Bareback School

In my last post I mentioned that Spicy and I have a fancy new throne coming our way in November.

Seen here modeling what I'll eventually have.
Spicy was really done with my saddle shit at this point.

I continued riding Spicy in my old saddles for the time being, but Spicy was starting to have issues. His disposition during tacking up was never great, but it worsened. Then, he got spooky. Like, really spooky. He did some WEG-worthy reining spins that almost left me suspended in the air, cartoon style, after he 'left'.

Then came the sensitivity. He was bug eyed, difficult to catch, flinchy to the touch, and seemed outright terrified of me. In my last dressage lesson with CC he was so keyed up he wouldn't even let her touch his neck. She walked up to him, outstretched her hand and he shied violently to the next county.

I'll admit, I took his sudden change in behavior a little personally even though I shouldn't have. He used to nicker and run up to me in the field. Now he snorted at me, wild eyed, and ran away. Currying was no longer a scratchy enjoying pleasure but involved a lot of tail lashing and teeth gnashing.

I made three changes, the first being on CC's suggestion to start him on a magnesium supplement. I started him on MagRestore. Apparently the type of magnesium included is more easy for the horse to digest, and it also comes in a pelleted form which ensures there's no dust left on the bottom of the bucket.

Next I took a step back and added back in our pre-ride lunging and ground work. I used to do even a brief two minute lunge any time I tacked him up. I meant to phase it out but really... I hate lunging. I just want to get on, so I stopped. Apparently this was regarded as a bad idea.

The final change was I ditched the saddle completely.

I think my barn owner thought I was a little bananas when I slapped a bareback pad on him. The last time she saw me ride this horse I couldn't get him to go forward off my leg for more than a few strides before he spun or went sideways. He did that really scary thing I hate when the horse gets really short in the neck and empty in the bridle. Cool, so not only are you going to maybe explode or teleport but I have no feel on your mouth so who knows if I'll even go with you.

He stood patiently while I climbed on him, walked down to the arena, and started right in on lateral work. Spicy felt like the horse I had earlier this summer. We even went on a trail ride around the property, interacting with deer and horses galloping in the field next to us and he was on the buckle.

Convinced it was a fluke, I came out the next day and rode bareback again. We did a thirty minute ride complete with lateral work and lots of sitting trot. At the end I slipped my reins and Spicy stretched all the way down until he hit the buckle.

It didn't seem like a leap of faith at the time to climb on him bareback. In all his antics under saddle I never really felt like they were directed at ditching me in the dirt. It just felt like he Could Not. I wish I had listened to him sooner.

Review of this bad boy coming soon.

Unfortunately, I guess my No Stirrup November has started early. My abs are already screaming!!