ABOUT ME !!!

Janessa Faith Hickman

 

When I was just a baby about 6 months old, my Nanna would hold me up on the back of a horse. Grandpa would walk the horse around with a lead rope while Nanna held me up there on the horse's back. Nanna says that I would hold onto the horse's mane and giggle and squeal a lot. That's how they knew that I was going to love horses.

 

I began learning how to balance on a horse all by myself when I was 2 1/2 years old. I would sit on "Arapaho" bareback and hold the reins. Nanna or Grandpa would lead me around the arena. They told me that it was very important to learn bareback so I would learn how to sit a horse and have a good seat and good balance. This is important so that I don't use the reins to balance myself.

After my lessons, Nanna and Grandpa would take me for a trail ride. I usually rode double.

Here is a pic of Nanna and me on a trail ride. This is one of the few times that Nanna ever used a saddle. I am sitting in a buddy seat. We are riding "Topaz". If you look closely, you can see the rope halter that we are using to ride with.

 

 

Here I am at about 2 years old....I would sit on the picnic table where I could be safe and not get stepped on. This is "Arapaho". She was my first teacher. She is an Arabian mare.

 

Below is a pic of me and my Grandpa going through a riding lesson with "Arapaho". I am bareback and using a rope halter.

 

This is "Joey" the mini-donkey. He is fun to ride! I think I am 3 years old here because I look soooo short. "Joey" is a good friend and cool baby-sitter!

I learned how to walk on my horse when I was three and four years old. When I turned Five, my Grandpa said I was good enough of a rider at the walk to begin learning how to trot.

 

Finally, on my 6th birthday my Grandpa picked me up from school. He said he had a special birthday present for me. We went out to the barn. Grandpa said that today he was going to take me on a trail ride.

 

 

I had been on trail rides before with Nanna and Grandpa but this time he said I could ride "Topaz" all by myself....ON THE TRAIL!!! YEAH!!!!!!!

ME AND "TOPAZ" RIDING ON THE TRAIL!!! I COULDN'T WAIT TO TROT HER ALL OVER THE WOODS, PASTURES AND IN THE CREEKS!!! WOO HOO!!!

Here are some pics of that great day with just me and "Topaz"...

Heading out to the pasture to get "Topaz"

A very special moment with my "Topaz". I think that this was the day that we would finally become partners.

Heading back to the hitching post

A quick grooming and clean out her feet and I will be ready to go. Since I dont have my safety table to stand on, I am keeping my free hand against her side so if she spooks and steps into me, I can keep my distance and be safe.

My Grandpa only lets me clean the front feet. He says that when I get older I can learn to do the back feet. He ALWAYS supervises me while I am handling my horse's feet.

Let's Go Grandpa!!! I'm ready !!!!

And here we go....

Riding through the wild and wooley brush !!! :)

Going down a little hill heading for the creek...