Or at least it was too hot over this weekend. I was dog sitting, pony sitting, and had double header kickball games Friday night. I don't want to think about how much sweat I have poured out this week.
I was too exhausted to ride Willy Saturday. My friend told me I looked like I needed to go home and take a nap, and that's exactly what I did. But Sunday I had a little more energy, and decided I would pop over to the barn for a quick ride. I didn't manage to make it out there until after 11am though, and it was already stuffy again, even after the major storm that rolled through last night. Plus with the rain, it was buggy too. Willy and I both could not even.
I was short on time so I decided I would just hop on Willy bareback. I've ridden him a handful of times bareback. I remember the first time, I was so nervous that it would be hard to get on, or that he would move at the wrong moment, or dump me during a spook. But he did none of those things and I giggled the whole time. I even did his western pleasure jog that day.
Yesterday was a little easier, Willy's trot has gotten a lot stronger these days and I was not about to try sitting that bareback when we were both sweating. But again, he was perfect, soft, and easily round. I do think he appreciates our bareback rides. He's always so quiet and attentive. He really does stand frozen when I mount and get off. Riding him bareback is also amusing because for some reason I feel so much closer to the ground than usual. I always think "meh, well if I do fall off, it's not that far."
When I was a kid, at my old hunter/jumper barn, there were girls who would ride their ponies bareback on occasion, and I can still recall my trainer saying "Don't sit like a sack of potatoes just because you're riding bareback." I couldn't successfully ride Willy bareback sitting like a sack of potatoes (trust me, can you say HOLLOW?!), but it's a nice sentiment and a great reminder for me to sit up straight and use my CORE.
I do love incorporating fun little things into our routine. It keeps Willy fresh. The occasional bareback ride, or a hack around the farm is always a good break from ring "work." What fun things do you all like to do with your horses? We are always looking for something new!
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