Monday, August 6, 2012

Five Steps of Bravery

Sunday was hot.  Probably not hot by rest of the country standards, but in the PNW it was a record breaking day of heat in the 90's.  I saddled up anyways but we ended up only riding for about ten minutes.  It was just too hot and neither one of us were motivated.

There was nobody around, so I took Tessa's saddle off in the arena.  I was about to take her bridle off when I had an idea.  I should check something off of my 'perfect horse' list that I've wanted to do.  Have a horse that I can ride bareback.  So I led her to the mounting block, removed my spurs (just in case) and slid on to her back.  It was slippery.  And her mane was short, having been recently pulled.  I asked her to walk.  She took a step.  My heart was pounding a million miles an hour.  She took another step.  On the fifth step, I heard the sound of the Blue Angels (jet fighter planes that were in town for a show that weekend) approaching.  So, I slid off.  My short bareback ride over.

But you know what?  It was five steps more bareback than I had ridden her before.  And now I can say I've ridden my pony bareback.  Of course there are no pictures.  How many pictures of Tessa in the crossties can I possibly take?  Even my camera is sick of Tessa in the crossties pictures.  So, sorry about that, but no pictures this time.  I promise I'll get better about that.

5 comments:

  1. I can't ride mine bareback! I can ride any other horse bareback, but she is so slippy and weird that I kind of end up rolling off like a grape at anything faster than a walk. I've been meaning to build up the confidence to ask for a jog, but haven't had time to practice. She is 16.1 and I am a chicken!

    Good for you on your five steps! It will so get easier! If it helps, dropping my irons at a trot and canter greatly helped my chicken tendencies and made the "removing the saddle" part a lot less scary. Also, I am now a pro at emergency bareback dismounts. ;)

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  2. Hey, baby steps, baby steps! And it was probably a good idea to dismount when noisy monsters were flying in the sky anyway.

    I find that riding bareback can be such a good stress reliever because you're forced to follow the motion and work out any tension in your lower back. I second the idea to drop your stirrups for a couple minutes every ride to become more confident bareback.

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  3. Keep it up and you'll see how addictive bareback riding is, especially in the winter. Thinline makes an excellent bareback pad that is comfortable and secure.

    Congrats!

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  4. Bravo!!! I use a fleece bareback pad, adds a little security. I have been there before with our Arab cross and know how big a step you took.

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