Post by maxfiresoule on Jun 19, 2007 7:19:54 GMT -5
Into the stables I walked, it was early, too early for the horses to be out yet, so I headed towards Remi's stall. My boots ecgoed across the aisle, and my lovely bay horse stuck her head against the bars and nickered to me. I opened the door and gave her a big hug. Today I had decided to do something Remi and I loved, ride bareback. So grooming tools in hand, I led Remi out into the cross-ties and groomed her for awhile, picked her feet and brushed out her mane and tail, forelock too. I then put on her polo's, (her support boots were in the wash) and bridled her, put her forelock under the browband, put my helmet off, and went outside. I stopped her, parked her out, and vaulted onto her strong back. Oh how I loved the feeling of no saddle, just you and the horse. I gave her a gentle push and we set off for the outdoor ring. On the way there was a bunch of scary things, that she had JUST NOTICED. Remi stopped, looked, and shied away. I pushed her back and closer to the scary part, having my inside leg on hard, so she couldn't shy again. Stop. Look. Spin. Buck. Attempt to canter away. Giggle. Ha, she is so fun when she does this! I stopped her, spun her around and tryed again, this time with my inside leg on REALLY hard and my inside reinheld to make her side-pass. She always got over a spook if you side-pass her away so she can't see it. It worked every time. She quickly calmed down and I asked her to trot. I sat for a few strides then posted on her bare-back. We trotted right down the the outdorr where I stopped at the gate, dismounted, opened the gate, and we entered. I closed the gate and vaulted back onto her. I set her right to work, and we went trotting around the arena, I asked her for her head and frame and got an immediate response. Good girl!!! I patted her on the neck She loved it when I rode her bare-back. She was sometimes better bare-back than with a saddle! Her muscles bunched under her. I agreed with a lift and a message from my seat. A beautiful canter emerged, and I circled, Then went back to the rail. Around the last corner and and we counter cantered, then switched, then switched again, then ended on the right lead. Back down to walk, and I stopped her in one of the corners. I still had some time, and there were a couple 3 foot hunter/jumper training jumps in the middle of the ring. I immediatly had a course. I trotted a circle and lifted to canter, and we headed to the first jump, up and over. I stayed light and steady on her mouth, I just steered with my legs and seat, we went up and over about 4 more jumps until I decided to stop. I then left the arena, un-tacked her, put her in her paddock, then set off cleaning her tack.
