Hi, Ridecampers!
Thought I'd bother people again.
I'm back on track! I've missed owning my own
horse. Went to Cambodia, sold my Appaloosa, long story. Anyway, I've
bought my new buddy. Santana. A pretty, personality-filled Arabian
gelding. Grey. Go figure! :) Wasn't looking specifically for
an Arabian, or a grey, but, hey, if it's the right horse, who am I to
descriminate against a particular breed?
He's well trained, well come along. A few
fear issues to work out, but then if he didn't have SOME issues, what fun would
he be? ;) He's just turned 7. Great age.
Never been ridden bareback, as far as I know.
Has a history of bucking to unseat his rider when he gets scared. So guess
what this bareback rider is planning to do? Teach him to bareback.
Yup, project! :)
And if you're about to tell me not to try doing LDs
or endurance bareback, don't bother. I've done 2 LD's on my former horse,
Apache. I know, I know, LD isn't endurance, blah, blah, but I'm planning
to work Santana and myself up to some LDs bareback (we'll see about endurance
when the time comes). I already know he can do LDs. Dee took him on
a 35-miler and he wanted more. Now to get him used to
bareback.
I'm settled in Nashville, btw. Thanks to
those who wrote me after me asking about places to put Santana. I found a
nice farm out in Franklin to put him for $125/month. The owner lets me
feed him myself (hard to find in Nashville, I never would have guessed) and come
out whenever I choose. Some trails right out the back of the
pasture. I'm not sure how long they are. My barn owner said I could
go three hours, but whether that's 3 hours endurance speed or "pleasure" speed,
I don't know yet. Have to go exploring.
Today I had a major step, teaching Santana to be
ridden bareback. This clever horse has been taught to stretch out, so I
used that to my advantage (I'm vertically challenged, and this guy has a history
of bucking when you first get on). With him stretched, he's lower to the
ground and can't buck as readily. Ha. Anyway, I climbed on and
waited for him to get used to me. We were both a little jittery, but he
didn't try to buck. Just jumped around a tad. I'm sure it felt very
weird to him to have me directly on him. When I asked him to walk, he
did. Took him a few steps before he settled. I guess he kept feeling
me. He just wasn't used to it. We went around the round pen (we were
inside) twice. Once each direction. He did great. All of this
in a halter. What a guy! I can't wait to get my helmet so I can try
trotting him. Course, we'll do some more walking first, but I think he'll
do ok.
I know, I've babbled. I've missed owning a
horse and after picking Santana up on Monday, I've been having a ball with
him.
Anyhoo, my real point in "penning" this email was
to ask if anybody had experience using the Natural Ride "treeless" saddle.
Looks like a glorified bareback pad to me. I don't like bareback
pads. Never have. Just wondering if anybody had used it. Long
distance experience or otherwise welcome.
Thanks! :)
BTW, on the Hanes thread. Try Hanes Her Way Sport
with high thighs.
April, the bareback rider -- I'm
Baaaaaack!!
Santana -- What's that on my back???
Daniel (husband) -- It's cold out
here.