Her name is Caroline Olivia Mancini and she LOVES to pick horses' feet. If you have ever been at the barn when she's there, I'm certain that you've been asked a million questions by her including the big one, "Can I pick your horse's feet?". She doesn't care how big your horse is, she wants to pick their feet. Don't ask me why, she just does.

 

Talk about an inquiring mind! She'll ask Colleen, "What are you doing to Kav's leg?" or Kim, "Why are you soaking Dragon's foot?" or Hannah, " Can I help you wash May?" or Marissa, "Can I give Fiona a carrot?"

 

Who is this little kid? She's my grand-daughter and has started to lesson at Mystic Valley with Miss Marissa. She loves riding. She can't get enough of it? Her week is centered around her next lesson on Coco Puff. She always asks me if it's a Coco Day. By the way, as far as she's concerned, Coco is hers. Miss Sally just takes care of him for her. As a matter of fact, last Sunday she was bothered by the fact that some other little girl was riding Coco Puff. When the girl was finished with her lesson, she walked Coco out of the indoor, put him in cross ties and started to groom him. Caroline walked right up to her, took the hoof pick out of her hand and started picking Coco's feet. Not the best barn etiquette, I explained and returned the pick to it's rightful owner.

 

Caroline's been in two shows so far and has done well in both. What I love, besides her, is that she loves to ride, she loves horses, she loves animals. It's not about getting dressed up for the show. It's not about 1st, 2nd or 3rd. It's not about ribbons. It's about riding. It's about Coco Puff. It's about being at the barn.