Thursday, January 12, 2017

Coming Home

I'm annoyed at myself for a lack of (good) media this week, since I actually have seen/worked my horse every day this week.... I'm using the term 'worked' lightly, since one night was just a lunge session in a halter and last night it was an abbreviated bareback ride.
Ruby is unconcerned about media, as long as the treat dispenser isn't broken.
However, as I was riding last night and really concentrating on short bursts of good work (since neither of us have the fitness for anything else), I found myself grinning. I avoided riding Ruby bareback for a long time, because she is nothing like Topaz. Climbing on Topaz bareback was like sitting on a sofa. Or the most comfortable rocking horse you could ever imagine. For me, sitting on her broad back was like coming home. The trust and bond we forged over the 6 years I owned her was unique. Riding Ruby bareback is harder. She's not shaped the same. Her gaits are bigger. It's more work. Initially, that made it less fun, so I just wouldn't do it.
Bareback ride during a blue moon in 2015.
But I've always loved riding bareback, and I missed it. My bond with Ruby continued to get stronger, and I started to trust her like I trusted Topaz. So I adapted. I'll toss a saddle pad on Ruby and climb up. I'll work on engaging my sadly underutilized core muscles for short bursts of trot. I'll close my eyes and ask for a canter transition and hope I don't fall off.
And at one point in last night's ride, as she was effortlessly cantering around, I realized I was grinning like a fool. It's taken time, but that bareback canter felt like coming home.
I'm glad I got to take advantage of the unseasonably warm weather yesterday (75 in January, what the what Mother Nature?!), since we're gearing up for an apocalyptic ice storm this weekend (seriously, our DoT issued a travel advisory earlier this week, before anything even happened!). I keep hoping for a nice weekend so Cinna can come out and play, but clearly that is a pipe dream.

19 comments:

  1. How AWESOME that you are enjoying bareback rides on Ruby! I am getting to the point where Dino's retirement is looming in the near-ish future of the next few years, and I'm worried about having to build a relationship with a young horse who is just... Not Dino. But this encouraged me to read. :)

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    1. Rides on Ruby are slightly less comfortable than Topaz (who was shaped like a barrel, whereas Ruby has withers like a normal horse haha) but I'm adapting! There have been times over the last year where I've been frustrated with Ruby for not being Topaz (which is ridiculous obviously) but I'm learning how to appreciate Ruby for being Ruby and not comparing her to any other horses. I think that can be a hard transition when you get used to just riding one horse for so long, but hopefully with adding Cinna to the mix I'm able to continue appreciate each of my horses as individuals and not compare them!

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  2. Something about riding bareback is extra special! I am on mandatory bareback duty with Henry at the moment but I think it's something I'll always do sometimes with him :) Hoping for some decent weekend weather for you!

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    1. We're supposed to get a horrific ice storm this weekend 😂 but maybe next weekend will be better? Hope springs eternal....lol

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  3. I always think I want to ride bareback and then I look at C's withers and realize that no, I really don't. Sigh.

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    1. Ruby's withers aren't quite TB-level bad but in various growth spurts they're pretty rough! I find a mattes-type pad makes things better (although I doubt she'll ever be as comfy as Topaz haha). A friend swears by these fleece bareback pads but they're $$$.

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  4. I don't really ride Stinker bareback unless it is just walking up to his pasture. He tends to make everything including me slide backwards unless I have a firm grasp on the mane.

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    1. I despise bareback pads. No idea why but they make me feel terribly insecure so my wallet is safe on that one 😛

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    2. I normally feel the same way but my friend has a very intriguing sheepskin one (that is $$$$$ of course) that she swears by.

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  5. Hey, horse time every day is better than no horse time, media or no!

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  6. I am not yet brave enough to ride bareback! Good for you.

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  7. Sounds like the perfect way to ease back into work!! I'm not brave enough to ride the big new guy bareback yet but maybe one day!!

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    1. It's especially nice when it's cold because I stay warmer haha. I bet you'll be up on Charlie bareback before you know it!

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  8. I haven't ridden bareback in a looooooong time. Hopefully I'll get back to it one day. It really is the best. :)

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