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Saddle-Less ~ Bareback On Jessie

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Going Saddle-less

From December 2012

Going Saddle-less ~ Bareback on Jessie. I’m not sure why I chose to try riding Jessie saddle-less.   I had never done it before.  I don’t even remember riding any horse bareback as an adult.  Oh yeah, I had don the Jeffrey Method on her and she remained calm.  I think there is something about the winter months.  This day it threaten rain off and on.  We did not want to get caught out in it.  Yes, we are wimps.  We decided instead to just screw around in our little riding area.  We had done all the groundwork and were probably getting a little bored.  The saddle was all the way over in the tack room.  So was the bridle.  Why not just go saddle-less?

Guys have a distinct anatomical disadvantage riding bareback.  I don’t know how those Indians galloped along in all those westerns I watched as a kid.  If anyone has any tips, I would appreciate hearing them. The equipment just gets in the way.  There is a distraction though. It’s falling off.  There really isn’t anything to hold on to.  Your balance is really tested.riding saddle-less

I was very pleased with the way Jessie took to the cues.  Looking back on this after a couple of years I can see my riding style was very good back then.  I had my feet a little forward.  I remember wondering how much pressure to use with my legs.  My wife was telling me to grip with my upper legs, but I could not separate that pressure from my lower legs.  Pressure with my lower legs just made her want to go forward.

The other thing I remember about this “going saddle-less” day was want to lope but not quite being confident enough to break into a canter.  There is that little moment in the transition from trot to canter where Jessie’s gait gets a little extra bouncy.  I knew if I could get through that I would be okay.  I just could not get there.  I would start bouncing all over her back, get a little worried and ask for a whoa.  The good thing about Jessie is she loves the word whoa.

I put this video to one of my favorite artists, Jeff Healy. “I Think I Love You Too Much” is from is from his Hell To Pay album.  Jeff Healy was a great blues and Jazz guitarist who died way to soon.  Check out his music at JeffHealy.com

Rematch in the Weed Patch

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It’s the Rematch in the Weedpatch! This is a continuation of our first video on our Horse H-O-R-S-E competition. Ranae and I head out to the Kern River area looking for new ways to challenge our horses and improve our horsemanship. Who will get the edge this time? Will it be Dusty or Jessie? Come along for the ride and find out. Enjoy!

Riding a Dream Horse – Friesans

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Ranae’s good friend Susan remembered Ranae saying she had always wanted to ride a Friesan horse. Susan contacted and owner of several Friesans in Norco, Ca and arranged to have one of Ranae’s dreams come true for her birthday. While I thought I was just going along to document the wonderful event, I ended up getting to ride one as well! What an experience!

Team Sorting No Worries Club Members

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A number of No Worries Club Members participated in a team sorting practice at Rancho Rio Stables in Bakersfield. We are new to the sport of team sorting and so are our horses. It was great having the support of fellow No Worries Club members out there who understood where we were at in our horse training. It was a fun day and you can get the feel for the attraction to team sorting.