Check it Out!    
RideCamp@endurance.net
[Date Prev] [Date Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next]
[Date Index] [Thread Index] [Author Index] [Subject Index]

Natural Ride Pad?



Hi, Ridecampers!
 
Thought I'd bother people again.
 
I'm back on track!  I've missed owning my own horse.  Went to Cambodia, sold my Appaloosa, long story.  Anyway, I've bought my new buddy.  Santana.  A pretty, personality-filled Arabian gelding. Grey.  Go figure!  :)  Wasn't looking specifically for an Arabian, or a grey, but, hey, if it's the right horse, who am I to descriminate against a particular breed?
 
He's well trained, well come along.  A few fear issues to work out, but then if he didn't have SOME issues, what fun would he be?  ;)  He's just turned 7.  Great age.
 
Never been ridden bareback, as far as I know.  Has a history of bucking to unseat his rider when he gets scared.  So guess what this bareback rider is planning to do?  Teach him to bareback.  Yup, project!  :)
 
And if you're about to tell me not to try doing LDs or endurance bareback, don't bother.  I've done 2 LD's on my former horse, Apache.  I know, I know, LD isn't endurance, blah, blah, but I'm planning to work Santana and myself up to some LDs bareback (we'll see about endurance when the time comes).  I already know he can do LDs.  Dee took him on a 35-miler and he wanted more.  Now to get him used to bareback.
 
I'm settled in Nashville, btw.  Thanks to those who wrote me after me asking about places to put Santana.  I found a nice farm out in Franklin to put him for $125/month.  The owner lets me feed him myself (hard to find in Nashville, I never would have guessed) and come out whenever I choose.  Some trails right out the back of the pasture.  I'm not sure how long they are.  My barn owner said I could go three hours, but whether that's 3 hours endurance speed or "pleasure" speed, I don't know yet.  Have to go exploring.
 
Today I had a major step, teaching Santana to be ridden bareback.  This clever horse has been taught to stretch out, so I used that to my advantage (I'm vertically challenged, and this guy has a history of bucking when you first get on).  With him stretched, he's lower to the ground and can't buck as readily.  Ha.  Anyway, I climbed on and waited for him to get used to me.  We were both a little jittery, but he didn't try to buck.  Just jumped around a tad.  I'm sure it felt very weird to him to have me directly on him.  When I asked him to walk, he did.  Took him a few steps before he settled.  I guess he kept feeling me.  He just wasn't used to it.  We went around the round pen (we were inside) twice.  Once each direction.  He did great.  All of this in a halter.  What a guy!  I can't wait to get my helmet so I can try trotting him.  Course, we'll do some more walking first, but I think he'll do ok.
 
I know, I've babbled.  I've missed owning a horse and after picking Santana up on Monday, I've been having a ball with him.
 
Anyhoo, my real point in "penning" this email was to ask if anybody had experience using the Natural Ride "treeless" saddle.  Looks like a glorified bareback pad to me.  I don't like bareback pads.  Never have.  Just wondering if anybody had used it.  Long distance experience or otherwise welcome.
 
Thanks!  :)
 
BTW, on the Hanes thread. Try Hanes Her Way Sport with high thighs.
 
April, the bareback rider -- I'm Baaaaaack!!
Santana -- What's that on my back???
Daniel (husband) -- It's cold out here.


    Check it Out!    

Home    Events    Groups    Rider Directory    Market    RideCamp    Stuff

Back to TOC