Since she came to live with us I’ve had the urge to climb on Chloe and ride bareback. Or even just sit on her and not go anywhere. But I was also scared. Afraid she might just take off and me with nothing to hold on to.
A few nights ago I had a dream that I was riding a skinny white and salmon dappled horse, bareback in a hospital where we were visiting someone. The horse started to run and I laid my body low and hung onto her mane. And it was exhilarating. When we got to the room we were going to (there was no one in it) I realized we could talk to each other.
I don’t know what made me do it today, maybe it was the dream. I asked Jon to hold the lead rope attached to Chloe’s halter and, with a hand from Jon, got up on Chloe’s back. Maybe I shouldn’t have been, but I was surprised she just stood there and let me, as ungraceful as I was. Then I gave the tiniest tap with my heels and she walked…..right into the barn. Another tap and she walked back to the gate and into the barn again. We did this a few time, then I slid off her and climbed back up on her without any help. Round we went from the gate to the barn.
I had little if any control over where we went, and I was a bit concerned that she might start running, but I was able to make her stop. And there was an ease about it. I kept thinking it was more comfortable for both of us than using a saddle. Must feel like wearing a bra on a hot day, I thought. All that leather and those straps and buckles.
But more than anything I felt it was a matter of trust. I was as happy as Chloe was to just walk in a circle, from the gate to the barn and back again. Maybe she knew that, maybe we were talking to each other.
Rode bareback for years as a kid, Maria, and until you wrote so beautifully about the experience, I had forgotten what a wonderful feeling it is.
May you and Chloe enjoy many such opportunities!
Anne from Montana
Well that made me smile…loved the photo of you riding bare back with a big smile on your face…You sure look happy!!
I just want to say that I’m enjoying reading your blog very much. I love what you say about intuition in the creative process. I am learning to find that voice and trust it. (I just retired on the strength of my intuition.) And I have listened to it in my writing.
Jon’s blog about the mob mentality was also very fine. It’s good to see what he looks like here.
I’m from upstate New York, outside of Albany and hope I get to meet you all one day. I may send you my novel The River Caught Sunlight, for winter reading, which is partly set on a farm that is by the Normanskill.
Well you looked really relaxed on Chloe. To stop her from getting out of control, you can do the pully rein stop. See this link: http://myhorse.com/blogs/horse-trainers/julie-goodnight/emergency-stops-or-oh-no-the-horse-wont-whoa/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFt-yJhVZg8
Maria, it really is different riding bareback. I do remember all those years ago. It’s actually a good way to remind yourself to tighten your knees and lower legs, heels down regardless. I also remember trying to ride a cow bareback. I dO NOT recommend this. Cows have very boney backs.
SandyP
I’m laughing over the cow Sandy!
🙂 smile smile smile.. if we can’t be impetuous and jump on our horses at a whim, what’s the point ?
I was so happy to see you do this. Sit back, relax, balance yourself through your core and smile.
Yeah, don’t ride the sheep though.
I like the sound of that Debr