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!

Sisters

With a feisty and affectionate older sister to emulate, play with and test her wits against all of her life, little C-bao is one lucky little gal. It has been a joy for the C-folks to see the two little ones grow up together, despite the many - many - challenges of keeping the two civil and well-behaved with each other.

Here is C-bao enjoying a sip of water while her sister braids her hair:

Being strolled around town: 

 Learning the not-too-difficult act of riding a wooden horse from her sister:

Getting a swim lesson:

Singing "Let it GOOOOOOO!" together:

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?

Lemos Pony

C-bao took a trip to Half Moon Bay's Lemos Farm recently. While the abysmal traffic on the way there put everyone in a foul mood, all was forgotten as soon as C-bao saw the trains and ponies.

C-Pop was concededly initially skeptical that the little one was going to be able to handle riding a pony by herself - especially after she freaked out while C-Pop was introducing her to the goats. Nonetheless, when C-Pop suggested to C-Mum that she might be a little young, the little one gave an exasperated look , as if saying "What's the big deal?"

Then when it came time for her turn, she cooly got on her pony without a fuss and enjoyed her ride enthusiastically, except for staring down C-Pop every once in a while when she passed him.