtu.be/1d2to8X-pB8

Trotting over cross rails: http://youtu.be/OQBk-dV5r7A

Her listing description on Facebook: "Coming 4 y/o, stands 14h, mare, b/w paint, very quiet, trotting over cross rails with an 8 yr old beginner rider. Will be a flashy pony with more training and miles. $1,500 Winchester, VA".

I think she's not quite that tall and not quite that old (more like a little over 13.2hh - higher at the butt! - and coming 3 years old), but so far we're still happy with her.