Hackamore Hack

 

 Well... today my back felt good enough that I rode all three ponies! Although, I basically just hopped on Dan for about 15 minutes and we toodled around the pasture. But still! I've missed him. I gave him a quick brush and threw the bareback pad on and then I put him in a hackamore. The one Judy loaned me. I kind of wanted to see what he thought about it. Although it was hard to tell from just a pasture amble. We walked around a little bit and he seemed happy enough in it. Although sometimes he wanted to go right when I asked him to go left and vice versa. I think it had more to do with him wanting to go towards the girls than misinterpreting my aids. But I do wonder if the hackamore works on direct pressure or if it's like a neck rein and works opposite?? I guess I need to ask Judy. Ha! But the breaks work, although again, not sure how much of that is from my seat and body aids because I didn't use much pressure. 

 

I did tempt fate and trot him twice. Just very short stints. The first time was quick enough that I didn't even realize if he was sound or not. It was also a bit harder on my back than posting. So the second time I did it on flat ground and made sure I was paying attention. And it was still super short, but.. he felt sound. Yay!

 

So we wandered around a tiny bit longer and then I slid off and gave him all the rest of the treats. Oh yeah.. ha! He's such a goober. I had my unicorn fanny pack to hold my phone because I didn't want to put my boots back on and my phone case but my breeches didn't have pockets. So every time I unzipped it, he would stop and turn his head back to me, like.... Cookies? Ha ha.. Greedy little man. Of course I obliged him a few times. 

 

Hopefully I can take him for a hack on Sunday at Ashland and we can try it again.