We did a whole lotta training on the ground today, but ended with a brief ten minute ride around the roundpen.
I think the trick to getting her to cooperate well in the saddle is to make her jog out some energy before tacking, make the process of tacking very slow so she can adjust to the stuff on her, then making her jog a little with the tack on and adjusting as needed.
The round pen is also walled so she couldn't gawk at every distraction which helped keep her focusedl.
I stumbled after dismounting and fell onto the sand in the roundpen. Sandy checked on me of course lol.
Exciting!
It really was! I was a lil worried that she'd throw me and I wouldn't be able to call for help, but after I worked with her on the ground, she was ready to go. She 100% remembers her past training, but hasn't been ridden in like 6 years, so she's not as broke as she once was. She can still be difficult at times because she's grown lazy.
It's obvious whoever trained her put in a crazy amount of work into her. I was told she was in training to be an endurance racer at some point. I don't have any goals that high for her. I just wanna take her on trail rides eventually lol.
You shouldn’t ride her. She’s not a slave :(
I do not treat her like a slave. We are partners. She is eager to please once her excess energy is worked out. She legit enjoys training and gets very excited to work. It gives her something to stimulate her mind and is great exercise for her. She's incredibly intelligent and needs things to do to keep from getting bored. Horses that get bored enough can start cribbing, which can easily become an addiction and ruin their teeth and jaws.
As for her tack, I am using the most comfortable tack that I have. I've ordered special stuff to cushion her back and distribute weight evenly. If she seems stiff or sore, I don't ride. Her bit is also a hackamore, which doesn't go into her mouth.
When riding, we are both listening and observing each other. It's part of the partnership and bond we have. I never kick her and I don't yank on the reins. She's very responsive to the subtlest of touches under the saddle and can even follow verbal commands which makes leg pressure and the reins kinda unnecessary.
I've spent two years nursing her back to health. There has been so much of my money and time and blood and sweat and tears put into her well-being. I will 10000% never do anything that could be detrimental to her health. I had her vet and farrier give her thorough exams to determine if she was in riding shape. I got the go-ahead and started up training again.
Riding builds top line muscles really well, which is important because atrophy of those muscles can cause pain, and a horse may lose the ability to carry themselves properly.
Tl;Dr: I care for this horse more than I care for myself. She isn't a slave. She's my partner and friend and everything I do for and with her are only things that will help her thrive.