Bareback fun

 

This morning I slept in just a little. And then I was a little short on time but I'm glad I snuck in a ride anyways. I had to get to Aiken with Lyric to school XC but figured I could sneak in a quick bareback school with Danimal. Even though the turkey is missing his hind shoe, less than 24 hours after Patrick did him! Ugh. 

He was filthy and orange but I curried the chunks off where the saddle went, threw on the bareback pad and bridle and off we went. We hacked up to the arena and did our ride. We spent a good bit at the walk and then worked on the trot. He was a good boy and I tried to focus on my weight aids. I had sort of wished I had brought his neck rope so I could practice bridleless riding but I did focus on my weight and seat and leg aids vs mouth aids. But of course, I defaulted to the reins a good bit. We did some canter work and tried to do some changes. He did two good shallow serpentines and then I tried to get a change. Both ways he did eventually give me a change up front. I rewarded him, because even though it's late, not behind, and icky... he tried. Then we went back to canter to walks, which are still sucking. So that might be a big part of my problem. But we had some good canters. We also played with our extended trots and some more sitting trot work. He was a good boy and was trying hard. It was super steamy this morning again. UGH... summer is here. 

We finished up, hacked back home, and he got a nice rinse while he ate some clover and then out he went. I was able to make it to Aiken in time with Lyric, so yay! I'm glad I decided to hop on him this morning. And hopefully he'll get his shoe back on. I did find a hind shoe when I went to catch him but I think it's the missing wedge of Lyrics... unless he has wedges still too? I can't even remember. ;) But... I did find a shoe, so maybe it was his. It didn't look old enough to be Lyrics. But honestly, I thought Dan was in frog support pads without the wedge but I could be wrong. Ha ha!