Foster ponies coming in a few weeks!

[bearcreekfarm]

Having grown up with horses, I have really missed them in the 30+ years since I last spent any time around them. I always thought I would get one when I retired, and now that we have our 240 acre farm this would be the perfect time for it. But, the reality is that a) I have no desire to care for livestock during our long, cold Minnesota winters; and b) even if I did, it seems nuts to me to spend money 12 months of the year on a horse I can only ride 7-8 months, again, due to winter weather. So, I have never gotten a horse.

However, almost immediately after our daughter was born I started daydreaming about introducing her to horses and sharing my passion for them with her. It turns out that she is animal-crazy, and loves horses. She will turn 4yo at the end of this month, and I decided it was time to get her started with a pony. I still don't want to take care of one in the winter, so I posted an ad on an equine FB page last week offering to foster a pony for the summer if anyone had a spare pony around. Within 10 minutes of posting I had a response. A woman in the group offered us TWO ponies. One is a mini-mare, and the other is a pony gelding. Both of them ride and drive, and are great with kids and other critters.

The best part is, I can bring them home on DD's birthday, keep them all summer, and return them before winter sets in. Sweet!
I am really excited about this, and I know that DD is going to completely freak out when she sees them. If all goes well over the summer, and DD decides that she really does like horses (as opposed to liking the IDEA of having a horse), then we may opt to do a summer lease in future years. Maybe I will even get  something that I can ride. Riding horseback with my daughter is going to be an amazing experience for me

[aoconnor]

How fun for you! I hope your little girl takes to them like ducks to water! My daughter didn't like horses, but her daughters both are smitten:-) I love it!

i hear you about winter tending horses. It is hard enough with out light winter we get, I can't imagine living in a heavy winter location and doing what I do! I have 24 horses, not sure I would have so many in a harsh winter environment!

[manygoatsnmore]

What fun! Just be prepared for some tears at the end of summer when the ponies have to go home.

[mollymckee]

All of out 4 kids ride and have their own horses. Our 3 DD's have always loved horses, once our DS started school, he had other interests but as a teen he discovered girls loved to ride and started riding again. He swore he would never have a horse crazy wife. My DIL and DS have horses and ride all the time. They have moved their horses across the country four times, their kids ride, and our son bought a mustang from the BLM last fall. He drove by the place they have them and decided to buy one. The horse had not really been handled, was a 2 year old, been captured about 6 months earlier. Either DS is really talented, or this horse has a really great disposition! Anyway, here's hoping your DD will have a lifetime hobby!

[Otter]

My DD and I do a lot of bonding over our horses. I hope your experience is as good as ours. Be sure to post some pictures!