Back in the saddle... x 3!

So, I was asked to ride Miss Sarah aka Jailbreak this week. She is being used in a lesson and hasn't been ridden for a while. Her nickname is Jailbreak as she jumps out of everywhere bar the round pen (when loose schooled).

Last week the guy who was meant to be leasing her turned up. This guy had told them he was a seasoned rider.and brought his own (Western Saddle) along. Apparently it looked brand new, an 'internet' saddle. After not being able to get her bridle on, then doing the cinch (girth) up to the stirrup leather he was told very (NOT) kindly that maybe he wasn't ready to lease... the quote was 'Not all money is good money". He didn't even get on her. Lucky escape for all parties I think.

First of all I needed to pull apart the English tack room to find some stuff. I tried all the saddles on her and found one that fit her pretty well. I started with some in hand work then lunged her, she was super sweet with both, apart from the fact that she had freaked a tad when I shut the gate to the school but she settled fast. Once I was happy that she wasn't a total nutter we did some mounting desensitization stuff then off we went.

Generally she did great green. We did LOTS of circles and changes of direction and speed in walk alone. She is a nice forward mare and will be a fun ride, she needs work but the basics are there.

I then got the chance to have a little spin on an older horse at the barn which was great practice for me and got my riding muscles awake.

Next we got to play with the gorgeous RoughCutt. Alicia teaches lessons and has her own two horses boarded there. She asked if I wanted to see RC ridden so I can understand him more. I tacked him up- Western style- felt like a beginner again- where do all the straps go!?! Generally it went fine except for the girth which threaded through weird rings multiple times! The western bridle she uses is a simple O ring snaffle so that was fine. I also put his blinders on as requested. I was warned that last time he was lunged in a western saddle he freaked so took it carefully, but he didn't blink an eye at it. Alicia also then said he also had got scared being saddled last time. I have been doing lots of work with him with ropes etc and it seems that helped a lot as he was fine with me saddling him too.

Now a short bit of background, we have no idea what happened to him, if he was punished or just rushed hugely but he is scared of his rider. The last girl who rode him at the Barn (who made some silly mistakes) first got bucked off as soon as she was on, then the next time he took off and galloped around the property until he managed to get her off, next he freaked when they chucked a stock saddle on him and broke away from them before mounting, the saddle slipped to his belly and he took off freaking out. The poor lad hasn't had a good time.

Racing blinders

After lunging for a bit Alicia got ready to get on. I stayed by his head as hoped after all the work I have done with him he might find it reassuring, we took it slowly with him as he holds his breath and freezes when he realizes someones about to mount. She just sat on him and stroked/ patted him until he relaxed while I chatted to him and her. After a bit she then started off with small circles until he felt really good and then used the whole school and worked him in walk, trot and a little canter! After that she asked if I felt ok to hop on, so Western tack and all. Again he tightened up as I hopped on but I made sure he knew I was there and scratched his neck and sat still until he relaxed, I copied Alicia and we started with circles, he chilled super fast and we had a little trot too. Once he relaxes he is super chilled. After halting I asked Alicia to take off his blinders so he could see me up there, as they came off he tensed a little but I made sure he looked round at me and sniffed me etc and off we went again, he did just great! We finished the session with Alicia getting on him and then riding him bareback and making sure he watched it all, he worries each time someone gets on or off but did great. I am hoping that all the work I have done around the mounting block with him helped just a little as he really did so well.

He needs lots more desensitization still and is a work in progress but, there is hope! I just wonder what happened to such a non spooky horse to scare him so much. He just is like an unbacked horse with mounting so I suspect they just skipped that bit totally.

He spent a lot of time when I was on the ground blowing into my neck, nibbling my shirt buttons and looked to me often. He needs reassurance and affection bless him x