It's Just so UnManly

After a week off, Ben was in riding lessons again this week, 9 - 4 Monday through Friday.  He changed groups and changed horses this week.  Now riding Ernie, who is a larger and faster horse.  Yesterday (Thursday) his group went on a trail ride.  The rule for the trail rides is that each student has to be able to get on their horse by themselves (easy riding in a western saddle on a relatively normal size horse, not so easy in English saddle on a tall horse).  Ben cannot mount Ernie on his own.  So, he was relegated to riding a "pony" (ponies aren't young horses, they're full-grown, and called ponies because of their size).  Ben rode Dudley and complained all the way home in the car (and through the evening, as well).  The main issue:  "it's just so unmanly mom."  Ha!!  So, funny.  Apparently Ernie is manly, Dudley is not.  He's back on Ernie today for the second Friday show.