I finally get to ride a horse! It was always my dream. I have been waiting for this big moment for years, and I can't believe it's finally happening! I was so excited that I wasn't able to sleep that night. The night seemed to go forever.

The next morning I was ready before anyone else. I woke up, took a shower, got dressed in some clothes that I didn't mind to getting dirty, ate breakfast, and was ready to leave the house at 8:00 A.M. I had 3 hours to wait; the class started at 11:00.

It was 10:45 and I was yelling to mom "Lets go, we'll be late!" I jumped into the car and waited until my mom came. I honked the horn twice for her to hurry up. She finally came. She hopped into the car and we were off. I kept yelling to my mom to hurry up and drive faster, but she couldn't.

"We're here we're here!" I kept yelling. I jumped out of the car and walked down to where everyone else was. Suddenly something happened to me when I realized how big these animals were. And I started to walk slower and slower towards the horses. I was frightened to get on. I kept saying to myself, "What if that horse kicks me off or just won't listen to me?" Then I said to my mom, "Okay I saw the horses; can we go home now?" Mom didn't understand what got over me. I told Mom I was scared that the horse might kick me off. Mom told me the first time you get on a horse the trainers will be controlling him. I felt better and thought, "Oh well, what could go wrong?" I put on a helmet and got on a horse named Cocomo. I held my breath not to mention holding very tightly onto the rope that they gave me.

The following week I got on a horse again; this time I had to control the horse and I panicked. I thought there was something wrong with me, so I started to cry and get all upset. I yelled I wanted to get off, but my conductor wouldn't let me get off. She let me cry, but told me not to yell because it frightens the horses.

I managed to stop crying and was able to control the horse; that's when Nora [the instructor] saw talent in me and told me I can do much better if I had private lessons.

I was really improving. I started to ride a western saddle, but Nora put me on an English saddle which really frightened me because there was no support like there was with the western saddle.

I finally got the hang of the English saddle and became a real pro.

I started to trot, which is a slow run like a jog. In the begining it was no fun! But now it's a blast. I post my trot. A post is when you stand sit stand sit, this is not an easy job. I'm getting much better, but oh my feet kill!

Those were my first experiences with riding. I still ride today, in fact, in April I signed up for a horse show and won fourth in trot walk class, third place in obstacle course and second place in bareback.

I'm learning new things every Monday and looking forward to the adventures and challenge of riding.

Noa has ADD. She was twelve years old when she wrote this for a class assignment. Today, Noa is 21 years old and in training to become a NARHA registered instructor. She still rides with the program.