Gina's lesson
During kindergarten we acquire life lessons that carry us through our adult lives. We learn that play dough isn’t the same as cookie dough; finger paint isn’t for our clothes; it isn’t nice to cut your friends hair; and many other important lessons. On one particular day, in fourth grade, I relearned the lesson of patience. It was a Friday in November and my equestrian jumping class was supposed to start at five pm. I ran into the barn that afternoon late. Quickly, I flew past the tack room, checked to find my name under the five o’clock lesson time, and to my delight found I was going to ride Gina. Gina was a large, black mare with a long flowing tail, and short stubby mane. She had a tendency to run her neck against the stall doors, causing it to be short and stumpy. The reason I liked Gina so much was because she presented me with a challenge. Exceedingly headstrong, Gina allowed me to work on the fundamentals of my riding skills.