Tell us About the Horse You Rode
She was a very wide, powerful Clydesdale mare, she was definitely not in her youth years (She was pretty old) and she was bay (brown with black legs, mane and tail) She was extremely patient and she didn't mind me flopping onto her bare back like a sack of potatoes. For me it was love at first sight
What Was the Best Part of the Adventure?
The moment we got moving because that was the first time in my entire life I was able to ride a horse without anyone putting pressure on me to hurry up and finish my turn. She was a dream to ride, I only wish the ride could have been longer, but I'm savouring the memory for the rest of my life!
What Was the Biggest Challenge?
The biggest challenge for me was getting on her back because she had no saddle on and no bridle, someone gave me a leg into the saddle, but I literally had to grip and pull on the horse's mane and swing onto her back. I also struggled quite a bit with keeping my balance once she was moving
What Did You Do To Prepare?
It's simple, I didn't prepare. I was at the beach with my family when I first laid eyes on her and when I asked the people if I could stroke her, they said I should hop on and ride, no warning, just 'Get on, get a picture, ride and get back off'. haha lol
What I Did:
When the people said I should hop on, I hesitated for a split second before nodding in agreement. I let the man give me a leg up, and I basically held on for my life while trying to relax so as not to frighten the horse too much, in case she had an exit plan in mind (eg, buck me off and make a run)haha lol
How I Did It:
The man gave me a hand to get into the saddle, and then the people were yelling instructions on what I should do ("Stay calm", "Keep your balance" etc) I attempted to follow all the commands and I think I did okay for a beginner *nervous laugh* *sigh*
Lessons learned
- What to do around a horse
- What NOT to do around a horse
- How to keep your balance while riding bareback
- How to mount (and dismount) a horse - bareback - (un)elegantly
- How to tell when a horse is happy and relaxed
