Back to basics

Alright, so those of you that know me personally probably already know that for like a year straight when ray was younger, I did absolutely nothing in the saddle. No bareback pad, no saddle, very rarely did I even use a bridle! It really helped me with how I grip and ride and react to different things, the boys have always been happier going tackless, etc. it was basically the golden days for us. I've never been able to trot or canter more than a step or two though. One of my riding goals for this year was to get to where I can canter bareback. (Fun fact: another goal was to remember to keep this blog going) 

So for some reason I had another one of those amazing ideas that very rarely ever turn out right today. I was going to take Drift on his third ride since fall. 

That picture is of Drift playing hard to get. It's not the attractive version either and actually kind of made me mad. But he hasn't been caught since February so my fault and I can't be mad at or blame him. Luckily my fat little golden boy will do anything for a bucket of clover and Drift follows him like a puppy. 

So I caught Drift and got him to the barn. Lunged him at a walk because for some reason he has never really learned how to lunge right so I dunno. Put the bridle on over his halter and led him around with the leadrope until he got his antsy-ness out and got calm. Basically one of those set him up for success things. He's a good boy. I had him stand and gave him a tiring (for me) refresher course on humans jumping near him and pressure on his back because I was just going to work on the bareback trotting thing at the barn before our ride some. 

Well he did really good standing and walking around the barn and was actually really calm, so GENIUS me decides to take the horse that is KNOWN for being an idiot at really bad times and hasn't been ridden in months out around the property bareback. I really need to have an intervention about these dumb ideas of mine...

Well, things started out bad. He ignored me so he could talk to his buddies across the road and I had to get onto him about it to get him going the right way. But then he was actually REALLY good! He was doing a really slow, smooth jog at first when I would ask for more speed and as I got used to trotting and wasn't bouncing as much, he would slowly increase speed unless I got onto him about it. By the time we got to Callie's, I was sitting an extended trot without bouncing at all! He spooked some around her house but it was kinda a mess since their barn collapsed so I don't blame him. Came back and let him loose so I could get rolling videos. 

Basically he's still a really great guy! I'm so blessed to have such absolutely amazing horses that really honestly do take care of me, and I'm really happy about how good I got at trotting bareback, even in just one day! 

So basically I'm super happy even though I got sunburned and weird tan lines again. Eh whatever. I'll post some pictures I took yesterday and today of the cool weather and my pathetic dog getting a bath. Enjoy!