Mellifluous
03-26-2007, 01:46 AM
I started her on Lexi. She was a little suprised when she realized that I intended to put her on the "child's horse." She also looked skeptical at my terribly ugly but very comfortable saddle, more on that later.
We rode around the property. Julie did a brilliant job of not letting Lexi have her way. She stayed out of the bushes, went the speed Julie asked and stayed off Phoebe's butt. That is always how I can tell if a rider knows what they are doing, if they can take charge of Lexi. Julie also listened very well about how to ride Lexi, from contact with the bit to NO LEG!!! She said that she felt awkward for a bit, but got the hang of the whole long stirrups no leg thing after a while.
Once I saw that she could handle herself just fine and was not nervous, I offered to switch horses. She was very excited to get on Phoebe, mounted up without issue. She and Phoebe patiently waited for me to get on Lexi (who was wiggling all over the place). Once I was on Lexi, Phoebe snorted and charged Lexi. That scared me, Lexi and Julie. All Julie and I could figure was the Phoebe did not want her human on another horse?
After that, smooth sailing. We walked a bit so Julie could get her balance in my dressage saddle and then we took off at a gait. Julie immediately started grinning from ear to ear. I heard her yell "My GOD this IS smooth, it is like getting a butt massage."
Once we got back to the barn, Julie helped untack Phoebe and then helped with Lexi. While we were taking my "ugly mop covered saddle" off Lexi, Julie asked if she could ride that saddle when the time comes for her to join me on an LD. I grinned and explained that the ugly saddle is the one that fits Phoebe best, so yes she would be riding it. Julie was very happy. Apparantly, my dressage saddle does not agree with her knees like my ugly simco with big clunky stirrups and mop cover does. ;-)
So, I have to say that the ride was successful. Julie is all ready to go for another ride as soon as possible, preferably on a real trail. :D
We rode around the property. Julie did a brilliant job of not letting Lexi have her way. She stayed out of the bushes, went the speed Julie asked and stayed off Phoebe's butt. That is always how I can tell if a rider knows what they are doing, if they can take charge of Lexi. Julie also listened very well about how to ride Lexi, from contact with the bit to NO LEG!!! She said that she felt awkward for a bit, but got the hang of the whole long stirrups no leg thing after a while.
Once I saw that she could handle herself just fine and was not nervous, I offered to switch horses. She was very excited to get on Phoebe, mounted up without issue. She and Phoebe patiently waited for me to get on Lexi (who was wiggling all over the place). Once I was on Lexi, Phoebe snorted and charged Lexi. That scared me, Lexi and Julie. All Julie and I could figure was the Phoebe did not want her human on another horse?
After that, smooth sailing. We walked a bit so Julie could get her balance in my dressage saddle and then we took off at a gait. Julie immediately started grinning from ear to ear. I heard her yell "My GOD this IS smooth, it is like getting a butt massage."
Once we got back to the barn, Julie helped untack Phoebe and then helped with Lexi. While we were taking my "ugly mop covered saddle" off Lexi, Julie asked if she could ride that saddle when the time comes for her to join me on an LD. I grinned and explained that the ugly saddle is the one that fits Phoebe best, so yes she would be riding it. Julie was very happy. Apparantly, my dressage saddle does not agree with her knees like my ugly simco with big clunky stirrups and mop cover does. ;-)
So, I have to say that the ride was successful. Julie is all ready to go for another ride as soon as possible, preferably on a real trail. :D