Sundays at the Stable ~ Bareback ride

I was so excited to meet Jo last Sunday for our horsey day! 

It was going to be an On The Horse day...

I met her at her home, in our city.

Danny was practically ready to go...I had ridden him once that week, and he had remained pretty clean !

The two said hello's, and readied for the  lesson I had planned- a bareback ride!

I lunged Danny boy in the freshly tilled earth of the work area paddock ( THANKS to my PBO!)...it made a huge difference in his work ethic and focus!

 3 to 5 inches will do that...too much work to make extra moves that are not asked. He remained straight and on line- in contact.

Excellent!

 Jo mounted up and and situated herself on the saddle pads, behind the vaulting surcingle.

I was just in heaven...knowing what an exciting moment this was for my girlfriend...getting back on a horse!
We both are so thankful that my PBO will allow us to do these things, under her guidance, and with her wonderful Danny.

I apologized about the Surcingle, it most likely would leave some marks on her..I know, I took vaulting classes . But, the nearer to bareback experience,  is what I wanted her to have before the saddle.

I told her to not grip with her legs...hang onto the handles of the Vaulting cinch, pulling yourself into the horses movement.

She made a neat connection,  as I described how to achieve a relaxed core, as Danny horse undulated  beneath her. She takes yoga and could see the lines- inside her head- for everything I described!

 Very Cool!

I mentioned weighting her heels, and riding pelvis before shoulders and she really sat nicely through all the transitions I asked him make. I was so pleasantly surprised..she did it all, quite naturally so!

I like to use a verbal  precursor before transitions to the horse. by saying an "AND" word, and hand motion forward or back.. upward or downward. Jo know knows these signal too now...so as I gave them, I asked her to always take a breath and then to" Breathe It OUT" for Danny Boy to feel, as he responded to my downward cue. Therefore connecting them.

 Any horse I have worked, gets to recognize simple visual cues quickly and we then sometimes, I remove the words- save the "AND". I then  KNOW I have full attention then! 

My sissy taught me The "AND"...it is like a lunging half halt,  preparing the horse for the next cue.

( NOTE-I did not take these photo's while lunging...I took a video, then made some stills)

LOOK at Jo's smile of delight...as I was going over the video for the best sections to make the stills from...I caught this tender smile of joy on her face...then Dan decided to stop..and it quickly became intense again...but I loved seeing it through slow motion!!!

What an awesome day!!! I have repeatedly called Jo this week apologizing for the bruises(I know she has) . She assured me that she enjoyed every minute, and they really were not bad!

Again, she treated Dan man to an apple after the session... he appreciated it!

A good day!  Ending in the country.

Looking forward till we go again.....

 Next  time (this wkend)...we take care of the horses needs, while the PBO is away...and hope that the weather clears...for another ride..in a saddle and maybe off property!