A Ride

Ever since her first early experience with horses when she was but a little 'un, C-bao has been a big fan, as this post from 2013 will attest. Today, C-bao got to go on a real ride at Five Brooks Stables.

Five Brooks isn't the most accessible location in the world; while only 27 miles north of San Francisco, most of the way there involves one-lane, windy roads prone to congestion. But with a stable of well-trained horses and a collection of activities for all ages, along with miles of trails nearby, it was a nice locale to further explore C-bao's equestrian interests.



While she didn't quite make the age cutoff for a fully independent ride with the group -- she is, after all, still 3 -- C-bao was able to saddle up for a chaperoned ride around the lake on her own pony, accompanied by a couple of instructors.



One of them mentioned that recently a 12-year-old boy from a "city family" came in, and after getting up close and personal with the horses, broke down crying and refused to go for his ride. C-bao was just the opposite. She boldly got astride her steed, named "Tornado," and even managed to perfect the horse-whispering cluck to get Tornado to pay attention. No city chicken here!

Beach rides

C-Pop took the little one for a stroll on the beach this weekend. The sun had just burned away the clouds and the sky was a perfect blue when we snapped the pic below.

C-bao enjoyed watching the waves and seagulls, and commented on many a passing dog frolicking by the water (typically on their size and color).

She also made C-Pop do a number of windsprints, while being carried in his arms like royalty. "Faster! Faster!" she hollered, egging on C-Pop much as an equestrian might urge on a steed. It turns out these Daddy-Daughter dates provide quite a bit more exercise than C-Pop might otherwise expect.

Horse

C-bao is a born equestrian, and has loved pictures and videos of horses from an early age. Indeed, when she sees C-Pop at the computer, she typically runs up to say 騎馬! 騎馬! (Ride Horse! Ride Horse!) to indicate that she wants to see some videos of kids riding ponies.

Several months ago C-Pop inadvertently allowed her to witness her sister K-bao getting a piggyback ride while yelling 騎馬! 騎馬!

So guess what C-Pop has been roped into doing - every night when he comes back from work, and all through the weekend?