Level 5

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My First Horseback Riding Experience

When I had my first horse ride, it was a very exciting and scary experience.  We chose a stable in Pacific City on the Oregon coast for my first horse ride.  I had really big emotional ups and downs on that day.  When we arrived, I was very nervous and wanted to give up, but the lead woman told me that I can do it.  She gave me strength.  The name of the horse they had chosen for me was Bella.  She was very tall and looked young and strong.  I have a fear of heights.  Before I got up on my horse, I tried to relax in my own way.  I started petting Bella, my beautiful brown horse.  She had long and shiny manes that sparkled in the sun.  First, I had to go up some wooden stairs to swing onto the saddle.  After I mounted, I started to control Bella’s lead rope and began to move.  We rode through a narrow trail before arriving at the foggy beach near Pacific City.  the sun had disappeared, but the ocean was still visible.  I wanted to enjoy the scenery and the horse ride, but Bella was speeding up and getting off the path.  Suddenly, Bella went on a small road and on a high mound.  I felt that the horse and I were alone.  I was very scared.  I needed to save myself by controlling Bella.  She had gone too far on the mound, and there was a dangerous cliff in front of us.  I finally pulled Bella back, and we safely joined the group again.  The staff started to go behind me and always supported me.  In the end, we got back to the starting point, and I got off the mischievous horse.  I felt that I will never do this again but returned the next week to ride another horse.  I now feel that we can only defeat our fears by doing exactly what we fear.

Written by: Elianora Duynamalyan