A week of Good Horsemanship - Illustrated Version

[glenatron]

So after a week's worth of posts largely consisting of unleavened text, you probably need a few pictures to lighten the load.


Horses and a wind-powered water pump. Classic Australiana.


Sari and Birch get started. She looks the part so much more than I do.


Birch finds the whole thing hilarious.


Ross talks his way into a corner.


Riley and I, probably working on backup from the looks of things.


Sari and Birch


Sari with a flag, ready for Birch's morning wake up call.


Riding into a sunbeam.


Riley and I


Riley demonstrates his super-bouncy trot.


Ross helps Sari out with asking Birch for something.


Proof that Birch can put her ears forward once she decides the human on the end of the rope is okay.


Ever get the feeling people are talking about you?


Me working with May in the round pen. We spent quite a while in this configuration.


Later she thought I might be alright really.


Sari rides Riley


I think the big guy converted her somewhat towards ex-racers.


Birch waits patiently for me to get the idea that Ross is trying to explain to me.


This pony is a lot of fun.


An arabian horse in the Australian sunset.


"Riley, that man has just stolen our bridle!"


Ross explaining how I could really use staying above Riley when we change direction.


That good old bouncy trot.


Getting a bit better at staying with Riley.


Sari's turn.


Using trees to practice our turns...


... hilarit ensues!

Comments

[harnessphoto.livejournal.com]

Positively love this.

[puddleshark.livejournal.com]

That looks like a lot of fun!

Riding an ex-racer without a bridle? Er. Interesting... Was it possible to halt from seat or voice aids, or did you just have to wait for him to stop moving?

[glenatron.livejournal.com]

I wasn't really driving- I was just sitting there while Ross gave us speed and direction- so it looks a lot more like I'm driving than I actually am. It was more like a lunge lesson really.

If one is keen on riding bridleless it shouldn't really make much difference whether the horse is inclined to be more whoa or more go - by the time you're ready to take off the bridle and ride purely off your seat they would be closely connected enough that they will take their speed and direction from you the whole time. I think this is achievable with any horse by any rider who is prepared to put in the sheer amount of time and effort required, which excludes most of us...