Macy has wanted to visit my aunt in NC and ride her horse for the last few years, so I planned a little birthday trip there on Memorial Day weekend while Brian and Tate went to Knoxville. And she got to take along a friend- Hannah!
I loved seeing her packing list a couple days before-
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Friday after school Hannah came over and I took them to Duck Donuts to make there own donut to eat in the car for breakfast the following morning, as we were hoping to be on the road by 6am as it was a 6 hr drive. We also stopped off at the Dollar Store so they could pick out lots of snacks for the ride-
Saturday morning came early and they crawled into the car still in the pajamas for the trip. When we go to my aunts, the quickly got changed, had lunch and off they went out to the barn!
My aunts barn is amazing- smells fresh and oh so clean!
My aunt has an icelandic horse named Shayla. The girls patiently watched while Aunt Sandy got her from the field-
The Icelandic horse is a breed of horse developed in Iceland. Although the horses are small, at times pony-sized, most registries for the Icelandic refer to it as a horse. Icelandic horses are long-lived and hardy. In their native country they have few diseases; Icelandic law prevents horses from being imported into the country and exported animals are not allowed to return. The Icelandic displays two gaits in addition to the typical walk, trot, and canter/gallop commonly displayed by other breeds. The only breed of horse in Iceland, they are also popular internationally, and sizable populations exist in Europe and North America. The breed is still used for traditional sheepherding work in its native country, as well as for leisure, showing, and racing.
Developed from ponies taken to Iceland by Norse settlers in the 9th and 10th centuries, the breed is mentioned in literature and historical records throughout Icelandic history; the first reference to a named horse appears in the 12th century. Horses were venerated in Norse mythology, a custom brought to Iceland by the country's earliest settlers. Selective breedingover the centuries has developed the breed into its current form. Natural selection has also played a role, as the harsh Icelandic climate eliminated many horses through cold and starvation. In the 1780s, much of the breed was wiped out in the aftermath of a volcanic eruption at Laki. The first breed society for the Icelandic horse was created in Iceland in 1904, and today the breed is represented by organizations in 19 different nations, organized under a parent association, the International Federation of Icelandic Horse Associations.
The girls really felt like they were at horse camp while at my aunt house- she taught them everything and they helped with anything they could for Shayla-
Before riding, A LOT of work has to be done. So the girls got busy brushing-
And then they got to do her hair!
Sometimes my aunt braids it beautifully, but today she thought the girls another style-
Pony tails!
They helped get her saddled up, and then Macy was the first to ride-
Meanwhile, Hannah was content in the cool shade (it was SOOOOO HOT) of the barn with the sweet barn cat-
Hannah!
And Macy took a break with kitty-
Lots still to do after the ride as well-
And Macy was psyched to be able to get in on the action-
Before we went out that evening, we sang Macy an early happy birthday and had some cupcakes that my aunt surprised her with!
That evening Sandy & Steve took us to the new Tryon International Equestrian Center just about 30 minutes from their house- and boy was it AMAZING!
Tryon International Equestrian Center at Tryon Resort is the ultimate international destination for all who love horses, outdoor living and an active lifestyle. As host of the FEI World Equestrian Games™ Tryon 2018, Tryon International Equestrian Center offers first-class facilities for all FEI disciplines in addition to showcasing hunter/jumper, equitation, steeplechase, polo, and multidiscipline events in Mill Spring, NC. From carousel to competition, the mission of Tryon Resort is to celebrate the magic of the horse, grow equestrian sport, and increase access to this majestic animal. A haven for equestrian competitors and enthusiasts alike, Tryon Resort is an iconic, year-round destination for connoisseurs of diverse cuisine and shopping, lodging getaways, and family entertainment.
When we got there they were just unloading the animals for the petting zoo-
A mini horse and donkey were our favorites!
On Saturday nights they have horse shows- that are free! As is everything else- the live music, carousel rides, magician show, petting zoo- it was incredible.
And our seats for the horse show were too-
It was an amazing night out- something we had never experienced before and the facility was mind blowing. The girls loved all the kid activities- and the face that they could walk around on their own and have a little independence together.
My aunt had a great idea for Sunday- to go on a trail ride at a local barn. She called to make a reservation, and when giving directions there, the man told her to turn at the "giant metal mosquito" and sure enough- we found that big bug on our way there-
A warm up with Shayla that morning and they were ready for our trail ride-
I was SO proud of Macy- she was so confident, a complete natural controlling her horse as the trail took us up a very steep, winding path alongside a mountain-
Hannah did great too! She was a bit apprehensive about controlling her horse on her own at first, so the trail guide attached a lead to her horse. But half was into the ride, Hannah was on her own!
We stopped at the top of the mountain and the guide took some pictures of us-
My horse-
Who apparently had very bad gas... Aunt Sandy was behind me. Oops!
Along our ride, the guide mentioned that the owner of the stable had a horse named Macy, so before we left we HAD to take Macy to meet Macy! Here she is-
We had such a special adventure in NC doing all things horsey with my Aunt Sandy. She pulled out pictures of her and my dad as kids riding when she was Macy's age. Having always been the only one in the family to have/love/ride horses, she was thrilled that Macy is showing interest! If only horses were as cheap as a season of baseball, right?
Aunt Sandy and her two weekend helpers-
Meanwhile in TN, this is the only picture I got all weekend from Brian-
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