So I have mentioned before about my foray in to Bareback riding spurred on by the amazing girl in New Zealand, Alycia Burton. I used to ride bareback as a kid all the time and I can remember one day casually teaching my friend to jump 'top of the barrels' (YOU ARE OLDSCHOOL IF YOU KNOW WHAT TOP OF THE BARRELS IS ;) ) with no saddle or bridle and it was just another day at the yard. I look back and think OMG, seriously need to get back there!
So, I was schooling Daisy the other day and once I felt half confident I had gotten the edge off of her (sounds like I have lost it already - oh to be 12 and fearless again) , I took off the saddle and hopped on - happy days. Whilst my brain debated putting a jump up, I get a flashback of trying this about 5 years ago with my ex-racer and putting up a jump and promptly falling off -at which point I continued trotting around. All was well and thanks to a fat broad belly, quite a comfy ride.
Having gotten the taste for this, the next time out I took my 4 year old Tonto, and feeling like an old pro, I didn't bother with a saddle. Too much too soon I hear you say, well YES, perhaps. So plus 1 dog on to the downs we go (after 12 when the racehorses are not around - that is a bridge too far) on a freezing cold miserable day hoping not to see anyone - off we traipse! Tonto was pretty mellow and all was going well until an angry looking, huge seagull landed close enough to say 'Hi Tonto' and off I flew, straight into the mud with one pony and one dog giving me a very odd look. So from trotting along thinking 'this is so easy why don't I do this more often', to 1 sharp spook and 10 seconds later, there I am face down in the dirt.
Fortunately Tonto is little enough at 14.3hh that I can hop on from the ground (thank God for small mercies) and I continued on my merry, if not slightly insane, way. The next issue was dog who was being super well behaved decided that running in front of Tonto at regular intervals was fun with Tonto half passing across the downs, oh what fun we had.
So all in all, apart from getting dumped in the mud, the bareback riding is going well. I do love it and it really help with my schooling Daisy, she stayed in a neat outline the whole time which is super unusual for us stargazers. Another round at the weekend I hope - although Tonto should be having his first jump, so we shall see !!
Dodgy pics am afraid, its hard watching a dog, while riding bareback, while holding your phone ;)
So, I was schooling Daisy the other day and once I felt half confident I had gotten the edge off of her (sounds like I have lost it already - oh to be 12 and fearless again) , I took off the saddle and hopped on - happy days. Whilst my brain debated putting a jump up, I get a flashback of trying this about 5 years ago with my ex-racer and putting up a jump and promptly falling off -at which point I continued trotting around. All was well and thanks to a fat broad belly, quite a comfy ride.
Having gotten the taste for this, the next time out I took my 4 year old Tonto, and feeling like an old pro, I didn't bother with a saddle. Too much too soon I hear you say, well YES, perhaps. So plus 1 dog on to the downs we go (after 12 when the racehorses are not around - that is a bridge too far) on a freezing cold miserable day hoping not to see anyone - off we traipse! Tonto was pretty mellow and all was going well until an angry looking, huge seagull landed close enough to say 'Hi Tonto' and off I flew, straight into the mud with one pony and one dog giving me a very odd look. So from trotting along thinking 'this is so easy why don't I do this more often', to 1 sharp spook and 10 seconds later, there I am face down in the dirt.
Fortunately Tonto is little enough at 14.3hh that I can hop on from the ground (thank God for small mercies) and I continued on my merry, if not slightly insane, way. The next issue was dog who was being super well behaved decided that running in front of Tonto at regular intervals was fun with Tonto half passing across the downs, oh what fun we had.
So all in all, apart from getting dumped in the mud, the bareback riding is going well. I do love it and it really help with my schooling Daisy, she stayed in a neat outline the whole time which is super unusual for us stargazers. Another round at the weekend I hope - although Tonto should be having his first jump, so we shall see !!
Dodgy pics am afraid, its hard watching a dog, while riding bareback, while holding your phone ;)
Excuse the Headcollar and pink lead rope, had to be prepared !!
JUST BECAUSE HE IS SO CUTE !
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